José Campos broke his first bone five hours after he was born. Now 13 and living in a small, second-floor room in Perth Amboy, the young Peruvian has since broken 150 bones—more than 11 a year. José suffers from a severe form of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or “brittle-bone disorder,” and came to the United States three years ago to receive a series of donated surgeries and medical treatments at Shriners Hospitals in Philadelphia and Boston. His parents, Haydee and Cesar, secured a visa and left five other children in Peru—ages 13 to 23—to care for their second-youngest child.
José not only has the devotion of his parents, but he's also won the hearts of area residents, journalists and companies who are avidly looking out for him and his family. Larry Bailin , President of Single Throw in Wall and co-founder of Move Ahead 1, is one of José's biggest fans. Move Ahead 1, of Wall, New Jersey, is a provider of motivational and instructional seminars for businesses. Larry and his team are providing Jose with tools and equipment so that Jose can create his own website. “José is great on the PC and the Web,” says Bailin. “And the amazing thing is, he's completely self taught. Up until three years ago, he'd never even touched a computer before.” Move Ahead 1 is seeking a computer company to provide Jose with a “computer of his dreams” and an internet company to supply high-speed internet access. “Providing people and businesses with the tools to achieve their goals is what Move Ahead 1 is all about”, says Pat Mayer of Move Ahead 1.
Others, including Ernesto and Jorge Calvimontes of Asegura Travel , visit José, Haydee and Cesar frequently and have grown fond of the struggling family. The Calvimontes and Move Ahead 1 team have also assessed some of the Campos's most critical needs and are now mobilizing the community for assistance. “José and his parents are very proud, private people, and they're extremely grateful to Shriners for José's free medical treatments,” says Calvimontes. “But there are so many other basic things they need, both here in the U.S. and to send back to their kids in Peru—and they'd never ask anyone for anything.” In addition to clothing, linens, canned goods and housewares (see attached for complete list), the family also needs eye and dental care for Haydee and a medical checkup and work boots for Cesar, who has occasional construction jobs.
Now residing in Perth Amboy in a $380-per-month, second-floor room with shared kitchen and bath, José and his parents would be more comfortable—and safer—in a ground-floor dwelling with no stairs. “José has broken bones on the staircase on several occasions,” explains Calvimontes, ”so his father has to carry him up and down. The boy already weighs 65 pounds and is growing.” Abby Lifts, a chair-lift company, and Paramount Property Management, are assessing the living space in hopes to accommodate a chair lift—a significant step in improving the family's living situation.
Transportation is another issue. José's parents don't have a car and must rely on the goodwill of others—along with Shriners' ambulances—to get to and from medical treatments. It also keeps the family isolated and prevents José from attending the only local support group of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, located in East Orange. Anyone with potential transportation or housing information—ideally in Middlesex County—is asked to call: Pat Mayer of Move Ahead 1 (732) 202-3599 ( mayerp@moveahead1.com ) or Ernesto Calvimontes of Asegura Travel (732) 418-0882.
According to Shriners, José's treatments will continue until he's 21, so he and his family are here for the long haul—joining the 20,000 to 50,000 OI-afflicted people in the U.S. While there's no cure for this genetic disease, OI sufferers can lead dramatically improved lives with operations, rehabilitation therapy and medication.
Those interested in helping the Campos family can contact Pat Mayer of Move Ahead 1 (732) 202-3599 ( mayerp@moveahead1.com ) or Ernesto Calvimontes of Asegura Travel (732) 418-0882 or log on to http://www.moveahead1.com/josecampos/ for more information. Item donations can be dropped off or sent to: Move Ahead 1's office: 1973 Route 34, Suite E-24, Wall, NJ 07719. Monetary contributions are also greatly appreciated and can be sent payable to: Cesar Campos or Haydee Ruiz, c/o Asegura Travel., PO Box 1472, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903-1472.
LIST OF DONATIONS NEEDED FOR JOSE CAMPOS AND HIS FAMILY
José
Clothing size: children's 12 (or small )
Shoe size: men's 5 1/2
Shoes, sneakers, t-shirts, jackets, backpack
Haydee (mother), Yesenia, 23, and Isaura, 22 (sisters)
Clothing size: women's 10 or medium/arge
Shoes size: women's 7 1/2
Shoes, t-shirts, jeans, pants, dresses, jackets
Cesar Sr. (father) and Darwin, 20 (brother)
Clothing size: men's large
Shoe size: men's 10 1/2
Shoes, work boots, t-shirts, jeans, jackets
Alberto, 16 (brother)
Clothing size: men's large
Shoe size: men's 9 1/2
Shoes, t-shirts, jeans (32 waist)
Francisco, 13 (brother)
Clothing size : men's medium
Shoe size: men's 9 1/2
Shoes, t-shirts, jeans (30 waist), jackets
OTHER NEEDS
• High Speed Internet Access
• Laptop
• Transportation to/from Blue Claws Stadium, Lakewood, NJ
• Digital Camera
• Dental treatment for Haydee
• Eye exam and treatment for Haydee
• Bed linens (blankets and sheets: twin size)
• Furniture for shared living space
• Set of pots and pans
• Medical check-up for Cesar
• English lesson for Hayee and Cesar
• Transportation (family doesn't have a car)
• Canned foods | 
