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100% WITH YOU!

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Well said, Parkman

Rest in peace little baby.
Prayers for you and your Mom.

This should put all our petty grievances in perspective. My heart goes out to his family.

Hudson County corrections officer's son who brought community together dies
y The Jersey Journal
November 25, 2009, 8:17AM

The 14-month-old son of a Hudson County corrections officer who brought a community together as he struggled with a rare neurological disorder died yesterday in his mother's arms.

Jersey Journal parenting columnist Melinda Vickerman-Lalaoui, who along with her husband helped raise donations for the family, said Kenneth Black died at about 10:30 a.m. at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark where he was being treated for Zellweger syndrome.

His mother, 27-year-old Lillian Whitted of Jersey City, had run out of vacation and sick days so her co-workers had donated their own to her so she could keep her benefits and stay at her son's side. A "Kicks for Kenneth'' soccer fundraiser for the family orchestrated by the Lalaouis was held on Sunday at St. Peter's College.

The family was the subject of a Channel 2 news report earlier this month.

Watson Mortuary Service in Jersey City is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Vickeman-Lalaoui said, donations can be made to the Kenneth Black Care Fund, 885 Broadway #31, Bayonne, NJ 07002

Thanks to everyone in Jersey City and beyond that contributed to our event. We were able to rally the community and raise enough funds to help Officer Whitted.

One member of her department volunteered to pay her PSEG bill until she was able to return to her job.

Another member of the community contacted me via JCList and will be adopting her family for Christmas.

A local mom donated clothing and toys for the officer's 8 year old son.

We had an enthusiastic audience today and are so appreciative of the generous support everyone provided.

Thank you!

Coach Alex
The Soccer Learning Center

'Kicks for Kenneth' tournament raises money for family of 14-month-old boy with rare disease

By The Jersey Journal
November 22, 2009, 2:37PM
Michael Dempsey\The Jersey Journal

Lillian Whitted,27, of Jersey City (standing), helped staff a table at this morning "Kicks for Kenneth" soccer tournament at St. Peter's College, a fundraiser to help Whitted pays bill for her 14-month-old son who suffers from a rare neurological disease. Seated is Antwuanette Brown and her son Tiler Brown,9, who were helping out with the raffle.

Police officers, firefighters and civilians were all helping out this morning on soccer fields of Saint Peter's College in Jersey City to help raise money for the family of Kenneth Black, a 14-year-old who suffers from a Zellenger Syndrome, a rare neurological disease.

Since he was born, Kenneth's mother, Lillian Whitted, 27, of Jersey City, has spent most of her time on leave from her job as a Hudson County corrections officer.

Kenneth suffers from seizures, an enlarged liver and fluid on his brain. At one point his kidneys failed and he went into cardiac arrest. He is receiving blood and plasma transfusions because of clotting problems.

Whitted exhausted her sick and vacation time and stopped receiving paychecks in August. She's been struggling to pay her bills and her electricity was nearly turned off six weeks ago.

But friends, co-workers and strangers have rallied to support her. County workers are donating unused sick and vacation time to Whitted so she can keep her job and care for Kenneth and Eric, her 8-year-old son.

To help out, this morning the Soccer Learning Center held a fund-raising tournament for Whitted at the Yanitelli Center at St. Peter's College in Jersey City.

Eight teams - consisting of Hoboken police officers and firefighters, Jersey City police and firefighters, Port Authority police, New Jersey State Police troopers, Hudson County corrections officers, and civilians - participated .

Each team is making a $300 donation to the Kenneth Black Care Fund.

Hudson County Corrections officer Teddy Roque, 28, of Bayonne, takes a shot on goal during "Kicks for Kenneth" soccer benefit this morning.

Anyone wishing to help Lillian Whitted and her family can visit www.soccerlearningcenter.com. or call (201) 656-1156.

Hudson County corrections community gives from the heart for co-worker with sick baby
By The Jersey Journal

November 14, 2009, 4:02PM

Hudson County corrections officers are donating their sick and vacation time to a co-worker whose 14-month-old son has a devastating disease.

id=134857@wcbs.dayport.com" rel="noopener external" title="">WCBS-TV,Channel 2 News featured a Hudson County corrections officer last night and this morning whose young son is hospitalized with Zellweger syndrome, a neurological disease with a poor prognosis and no known cure.

Officer Lillian Whitted's 14-month-old son, Kenneth Black, was only expected to live to six months, the report said, and while he has beaten the odds so far he remains hospitalized at University Hospital in Newark.

Now, the single Jersey City mom's co-workers are donating their sick and vacation time to Whitted so she can remain by her baby's side and keep her job and benefits.

"If somebody in our family needs a little help,'' Officer Joseph Jordan tells reporter Cindy Hsu, "we'll do whatever we have to do.''

The effort is going beyond the jail and county employees, though.

The Soccer Learning Center, run by Jersey Journal parenting columnist Melinda Vickerman-Lalaoui and her husband, Alex Lalaoui, is putting together a "Kicks for Kenneth'' benefit soccer tournament at St. Peter's College's Yanitelli Center next Sunday to help raise funds for Whitted, who, they say, is barely making ends meet.

Whitted also needs clothes for Kenneth and her older son.

New or gently used baby boys (size 18 months) and youth boys (size 12/14) as well as Jersey City School uniforms size 12/14 are being accepted.



Hudson County Corrections Officer Lillian Whitted cares for her son, Kenneth Black, at University Hospital in Newark. Kenneth, 14 months, has a catastrophic neurological disorder.

For details, go to the Soccer Learning Center's Web site or call (201) 656-1156.


? 2009 NJ.com. All rights reserved.

This is a great cause and I feel for the family. It is fitting that they describe the mom as a courageous corrections officer -- I just wish more folk would feel for the kids of those incarcerated in corrections facilities. Please visit angeltree.org and correctionalassociation.org to find out how you can help both prisoners and thier kids for the holidays.

CBS News picked up our story last night and again this morning. Check out the coverage here:

id=134857@wcbs.dayport.com" title="http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=134857@wcbs.dayport.com" rel="noopener external">http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=134857@wcbs.dayport.com

As an update, we're still seeking the following types of donations for this very needy Jersey City family. Do you have:

1. New or gently used baby boy clothes - sized 12 to 18 months? Looking for pants, shirts (front access is necessary as baby has tubes in belly) - and winter jacket, warm pants for traveling

2. New or gently used clothing for boys in sizes 12 to 14 - especially a winter jacket, jeans, shirts, and Jersey City school district uniforms.

3. Raffle prizes for our tournament on Sunday, November 22nd. Get great exposure for your business at a great cause!

For more information, or to make an instant donation, click here:

Kicks for Kenneth Soccer Tournament Information.

Thanks for everyone who has helped so far...there is so much more we can do!

This is so heartbreaking. Come on JC. Step up.

Hello everyone, We're running a fundraiser online right now for a courageous Jersey City mother who is also a Hudson County Corrections Officer. In addition, we'll be holding an indoor soccer tournament on November 22nd at St. Peter's College to also raise funds to help offset the mounting debt she is incurring as she cares for her critically ill son, one-year-old Kenneth. Teams of players (up to 10 on a roster) as well as individual players are welcomed to participate in the indoor, 4 v 4 tournament. Read more about Officer Lillian Whitted and our fundraising efforts here: Jersey City Baby Fights for His Life .