Crime & Safety

Stevenson Firefighter Battling Leukemia at Age 19

A.J. Rogers is a student at Naugatuck Community College studying to be a paid firefighter. He was diagnosed at St. Vincent's Medical Center on Jan. 13.

A.J. Rogers, 19, of Monroe, a student at Naugatuck Community College and a volunteer firefighter in Stevenson, was suffering what his family thought was a bug one recent weekend, when things took a turn for the worse. He had bruising and bleeding problems and was brought to St. Vincent's Medical Center for tests. On Jan. 13, Rogers was diagnosed with leukemia.

"He's hanging in there," Fran Rogers said of his son Saturday. "He had the last of the first round of chemo today and is up and about. He's tired and a little bit weak, but he's hanging in there."

Rogers said A.J. was diagnosed at just the right time in his blood cycle for chemotherapy to be administered.

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"They certainly seem like they know what they're doing," he said of the doctors at St. Vincent's. "Things are progressing the way they expect it to."

A.J. Rogers served in Boy Scout Troop 62 and was a member of the Junior Fire Brigade at Masuk High School, while growing up in town. He enjoys camping, bonfires, target shooting, boating and skiing.

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"He's an outdoors kind of kid, not one to sit around playing video games," Rogers said.

A.J. befriended Drew McCauley in the Boy Scouts and both share a love of trucks.

"He does like old trucks," Rogers said. "We have one and he's restoring a pickup of his own."

Rogers sometimes helped A.J. and his friend Drew McCauley when they worked on trucks together. Drew, who got to know A.J. in the Boy Scouts, said they have also gone to country music concerts together.

"He's just a good guy," Drew said of A.J. "He always has a smile on his face."

St. Vincent's is not allowing visitors right now, but Drew said he has been able to text his friend.

"He's pretty good," he said. "He's making the best of it. That's how A.J. is."

Drew is teaming up with his brother Chris McCauley and their friend Eric Caterson to raise money for the Rogers' family's expenses. A savings account will be set up at the Newtown Savings Bank at Big Y Shopping Center.

"A.J. would do it for us and we wanted to do the same for him," Drew said. "About a dozen of us will shave our heads on Sunday, Feb. 12. We wanted to do it as a symbol of solidarity for when he loses his hair from chemo, and to have a fundraiser as well."

Cash donations or checks may be made out to "Andrew Rogers." To make a donation, call Drew McCauley at (203) 581-0631.

Fran Rogers is touched by the gesture.

"He's got good friends, co-workers and family who really support him," Rogers said of A.J. "The community of Monroe is fantastic. I'm moved. I often tell people, 'If the well wishes could cure him, he'd be home already.'"

'He's got a long road'

David York, a former Stevenson Volunteer Fire Department chief, got to know A.J. since he was a member of the Stevenson Juniors. A.J. became an adult member of the fire company by age 18. 

While working as a porter at an assisted living center, A.J. has taken the fire technology program at Naugatuck Community College with hopes of eventually becoming a paid firefighter.

"I helped him with a project in college on different responsibilities of emergency management," York said. "He's always polite. He stopped here at the house and was always a gentleman while talking with my wife."

As a firefighter, York said A.J. is "a good worker, very responsible in what he's been doing, very reliable. If he was given a task, it would be done. He would go to it and wouldn't be distracted. He is very mature and responsible in his activities."

York found out about A.J.'s condition when a fellow firefighter saw a post on Facebook.

"I think it's mostly a shock," he said. "It's hard to believe that an active young man such as A.J., who was ambitious and, as far as I know, not irresponsible with his health would come down with something as serious as this.

"It's sad as far as a young man with plans and goals that he has to be distracted by this medical circumstance. Thank goodness we have medical care that can treat this."

York said A.J. is in the thoughts of everyone at the Stevenson Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think we're all hopeful," he said. "It's apparently been discovered at an earlier stage. I hope over time with treatment that he will get through it all."

Rogers said, "He's got a long road. We'll see if he'll be an outpatient. It's all a wait and see game."

Rogers has been in awe at how strong his son has been throughout this ordeal.

"I think he's a very friendly kid. He has no problem talking to people and has made friends at the hospital among the nursing staff and doctors," Rogers said. "He's optimistic and he's a very good patient. He's keeping his chin up. I'm super proud of him. I don't think I could be holding my chin up."


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