(Editor’s Note: JJ is a pitcher for Nassau Community College. He was forced to deal with the tragic\u00a0loss of both his mother and father just over one year apart)<\/em><\/p>\n
by JJ McLaughlin<\/strong><\/p>\n
Baseball has been my therapy through it all. I\u2019ve been playing since I was little and I don\u2019t know if I would be here without it being a major part of my life. I have gone through so much within such a short period of time and at such a young age, many people question how I am still in school and how I am even still playing baseball.<\/p>\n
I graduated high school in 2011 and went onto play at Monroe College<\/strong> for my freshman year. When I left for school everything was fine, but before I knew it, my whole world started to fall apart.<\/p>\n
My dad was diagnosed with Melanoma cancer in the fall of 2012. That was when I knew my life would never be the same. I had to leave Monroe to help take care of both my parents because news came about my mom getting sick and she ultimately had to leave work. My mom had cirrhosis of the liver. Just when I thought things were bad, they kept getting worse.<\/p>\n