- November 14, 2024
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Paul Lucente — a U.S. Marine a father, a son and a brother — on April 26 celebrated what may have been his last birthday with his family, thanks to Theresa Tazwell, owner of the Cupcake Café.
Lucente’s six years of service as a Marine began 40 years ago, and his role as a member of the Armed Forces has been a big part of his life ever since. But in other ways, his life today is much different.
“He always did everything with his own two hands,” Denise Lucente-Viera says of her brother’s earlier days. Now, a man who was once a very independent human being today relies on the help of his family for essentially everything.
His life changed dramatically one night eight months ago, after a trip to the emergency room. Lucente thought he may have suffered a stroke, but doctors found lymphoma in his brain. For six months he went through extensive chemotherapy, and was told that his disease was incurable and could not be treated through surgery. Six months later the tumor appeared gone, only to return six weeks later.
To celebrate his birthday early, Lucente-Vieira set out for a special birthday cake for her dying brother. After a day of searching and being turned down by other bakeries who were unable to provide what she was looking for, Lucente-Vieira’s sister suggested a small cupcake café in Bunnell. Upon entering the café, Lucente-Vieira told Tazwell that her brother is in hospice and his birthday is this month. Tazwell stopped her and said, “I understand.”
The two discussed ideas and took out some photos of other cakes. The first photo Tazwell showed Lucente-Vieira was the one for her brother. After speaking with her father, Tazwell decided to make the cake at no cost. “Don’t let a dying Marine pay for a cake,” she explained.
On April 9 Lucente was able to celebrate his 58th birthday surrounded by his parents, children and sisters, after having been brought home from hospice so he could be with family. The celebration was a huge success, and the cake brought smiles to all, especially Lucente.
Lucente-Vieira is so grateful to Tazwell that she now considers her family. She intends to stay in touch with her from her Massachusetts home.
