Ralph Ferullo has a job.

However, because he has been home caring for his son, Alec, 18, he hasn't collected a paycheck in three months. And he doesn't expect to get one for the next three months, either.

Alec, who has a terminal form of brain cancer, is expected to live only a few more weeks.

"If he's still here like this in seven weeks, I can't go back," said Ralph, a respiratory therapist with Kindred Hospital in Easton. If he is unable to return to work before his leave ends, he may no longer have a job at all.

Currently, Alec is bedridden and blind. He suffers from seizures and is often confused.

When he dies, Ralph will face the question of how to pay for a funeral.

Ralph's wife, Kate, a respiratory therapist at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg, works only part-time. She has had to miss some work due to Alec's illness and that of her sister in Virginia, who is also dying of cancer.

Alec's mother, Lou Ann Franklin, spends time with the Ferullos but lives in Reading with a family of her own. The Ferullos live in North Whitehall Township, having moved from Northampton before Alec became seriously ill.

Insurance covers Alec's care but not the rest of the bills. The Ferullos have gone through their savings, finding themselves unable to pay the mortgage or make their car payments.

Ralph doesn't like to ask for help. He didn't have to.

Neighbors learned of Alec's illness when Kate took her children from a previous marriage, Gabe, 8, and Grant, 5, to the bus stop and met other parents. The couple also has a son, Nicholas, 1.

The family across the street talked to other neighbors, who joined forces to give the Ferullos an $800 fgift card to the supermarket.

A different family brings them dinner every Wednesday night.

"They'll say, 'I hope it's enough,' but they usually send an enormous amount of something," Kate said.

Northampton resident Georgiana Hoffman began organizing a benefit to take place 2-8 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Gin Mill & Grille in Northampton.

She managed to get sponsors and three bands – Special Call, Endzone and School of Rock's Bank Street Band.

Her son, Tyler Farkas, a classmate of Alec's, started a Facebook page called "Help Alec Ferullo fight cancer!"

Ralph said he had heard from others who wanted to help but nothing ever came from those offers.

"I didn't expect much," he said. "[But] this is going to be a big event."

The assistance is needed. A home hospice aid visits for an hour three times a week. A nurse comes in as needed. But the majority of Alec's care falls to Ralph.

Insurance will not pay for someone to stay with Alec so Ralph can work.

"The insurance company says he's not sick enough," Ralph said.

They would have to pay for such care out of pocket, said Kate.

"I'd basically have to go to work to cover that [expense]," Ralph said. Since it would not benefit him financially he would rather care for his son himself, he said.

Ralph was able to get Social Security for Alec but the benefits amount to only about $400 a month.

"He eats that in, like, a week the way he eats," said Ralph.

Alec takes steroids which increase his appetite.

"He'll have three or four bowls of cereal for breakfast and 20 minutes later he's, like, what's for lunch?" Ralph said.

Alec has said he doesn't want to be forgotten so the family hopes to have some sort of event in his memory every year.

In the meantime, they're taking it day to day.

"[Alec] is at the point now where we hope he lasts till this benefit."

For more information on the benefit, email wraub71@gmail.com. Monetary donations made payable to the Alec Ferullo Family Fund can be sent to 2330 Red Maple Drive, Coplay, 18037.