Jesse will tell you he’s a bit of a homebody. He loves thriller films and the charm of physical media—DVDs, retro arcade games, and movie theaters. He has filled the apartment where he now lives independently with movie posters, video games, miniature cars, and stacks of DVDs. He much prefers the analogue world to cloud-based subscriptions, where everything feels bloated and content seems to disappear faster than a slasher villain in the final scene.
But comfort is a nuanced word, and Jesse is as nuanced an individual as they come. These days, he’s stepping out of home more often and finding comfort in a new place—the boxing ring. He’s quite literally started fighting for his health and his independence.
Thanks to the encouragement and support from his family—particularly his mom, Arlene—and his CFS care team—Marissa, Burak, and Jinelle—Jesse is thoroughly enjoying a new path to a healthier diet, fitness, and boxing skills he’s learning with his coach, Sal, at Camp by Demarco’s Boxing LLC.
Jesse lives with Hidradenitis Suppurativa—a rare skin condition that, as he puts it, can flare up pretty much anywhere and gets particularly painful when paired with dairy products, spicy food, or anything else on his “delicious but disastrous” list. For years, he’s dealt with pain, surgeries, and a slew of medications that left him needing a more holistic, long-term solution for his health.
So, like any good movie hero, Jesse found the strength and courage to get back on his feet and hit the reset button.
Boxing has become more than exercise for Jesse. He loves the rhythm of the speed bag and the focus it demands. Sal, who’s both a boxing coach and a social worker, understands Jesse’s autism and mental health needs, making the gym a safe place. It’s one-on-one, tailored to Jesse’s pace, whether he’s working the heavy bag or during his shadow boxing sessions. There’s even a second gym now in the mix, where Jesse does weight training and cardio with his new Community Habilitation staff support, Jeff!
To match his new physical get-in-shape routine, Jesse showed frozen dinners, ice creams, and fast foods the way out. And, in came a new appliance that might keep his beautiful old DVD player company — an air fryer. Jesse has learned to cook healthy home-cooked meals. He uses Google’s easy recipes, and, with his mom Arlene’s help, has discovered the beauty of fresh ingredients!
While Jesse jokes that he hasn’t exactly built a full “crew” of friends yet, he’s struck up friendships with his coach and the gym owner, Nicky. When he’s not boxing or lifting, Jesse ventures to New Jersey’s arcades, retro gaming stores, and other hidden gems that feed his passion for old-school tech and entertainment.
Jesse’s not shy about his love for scary movies. And he’s all about the little details. He raves about the atmospheric 80s classics and the way serial killer characters, back then, had their own theme music. He’s also loves thrillers that flip from “happy Italian family dinner” to “explosive shootout” in under ten minutes. His apartment, complete with miniature cars and movie memorabilia, is a cinephile’s paradise—a tribute to physical media and the good old days when movie theaters were temples and not endangered species.
Even though he’s fiercely loyal to his cinematic passions—and admittedly still happiest relaxing solo with a film—Jesse is loving the change in his life. He’s found purpose in being healthier, learning new skills, and testing the boundaries of his comfort zone.
Jesse credits his team with helping him achieve the biggest step of all: moving into his own apartment, not far from his family. He’s shopping on his own, cooking, and living the kind of independent life he once thought unimaginable.
“CFS gave me the chance to start living on my own. It was a big step—having my own place, shopping for myself, and finally doing things independently as an adult. And my team helped me every step of the way,” He says.
“Jesse struggled since he was young and wasn’t diagnosed with autism until his 20s. We’re a close family, and finding CFS has opened so many new doors for him and for us. Even after his surgery, their guidance helped us keep moving forward. Janelle, Farrock, and Marissa have been amazing and so supportive,” his mom Arlene adds.
Sometimes, life’s biggest comebacks aren’t just for the movies. They happen in real life, all the time—sometimes in the boxing ring, sometimes in the kitchen, and sometimes in the quiet confidence of knowing you’ve written yourself a whole new story.
As Jesse himself says, “There’s more out there if you just look hard enough”—a line worthy of the final scene in a great movie.
