This month we have a very special Fan of the Month, Kaitlyn Vece. She suffers from cystic fibrosis, but manages to keep her spirits up in the hospital by listening to Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes! Below is Kaitlyn's mom's story as well as a special post that was taken from the message board.

From the Southside Johnny Message Board:
Hi everybody!!! I'm just catching up with the latest Jukes happenings. Summertime does indeed mean Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes time!!! It's great to see that you terrific folks are keeping the summer a memorable one for both the band and all the great fans of the best live band in the world! A small request: I've been absent from the board because my almost Sweet Sixteen Kaitlyn (a loyal and long-time Jukes fan) is again hospitalized with serious health issues related to her cystic fibrosis. A couple of days ago, it was touch-and-go as to whether she could be stabilized. As some of you know, Kate's awaiting a double-lung transplant so that she can take that fresh breath of air that the rest of us take for granted. She re-energizes by listening to SSJ and the band's tunes in her room. If anyone gets a chance, would you be kind enough to send her get well greetings? Her snail-mail address is Kaitlyn Vece Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital 703 Main Street, Paterson, New Jersey 07503. I know that prayers and positive energies (and a card if you can), would help in her healing process. I know this is off topic, but some of you have met her over the years, danced with her when her lungs weren't failing
so badly and maybe even mugged for a picture with her. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Peace and harmony and gratefully
"Southside Maryanne"

Hi Everybody! Some of you terrific fans of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes know me as "Southside Maryanne", however despite my 26-year career as a registered nurse and my almost 30 year history as a fan of the great and talented musical gifts of Southside and the band, I'm most proud of being "Mom" to my almost "Sweet Sixteen" year old daughter, Kaitlyn, who has been enjoying the Jukes both LIVE and on CDs/tapes since she was just a little one. Some of the best times that we have spent together have been at Southside and the Jukes shows. As a New Jersey mom, I have taught her well. She can rush the stage with the best of you!!! She is as talented a dancer as Southside! I keep her away from Bobby! (Sorry, Bobby, I'm just overprotective!) Her absolute favorite Juke is Jeff Kazee she loves to get close to where he plays while admiring his keyboard artistry! She loves to wave to Bailey (Michelle and Muddy's precious daughter) at the shows! She turns her friends on to the great tunes that they've never heard played on the radio and they are all puzzled how Southside has never been on MTV's TRL!!! Kaitlyn was born with a genetic disorder called cystic fibrosis. Maybe some of you football fans who know of Boomer Esiason know that his son also has CF. It's an illness that attacks the digestive and respiratory systems. We've spent many, many days in the hospital. Kaitlyn can no longer dance as well as in the past her lung function is 18% of others her age. The encouraging news is that she is #1 on the list for a double lung transplant in NYC; however, so far, no match She's presently critically ill and has spent the last 3 weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit getting the finest care in the world. Although Kate is not strong enough to write about you fans with the BIGGEST hearts of gold, the prayers and positive Jukes energies and cute cards along with the tapes and CDs that you have sent her have kept her spirits and energies upbeat and she is determined to beat CF!!! Thanks to you, she continues to play Southside's tunes on her CD player and she's fighting the good fight!!!! Maybe down the road, we can ALL celebrate and dance with total abandon at a future Jukes show Kate's hoping for New Year's Eve 12/31/04!!! Will you join her????

Peace and harmony and love,
Grateful "Kaitlyn's Mom"