As family tries to fulfill dying teen’s bucket list, you’ve come through (WATCH)

On Friday, we published a story about the efforts of Denise Olenhaus, a Keansburg mom working to help fulfill her dying son's bucket list before his numerous health problems rob him of his eyesight. Since then, there has been a tremendous response from our readers and NJ 101.5 listeners who have joined the effort to assist the family.

A GoFundMe page established by the family was holding steady at about $2,300 in donations late last week. But over the past two days, that amount has more than tripled, bringing the family closer to the $10,000 goal they're hoping to achieve.

Well-wishers have made donations to the page and left messages for Denise, Lucas and the family. Followers on our @NJ1015 Twitter page have also been supportive of the Olenhaus family and their efforts to help Lucas.

Sixteen-year-old Lucas suffers from a multitude of serious health problems that have left him without the ability to walk, speak or hear. Denise Olenhaus said her son uses his eyes to convey how he’s feeling, but due to his medical conditions his eyesight is rapidly deteriorating.

Still, his failing health hasn’t taken away his ability to smile or get excited by things he likes.

“He’s such a happy little boy and he’s always smiling even with all the problems he has to deal with,” Denise Olenhaus said.

In order to help her son see as much as possible, before his health robs him of the opportunity, Denise and her family have set up a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise enough money to fulfill the bucket list they’ve come up with for the teen. To date, $7,680 have been raised.

As of right now, there's nothing extravagant on Lucas' bucket list. Denise said it's the simple things that make her son smile. She's hoping to take him to local venues such as Sesame Place and the zoo.

“Lucas loves to watch his sports, cartoons, trees, balloons and car rides,” Denise Olenhaus said on the GoFundMe page. “What we are asking for his help to get him to the places he has not seen yet and before he loses his eye sight. Unfortunately I do not work because I take care of Lucas so I don’t have the money to do all the things I would like to with him.”

Denise Olenhaus said Lucas’ eyes “are his world” and she said the family’s goal is to give the teen as much happiness as they can while he’s still able to appreciate it.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.