Marissa DiPilato

Thank you for your support!

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2015. Back then, the 5 year survival rate was only 6%, however, thanks to organizations like Lustgarten, the 5 year survival rate is now 13%. And my mom is one of that lucky 13%. I love that 100% of the funds collected go STRAIGHT to cancer research. It makes me happy to know that I play a small part in finding new early detection tests, new treatments & the ultimate goal: a cure. 

My mom is now in remission, however, while she was going through years of chemo, you would never known or even had an inkling that she had cancer. She has always had a positive attitude, incredible spirit & does not let anything get in her way. She would come home from chemo & go out to dinner with her bottle attached & all! Her will is amazing & I truly believe that the power of prayer, along with her positive outlook, is what kept her healthy.

It hasn't been easy, but by the grace of God, she is still doing great & feeling well. She fought through this battle like the beautiful, strong, amazing warrior that she is. To this day, her tumor is literally undetectable on her PET scans (although the cancer still shows up in her blood work). Even the medical staff at Sloan Kettering cannot believe her progress & told her they’ve never seen anything like this. Her oncologists know that the cancer is still in her body, so she will continue to get scans for the rest of her life, since her diagnosis is incurable. 

Yet, here she is, after completing over 100 treatments, still smiling & still fighting. She has been an inspiration to so many. She is the definition of strong & determined - the glue that holds our family together. She has always been our family's backbone, so we do what we can to support her. 

We are so grateful that she is still here to share all the little moments with us, including this annual walk. Thank you to our friends & family for always supporting her as well. We couldn’t do this without you 💜💜💜