Be BOSTON STRONG & Keep on ROARing
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3 years ago Laura recieved what she thought was going to be the most devastating news of her life - she was told that she had Stage 4 Breast Cancer. She has chronicled much of her fight over the past 3 years - the ups and the downs - and bared her soul, all the while using humor to maintain her upbeat attitude. I remember one time when one of her implants had a leak, and she had to go in for surgery she would call it a "fix-a-flat" or "deflategate" in true Patriots fashion! She never held back but she could keep you laughing even in the gravest of situations and she always kept strong. She had what she thought was her last surgery in March and thought that she had "won and was done".
(Laura smiling even before surgery or during chemo)
A few months ago, she began having back pain but thought she had just pulled out her back. The pain began getting worse. She finally went to the doctor's and it was originally thought that she possibly had Kidney Stones. She had an x-ray of her back and an ultrasound of her kidneys but nothing showed up. But just like the first time 3 years ago, Laura's doctor was diligent and ordered more tests. Somehow the doctor knew, just like 3 years ago when the first biopsy come up clean, that the initial tests were hiding something. And much to everyone's dismay they were.
So on April 29th, her son's 7th birthday, in pure disbelief, Laura received even worse news than having Stage 4 Breast Cancer. The cancer was back and it was back with a Vengeance. The cancer was now bone cancer and had spread to her spine, possibly neck, her ribs and right hip.
(Luke's 7th Birthday...great times in spite of everything!)
She and her family were beyond devastated. She posted on Facebook and shocked us all as well: "Yes, it's really true. After 3 years of fighting the good fight, 2 rounds of chemo, radiation and 12 surgeries, the cancer is back and now in my spine. You all know much I'd like to ROAR on through and stay BOSTON STRONG however this time I'm definitely gonna need some help from the Man Above and I will need and I am most certainly asking, more like begging, for prayers. As much as I love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I'm just not ready yet. I want to see my kids grow up a little more. " - Laura Moscato Spedaliere - 4/30/16
(Laura & her children)
What Laura didn't say....and has never said in her effort to keep a positive attitude..... is that in 2016, Laura has lost her home, her job AND her health insurance. She is trying to get on medicaid but the process is long and complicated. She is working with the Good Samaritan Foundation just to try and get medication in the meantime. She has had to undergo a battery of tests which has been no small feat considering she no longer has health insurance. They are still trying to determine whether this has hit her organs as well. All the while, she has always been there for any and all of her friends, even helping to plan her High School's 25th reunion last year. She knows how to bring a smile to everyone around her.
(Laura & her New England Friends)
There are so many needs of this family. You know the old saying "it takes a village"? Well, we need a village. We need an army. We need the help of many. Help Laura keep fighting. She wants to go HOME to New England to fight this battle at Dana Farber in order to be with her family and also to be surrounded by the love and support of all those that have known her much of her life.
(Pictures of Laura & all her family)
Laura has always been an extremely hard worker - working the past 3 years through chemo, radiation and all of the surgeries - but she will probably never be able to work again. Any type of disability will take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years to receive. And that is too long for this family to wait on one income with all of the rising medical costs. Not only is it not even close to what she would make working, with adding her medical bills on top of ot would barely put food on the table. Last year alone the medical bills were over $17,000.00 and keep in mind that was only ONE year and she has been fighting for 3 years.
She is also loving wife. She supports her husband Rich in any way possible with his radio show Spitz on Sports. Anything from promoting him, to advertisting materials and just bragging about his Mad Sports Talking Skills!!
(Laura & her husband Rich)
But most importantly, she is a devoted MOM. She identifies herself as a mom above all else and has 2 children: Sammie who is 17, about to graduate High School and venture off to college and Lucas who is only 7. It is hard enough to come up with money for college for your child, never mind when you can't work, have HUGE medical bills and your future is unknown. Add on top of that a YOUNG child, one that they waited many years for, who is only in the 1st grade. Anyone who know her, knows that Laura always tries to remain strong especially for her "kiddos" but I myself cannot imagine the thought of trying to fight so hard, worry about money, housing, college expenses, healthcare and still have the nagging though of possibly leaving behind 2 young children if she can't get help in fighting this battle.
(Laura & her kiddos)
In her strength, Laura also said "The bottom line is - medical opinion is that my cancer is not curable......But I am going to remain BOSTON STRONG as always and ROAR right along and make sure that I am certainly at Lucas's high school graduation........ I am confident with the love and support that everyone has given me and with God on my side and the Holy Spirit in me, I will conquer this and be the exception to the rule. I will be the one that can travel the country and give people hope. Because that's what our Relay for Life that we do every year is all about. It's all about HOPE. Our team is even named #hope. And right now, anybody who is going through this deadly disease just needs to hang on to a little bit of hope to get them through." 5/3/2016
Her daughter Sammie always says: "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. - Christopher Reeves. My MOM is my hero. "
(Laura & her daughter Sammie)
Please help this family. Help Laura to remain BOSTON STRONG and keep on ROARing. Help Sammie's HERO. Help Luke's MOMMA. Help Rich's WIFE. Help our FRIEND. Help this FRIEND OF A FRIEND. Help this kind hearted, loving soul who is ALWAYS thinking of everyone else first. She has too much left to do here. She has so much HOPE and LOVE to spread in this world that needs it so much. She always wants to put a smile on everyone's face and uses her goofy sense of humor to keep her and everyone's spirits up.
(Laura being silly & showing her crazy sense of humor)
Give whatever you can. Every bit helps. Share with those you know. I know that anything you give, Laura will give it back in spades to help encourage anyone who needs it and be there to listen no matter what her life is like. She is just that kind of person. She is the BRAVEST, STRONGEST person I know. Please keep Laura in your thoughts and prayers and help her keep fighting, help her to stay BOSTON STRONG and to keep on ROARing with Katy Perry loud and clear!!
(Laura smiling even before surgery or during chemo)A few months ago, she began having back pain but thought she had just pulled out her back. The pain began getting worse. She finally went to the doctor's and it was originally thought that she possibly had Kidney Stones. She had an x-ray of her back and an ultrasound of her kidneys but nothing showed up. But just like the first time 3 years ago, Laura's doctor was diligent and ordered more tests. Somehow the doctor knew, just like 3 years ago when the first biopsy come up clean, that the initial tests were hiding something. And much to everyone's dismay they were.
So on April 29th, her son's 7th birthday, in pure disbelief, Laura received even worse news than having Stage 4 Breast Cancer. The cancer was back and it was back with a Vengeance. The cancer was now bone cancer and had spread to her spine, possibly neck, her ribs and right hip.
(Luke's 7th Birthday...great times in spite of everything!)She and her family were beyond devastated. She posted on Facebook and shocked us all as well: "Yes, it's really true. After 3 years of fighting the good fight, 2 rounds of chemo, radiation and 12 surgeries, the cancer is back and now in my spine. You all know much I'd like to ROAR on through and stay BOSTON STRONG however this time I'm definitely gonna need some help from the Man Above and I will need and I am most certainly asking, more like begging, for prayers. As much as I love God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I'm just not ready yet. I want to see my kids grow up a little more. " - Laura Moscato Spedaliere - 4/30/16
(Laura & her children)What Laura didn't say....and has never said in her effort to keep a positive attitude..... is that in 2016, Laura has lost her home, her job AND her health insurance. She is trying to get on medicaid but the process is long and complicated. She is working with the Good Samaritan Foundation just to try and get medication in the meantime. She has had to undergo a battery of tests which has been no small feat considering she no longer has health insurance. They are still trying to determine whether this has hit her organs as well. All the while, she has always been there for any and all of her friends, even helping to plan her High School's 25th reunion last year. She knows how to bring a smile to everyone around her.
(Laura & her New England Friends)There are so many needs of this family. You know the old saying "it takes a village"? Well, we need a village. We need an army. We need the help of many. Help Laura keep fighting. She wants to go HOME to New England to fight this battle at Dana Farber in order to be with her family and also to be surrounded by the love and support of all those that have known her much of her life.
(Pictures of Laura & all her family)Laura has always been an extremely hard worker - working the past 3 years through chemo, radiation and all of the surgeries - but she will probably never be able to work again. Any type of disability will take anywhere from 5 months to 2 years to receive. And that is too long for this family to wait on one income with all of the rising medical costs. Not only is it not even close to what she would make working, with adding her medical bills on top of ot would barely put food on the table. Last year alone the medical bills were over $17,000.00 and keep in mind that was only ONE year and she has been fighting for 3 years.
She is also loving wife. She supports her husband Rich in any way possible with his radio show Spitz on Sports. Anything from promoting him, to advertisting materials and just bragging about his Mad Sports Talking Skills!!
(Laura & her husband Rich)But most importantly, she is a devoted MOM. She identifies herself as a mom above all else and has 2 children: Sammie who is 17, about to graduate High School and venture off to college and Lucas who is only 7. It is hard enough to come up with money for college for your child, never mind when you can't work, have HUGE medical bills and your future is unknown. Add on top of that a YOUNG child, one that they waited many years for, who is only in the 1st grade. Anyone who know her, knows that Laura always tries to remain strong especially for her "kiddos" but I myself cannot imagine the thought of trying to fight so hard, worry about money, housing, college expenses, healthcare and still have the nagging though of possibly leaving behind 2 young children if she can't get help in fighting this battle.
(Laura & her kiddos)In her strength, Laura also said "The bottom line is - medical opinion is that my cancer is not curable......But I am going to remain BOSTON STRONG as always and ROAR right along and make sure that I am certainly at Lucas's high school graduation........ I am confident with the love and support that everyone has given me and with God on my side and the Holy Spirit in me, I will conquer this and be the exception to the rule. I will be the one that can travel the country and give people hope. Because that's what our Relay for Life that we do every year is all about. It's all about HOPE. Our team is even named #hope. And right now, anybody who is going through this deadly disease just needs to hang on to a little bit of hope to get them through." 5/3/2016
Her daughter Sammie always says: "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. - Christopher Reeves. My MOM is my hero. "
(Laura & her daughter Sammie)Please help this family. Help Laura to remain BOSTON STRONG and keep on ROARing. Help Sammie's HERO. Help Luke's MOMMA. Help Rich's WIFE. Help our FRIEND. Help this FRIEND OF A FRIEND. Help this kind hearted, loving soul who is ALWAYS thinking of everyone else first. She has too much left to do here. She has so much HOPE and LOVE to spread in this world that needs it so much. She always wants to put a smile on everyone's face and uses her goofy sense of humor to keep her and everyone's spirits up.
(Laura being silly & showing her crazy sense of humor)Give whatever you can. Every bit helps. Share with those you know. I know that anything you give, Laura will give it back in spades to help encourage anyone who needs it and be there to listen no matter what her life is like. She is just that kind of person. She is the BRAVEST, STRONGEST person I know. Please keep Laura in your thoughts and prayers and help her keep fighting, help her to stay BOSTON STRONG and to keep on ROARing with Katy Perry loud and clear!!
Organizer
Rebecca Pearson
Organizer
Attleboro, MA
