Gretchen’s Medical Fund
Gretchen Lynn Vatalaro is a mother, wife, sister, and devoted friend. She was born in Melrose, MA in 1969 and turned 50 this past summer. She grew up in the Monadnock region with her two sisters. Following graduation, she moved to the Upper Valley region where she embarked on her career in the foodservice and hospitality industry. In the following years, she moved to the greater Manchester area, where she met her husband, Mark. They have been married for 22 years. Gretchen and Mark have made Nashua their home for the past 21 years, raising their children Evan (21) and Rory (14) and cultivating deep ties in the community.
Gretchen worked at Michael Timothy's for 18 years, winning Best Server of the Greater Nashua Area in 2015. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and sincerity is now on display at J. Bartlett's Public House at the Nashua Whole Foods Market, where she works as the bar supervisor.
Outside of work, Gretchen enjoys visiting craft breweries, looking for treasure at flea markets, going to the beach, and spending quality time with family, friends, and her beloved dogs, Luna and Groot.
On May 1st, Gretchen was diagnosed with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), which falls within the group of bone marrow failure disorders. MDS is often referred to as 'pre-leukemia'. Gretchen's treatment began in June with outpatient chemotherapy in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. That transplant has been scheduled for the end of this month at Mass General Hospital in Boston. Gretchen will be admitted on Nov. 21st, where she will undergo more intensive chemo before receiving a donor's bone marrow cells. Following this procedure, Gretchen's blood count will be very low, and she will be at high risk for infection, bleeding, and other side effects while her body starts to make new white blood cells.
We are raising money for Gretchen's medical bills and expenses. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to know her, Gretchen is someone who leaves an indelible mark on others. She has faced this illness with grace, positivity, and strength, and our goal is to alleviate stress and any financial burden so that she can continue to fight with poise, humor, and tenacity. Please consider supporting this campaign so that she and her family can focus on healing. Thank you!
