Donna Barile
Donation protected
If you could please take the time to see Donna’s story below told in her own words. Right now Donna is currently hospitalized indefinitely and her husband Vin has been taking off of work to be with her and her boys Anthony and Joe. Unfortunately after next week he will no longer be getting paid time off so any little bit you can do to help by donating would greatly appreciated.
Donna’s Story:
As I reflect back to twenty years ago when Vincent and I vowed to love one another for better or worse, to love, care, protect and provide for each other, I know we have lived by these words. Together, we faced our first "worse" when breast cancer invaded our lives. I was just 31. Our first "better" was twin boys Anthony and Joseph. I was 35. Together we bid farewell to cancer and focused on our future, counting our blessings by twos. We were filled with joy and love, plans, and dreams for our new family.
But wait! Our lives came to a screeching halt when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was just 43. What do you do? We were not prepared for another bout of cancer. We had twins. Cancer does not care. Cancer counts on our weakness, it counts on winning. What cancer did not count on were my maternal instincts or my husband's protective qualities. My husband wants to protect me and care for me. He wants my pain to go away.
Unfortunately, the wrath of ovarian cancer is beyond his control. Not something for a man to easily come to terms with! To say I am fortunate and grateful falls short of the emotions I feel for him as he continues to hold my hand and stand by my side. We want to shield our sons from my pain and make our daily lives as normal as possible. However, no matter how hard we try, I know my boys and my husband feel lost, alone, and powerless. No one can prepare you for the unforeseen complications of treatment. They tell you what "might" happen, but no one can say what WILL happen, it just happens and we're left trying to figure out how to deal with it, as a family, all the while trying to protect the boys.
However, what I can say for certain is that the NOCC embraced me. The huge arms of the NOCC wrapped around my family and said, "we are here for you." That is why the Run/Walk is so important to me. At the Run/Walk my sons witnessed families, moms, dads, boys, and girls all going through "stuff." They saw love, warmth, acts of kindness, giving, and caring. They knew they were not alone. Although our family continues to live with the impact of ongoing treatments, which is challenging, lonely, confusing, and difficult, my boys know they are not alone. They are unique because they are my boys, my twins, but they are not different because someone else is surviving right along with them.
My NOCC family may not show up in a DNA test, an unbreakable bond connects us. These women have become my confidants, the people who I turn to for strength. I know they are here for my family and me.
The Run/Walk is an invitation for all of us to celebrate life, embrace newcomers, remember our loved ones, share our experiences, and rejoice over our victories. Cancer has taught me to cherish every day. I am a wife and a mother first and foremost. My life is defined by the love I see in my family's eyes, not by cancer. I am guided by the tall shadows cast by my husband and our sons. They stand together and provide my strength to get through another day.
As my story continues to unfold, I reflect back on those vows we took 20 years ago.
"I have come here on July 29, 1999, to take Vincent as my spouse. I promise, to love, protect, and provide for Vincent the best I can from every sunrise through every sunset for each day for the rest of my life." I cherish these words for Vincent and my beautiful boys.
About Donna Barile
Donna Barile, a 17-year survivor of breast and ovarian cancer, lives each day through the strength of her children and her husband. They fill her "earth" with the force of a wave from the middle of the ocean
Donna’s Story:
As I reflect back to twenty years ago when Vincent and I vowed to love one another for better or worse, to love, care, protect and provide for each other, I know we have lived by these words. Together, we faced our first "worse" when breast cancer invaded our lives. I was just 31. Our first "better" was twin boys Anthony and Joseph. I was 35. Together we bid farewell to cancer and focused on our future, counting our blessings by twos. We were filled with joy and love, plans, and dreams for our new family.
But wait! Our lives came to a screeching halt when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I was just 43. What do you do? We were not prepared for another bout of cancer. We had twins. Cancer does not care. Cancer counts on our weakness, it counts on winning. What cancer did not count on were my maternal instincts or my husband's protective qualities. My husband wants to protect me and care for me. He wants my pain to go away.
Unfortunately, the wrath of ovarian cancer is beyond his control. Not something for a man to easily come to terms with! To say I am fortunate and grateful falls short of the emotions I feel for him as he continues to hold my hand and stand by my side. We want to shield our sons from my pain and make our daily lives as normal as possible. However, no matter how hard we try, I know my boys and my husband feel lost, alone, and powerless. No one can prepare you for the unforeseen complications of treatment. They tell you what "might" happen, but no one can say what WILL happen, it just happens and we're left trying to figure out how to deal with it, as a family, all the while trying to protect the boys.
However, what I can say for certain is that the NOCC embraced me. The huge arms of the NOCC wrapped around my family and said, "we are here for you." That is why the Run/Walk is so important to me. At the Run/Walk my sons witnessed families, moms, dads, boys, and girls all going through "stuff." They saw love, warmth, acts of kindness, giving, and caring. They knew they were not alone. Although our family continues to live with the impact of ongoing treatments, which is challenging, lonely, confusing, and difficult, my boys know they are not alone. They are unique because they are my boys, my twins, but they are not different because someone else is surviving right along with them.
My NOCC family may not show up in a DNA test, an unbreakable bond connects us. These women have become my confidants, the people who I turn to for strength. I know they are here for my family and me.
The Run/Walk is an invitation for all of us to celebrate life, embrace newcomers, remember our loved ones, share our experiences, and rejoice over our victories. Cancer has taught me to cherish every day. I am a wife and a mother first and foremost. My life is defined by the love I see in my family's eyes, not by cancer. I am guided by the tall shadows cast by my husband and our sons. They stand together and provide my strength to get through another day.
As my story continues to unfold, I reflect back on those vows we took 20 years ago.
"I have come here on July 29, 1999, to take Vincent as my spouse. I promise, to love, protect, and provide for Vincent the best I can from every sunrise through every sunset for each day for the rest of my life." I cherish these words for Vincent and my beautiful boys.
About Donna Barile
Donna Barile, a 17-year survivor of breast and ovarian cancer, lives each day through the strength of her children and her husband. They fill her "earth" with the force of a wave from the middle of the ocean
Organizer and beneficiary
Crystal Lynn
Organizer
West Babylon, NY
Donna Grimme Barile
Beneficiary