If you know my mom, Pauline Pinto (Famularo), then you know she has always been the kind of person who puts everyone else first. Whether she was helping children safely cross the street during her 13 years as a crossing guard for the City of Garfield, working as a school aide, or simply showing up for family and friends, caring for others has always come naturally to her. She has spent her life helping others feel safe, cared for, and supported. Today, I'm asking our community to help do the same for her.
On June 17, 2026, my mom was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance. Within hours, we heard the words no family is ever prepared for: she has aggressive lung cancer. Since that night, everything has happened so quickly. Doctors discovered a large mass blocking approximately 98% of her lower right lung. They have also found abnormalities in her adrenal glands and lymph nodes. The tumors are pressing against her airway and shifting her esophagus, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe. This week, she began her first cycle of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Tomorrow, she is scheduled to undergo a bronchoscopy and with an additional placement of an airway stent, in the hope that it will help her breathe more comfortably.
Watching someone you love struggle to catch their breath changes you. Every day brings new appointments, difficult decisions, and an endless stream of uncertainty. Still, we are holding onto hope and taking this one day at a time. For much of her life, my mom avoided doctors because of a deep fear of medical care. She always believed she had more time. By the time she finally sought help, the cancer had already progressed, making this diagnosis even more devastating. I am her only child and now her full-time caregiver. My days are spent getting her to appointments, managing medications, helping her through treatment, and doing everything I can to make sure she never feels alone.
We're asking for help to ease the financial burden of her care. Your generosity will help cover medical expenses, medications, transportation to treatments, and everyday living costs so we can focus on what matters most: giving my mom the best possible care and every opportunity to keep fighting. If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser or keeping my mom in your thoughts and prayers would mean the world to us. Every donation, every share, and every kind message reminds us that we are not facing this alone. Your support will help my mom breathe a little easier—literally—and remind her that even in the darkest moments, there is still hope. I can't take this diagnosis away, but with your help, I can make sure my mom is surrounded by the care, comfort, and support she deserves every step of the way. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and for standing beside our family during this incredibly difficult time.
On June 17, 2026, my mom was rushed to the emergency room by ambulance. Within hours, we heard the words no family is ever prepared for: she has aggressive lung cancer. Since that night, everything has happened so quickly. Doctors discovered a large mass blocking approximately 98% of her lower right lung. They have also found abnormalities in her adrenal glands and lymph nodes. The tumors are pressing against her airway and shifting her esophagus, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe. This week, she began her first cycle of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Tomorrow, she is scheduled to undergo a bronchoscopy and with an additional placement of an airway stent, in the hope that it will help her breathe more comfortably.
Watching someone you love struggle to catch their breath changes you. Every day brings new appointments, difficult decisions, and an endless stream of uncertainty. Still, we are holding onto hope and taking this one day at a time. For much of her life, my mom avoided doctors because of a deep fear of medical care. She always believed she had more time. By the time she finally sought help, the cancer had already progressed, making this diagnosis even more devastating. I am her only child and now her full-time caregiver. My days are spent getting her to appointments, managing medications, helping her through treatment, and doing everything I can to make sure she never feels alone.
We're asking for help to ease the financial burden of her care. Your generosity will help cover medical expenses, medications, transportation to treatments, and everyday living costs so we can focus on what matters most: giving my mom the best possible care and every opportunity to keep fighting. If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser or keeping my mom in your thoughts and prayers would mean the world to us. Every donation, every share, and every kind message reminds us that we are not facing this alone. Your support will help my mom breathe a little easier—literally—and remind her that even in the darkest moments, there is still hope. I can't take this diagnosis away, but with your help, I can make sure my mom is surrounded by the care, comfort, and support she deserves every step of the way. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your compassion, your generosity, and for standing beside our family during this incredibly difficult time.