Rare Cancer - Please Read Her Story

10/24/2017

Joyce Maddalone has an extremely rare form of malignant cancer called Sex Cord Cancer.

 It has been a long road for Joyce in fighting this cancer starting with her diagnosis in 2012 and working to get the best possible care possible to treat a rare cancer that so many know so little about.

After many trials and tribulations over the last five years, Joyce has been fortunate to meet a wonderful surgeon here in the Albany area who is educated on her type of cancer.

Last week she went in to the hospital to have her surgery in hopes of having the cancer removed. It has been a rough road for her to say the very least.

 She has had multiple surgeries in three days, two transfusions (receiving close to fifty units of blood), been in an induced coma, struggled with no way to communicate due to the extremely uncomfortable tube down her throat for many days and an infection. 

Through it all she has been a fighter, her surgeon and trauma team have been in awe of her and her ability to bounce back.

 She still has a long road ahead of her but if what she has overcome in the past week is any indicator she has God's mercy and blessing.

Your prayers are truly welcome for Joyce as she has a long fight ahead of her, as she finds herself exhausted like many do when in her situation.

Joyce has one wish and that is to start a fund that will be used in a way to help others like herself within her community, who have been stricken with any form of cancer; The Mother Teresa Cancer Awareness Fund.

Joyce’s heart is full of compassion for others and can relate to the stress and anxiety that comes along with cancer when treatments are many and bills are constant with little relief in sight.

 Joyce is a selfless person and she is humbled by the outpouring of love and support that she is receiving from her family, friends and those she has not yet been introduced to.

To learn more about Joyce's journey and her impact on the community please continue reading:

“I would like you to get to know my mother through my eyes, the eldest Maddalone child, the way I see her as a great influence in our community and an inspiration to everyone that she comes in contact with.
"When you hear her name, you will be hard pressed to find someone who has not heard of Joyce Maddalone.

For over 45 years Joyce has taken an active role in the community. The amazing thing? How does she find the time?

You may know her as the matriarch of the Maddalone family; this includes her husband, Hank of over fifty years, mother of eight sons, six daughters, Grandmother of forty-one and great-grandmother of four.

You may have come across her in the medical field; where she has been a registered nurse with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services for over 50 years. Joyce was the Nursing Director and Founder of Action Nursing Service and Maddalone Medical Supplies.
Joyce combined her love of children and nursing as the nurse at St. John the Evangelist and St. Paul the Apostle Schools in Schenectady, N.Y. for over 15 years.

Perhaps you have followed her vision of Mother Teresa Academy in Clifton Park, N.Y., which she founded in 2006 and has served as the Marketing Director and Director. You will hear her joy and laughter as she engages with the children while they learn and grow. She has influenced hundreds of children and families through her interaction with them at the school and for many years went without a salary so that families without funds could send their children to Mother Teresa Academy.
Her wish was that every child receive a well rounded, Christian education and never be turned away due to a family’s finances.

Should you attend Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville, N.Y., I am sure you have come across her as one of the Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters or Lectors. Joyce served as a member of the weekly Prison Ministry at Mount McGregor Prison (up until it closed), is a Rite of Christian Initiation team member, a member of the Parish Nurses, Elizabeth Mother Ministry, the Welcoming Committee and something she is very proud of; she has participated in four medical missions to Peru and the Dominican Republic.

In her free time she and her husband volunteer to sit with members of the parish who have been stricken with Alzheimer’s. This is something that means a great deal to the both of them as they were the caretakers of my Grandfather who was taken from us due to this horrible illness.
I cannot remember a time when my mother did not welcome someone into our home whom did not have a place to stay or food to eat. She would even take in others who needed someone to care for them in their last days on earth.

Are you a Rotarian? Then I know you have met Joyce. She has been a member of the Glenville Rotary for the past thirty years and was one of its’ Presidents (their first, female President).

Are you part of the Chamber of Commerce? You will find her networking the room at many of their meetings, mixers and volunteering wherever she is needed.

She has also been instrumental in putting together the Capital Veteran's Memorial Project and currently serves as a Board Member as well as for the Capital Region YMCA , Glenville Rotary and Mother Teresa Academy.

When Joyce’s children were grown she continued to stay active with the Girl Scouts with her granddaughters. Joyce had been a Girl Scout leader for 20 years as well as having been a Boy Scout Leader for 10 years. She has been awarded the "Woman of Distinction Award" from the Girl Scouts of America.

If you think that the list ends here… it doesn’t. She also made the time to work as a licensed Real Estate Broker for Maddalone Realty up until she took ill this past spring, yet she still conducts evaluations on the elderly for Rely Long Term Insurance.

One of her favorite expressions is, "when you need something done, ask a busy person."

Joyce was recognized by the Times Union Newspaper as "One of the Twenty-Five People Who Make a Difference in the Capital District" in addition to being awarded the "Inspiration" Award by the Southern Saratoga Chamber of Commerce.

When we look for role models for our children, Joyce’s name can easily be at the top of the list. Joyce is a leading example of when we set our sights on something we can reach our goals. She has and will always find a way to be a central part of the community.
Her entire life has been devoted to her children and the children of others.

As her eldest daughter, I can share from experience, that she is a believer in the dreams of children, a motivator to encourage you when the road seems tough and your biggest supporter when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel."

My mother has dedicated her life to helping others…

My mother has so much more to offer the community, her family and everyone that she comes in contact with.”

Please join us as we create this fund the "Mother Teresa Cancer Awareness Fund" as she continues to be a blessing to others.