#VickieStrong

My Mom, Vickie Mannino is a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Cousin, Aunt and Friend, but most importantly, she is a fighter.

In July of 2010 she was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. After receiving this life altering news, my Mom had a double mastectomy, followed by a year of aggressive chemotherapy, all to ensure that she would enter the remission phase. After an enormous number of prayers, incredible doctors, and one hell of a fight, she was cancer free and in remission. Come September 2020, we celebrated 10 years of my Mom being Breast Cancer free. However, a cancer survivor constantly lives on eggshells. Every annual visit, the scare crosses your mind. Every blood draw, you pray to God that everything will come back normal. 

With the very long and challenging year we have all had in 2020, everyone was hopeful that 2021 was going to bring a new and more promising year. Unfortunately, that was not the case for my Mom and our family. On January 20, 2021 we received the earth-shattering news that my Mom was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic B-Cell Leukemia. Just a few short months after we celebrated her 10 years of being cancer free.

Heartbroken, we were put in touch with a Leukemia specialist from North Shore University Hospital | Northwell Health in Manhasset. He informed us that, in order to treat her diagnosis, my Mom would need to undergo a very aggressive chemotherapy, substantially more aggressive than the last time, which would require her to stay in the hospital through her treatment. After receiving the news, my family and I tried to remain strong and digest everything about to unravel. Days later, we geared up and helped my Mom pack for her undetermined length of stay at the hospital for her treatment.
 
On Monday, January 25, 2021, my Dad and I dropped my Mom off at the hospital and to say this was a heartbreaking experience is a severe understatement. To make the heartbreak deepen, given the COVID-19 restrictions, the hospital currently has a no visitation policy in place which prohibits us from being able to go and see her. As a result, my Mom needs to fight this battle with the company of her doctors, nurses, prayers, and a lot (we mean A LOT) of FaceTime. The doctors are still uncertain when my Mom will be able to return home and they are doing their best to treat my Mom into remission once again.

My Mom is undoubtedly the strongest woman that I know. Her physical, emotional and mental strength is not only inspiring to me, but to everyone else who has the pleasure of knowing and having her in their lives. I have full confidence that she will beat this cancer's ass with the help of the incredible team at Northwell alongside the army of love, support and prayers that are with her from friends, family and all of you.

Any contribution that you can give to my Mom and our family to help alleviate some of the financial burden will be greatly appreciated. Although any contribution will be helpful during this difficult time, at a minimum, we ask for you to please keep my Mom in your thoughts and prayers as she progresses through this fight. 

With much love and gratitude, 
Vickie, Jack and Julieanna Mannino