Lauren’s Cancer Fighting Fund
Donation protected
At 26 years old, Lauren was a healthy young adult. She was working as an elementary technology teacher, an avid concert-goer, a Long Beach Island beach bum and mother to her dog, Tux.
In October 2014, after going in for a procedure to remove an ovarian cyst, Lauren received a diagnosis of Primary Peritoneal Cancer. Lauren, along with her doctors from Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ , decided on an aggressive approach to tackling the cancer and because of this, Lauren needed to take an unpaid medical leave from her teaching job. In December 2014, she underwent an 8-hour surgery, followed by 6 rounds of chemotherapy, consisting of 18 sessions between January 2015 and May 2015. At the end of May, Lauren was deemed ‘cancer free’ and returned to work in June.
Between June 2015 and May 2016, Lauren went back to living her life… as she says a ‘normal person’ would. That time was filled with work, trips to Long Beach Island, family gatherings, styling her hair, weddings, Andrew McMahon concerts, taking pictures, acupuncture sessions, hanging out with her boyfriend + friends, walks with Tux, New Found Glory concerts, writing posts in her blog , etc.
In June 2016, after a routine CT scan, Lauren learned the cancer had returned. Two days after the school year ended, Lauren started 3 rounds of chemotherapy. Despite the news and chemo side effects, Lauren continued to work in her school district’s summer enrichment program because she wasn’t going to ‘let IT win’ and she knew it would serve as a great and rewarding distraction.
Towards the end of summer 2016, Lauren and her parents, had made a visit to Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to meet with a specialist. As a result of the meeting, a third surgery was scheduled for the end of September and possible future treatments to follow. This meant Lauren would need to take a second unpaid medical leave and because the surgery will take place in Maryland, it would mean having her family take off from their jobs for 2-3 weeks, commuting to Maryland and residing in a hotel for an extended stay.
Shortly after, news was received that the 3 rounds of chemo from the summer, did not work. Regardless, Lauren went back to work to set up for the school year because she was determined to get her technology program up and running for the students/teachers before taking her leave. Again, it would also provide a sense of ‘normalcy’. The third surgery is scheduled for September 22, 2016.
Lauren and her family have been reluctant to ask for any help with medical, travel or treatment expenses. As friends of their family, we are asking for any donation you can make to help ease their financial pressure. A financial burden is the last thing we want them to worry about. Any support you can give will be deeply appreciated. Donations to this campaign will go to offset medical bills, equipment, prescriptions, ongoing and future treatments and other associated expenses.
Believing in the power of positivity, music and continuing to ‘swim’ forward is what Lauren continues to do.
Please keep Lauren, Anthony, Jo-Anne, Wayne, Tux and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
In October 2014, after going in for a procedure to remove an ovarian cyst, Lauren received a diagnosis of Primary Peritoneal Cancer. Lauren, along with her doctors from Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, NJ , decided on an aggressive approach to tackling the cancer and because of this, Lauren needed to take an unpaid medical leave from her teaching job. In December 2014, she underwent an 8-hour surgery, followed by 6 rounds of chemotherapy, consisting of 18 sessions between January 2015 and May 2015. At the end of May, Lauren was deemed ‘cancer free’ and returned to work in June.
Between June 2015 and May 2016, Lauren went back to living her life… as she says a ‘normal person’ would. That time was filled with work, trips to Long Beach Island, family gatherings, styling her hair, weddings, Andrew McMahon concerts, taking pictures, acupuncture sessions, hanging out with her boyfriend + friends, walks with Tux, New Found Glory concerts, writing posts in her blog , etc.
In June 2016, after a routine CT scan, Lauren learned the cancer had returned. Two days after the school year ended, Lauren started 3 rounds of chemotherapy. Despite the news and chemo side effects, Lauren continued to work in her school district’s summer enrichment program because she wasn’t going to ‘let IT win’ and she knew it would serve as a great and rewarding distraction.
Towards the end of summer 2016, Lauren and her parents, had made a visit to Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to meet with a specialist. As a result of the meeting, a third surgery was scheduled for the end of September and possible future treatments to follow. This meant Lauren would need to take a second unpaid medical leave and because the surgery will take place in Maryland, it would mean having her family take off from their jobs for 2-3 weeks, commuting to Maryland and residing in a hotel for an extended stay.
Shortly after, news was received that the 3 rounds of chemo from the summer, did not work. Regardless, Lauren went back to work to set up for the school year because she was determined to get her technology program up and running for the students/teachers before taking her leave. Again, it would also provide a sense of ‘normalcy’. The third surgery is scheduled for September 22, 2016.
Lauren and her family have been reluctant to ask for any help with medical, travel or treatment expenses. As friends of their family, we are asking for any donation you can make to help ease their financial pressure. A financial burden is the last thing we want them to worry about. Any support you can give will be deeply appreciated. Donations to this campaign will go to offset medical bills, equipment, prescriptions, ongoing and future treatments and other associated expenses.
Believing in the power of positivity, music and continuing to ‘swim’ forward is what Lauren continues to do.
Please keep Lauren, Anthony, Jo-Anne, Wayne, Tux and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
Organizer and beneficiary
James Nash
Organizer
Park Ridge, NJ
Lauren Michelle Zucconi
Beneficiary
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