In 2009, Chrisie Funari’s daughter Ava was diagnosed with stage-four cancer at 18 months old. The diagnosis changed her life overnight.
Funari traveled the country seeking the best treatment. She lost her car, had no job and moved in with her parents to care for Ava. Still, Ava lost her battle to cancer in 2012 at age 5.
Funari was eight months pregnant at the time and had a 3-year-old son. She was left to pick up the pieces of her life. Funari dealt with the grief of losing her daughter by creating the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children in 2014.
“No one asked how me and my son were doing,” Funari said. “[Cancer] impacts the entire family.”
Source: Season for Sharing grant provides resources to children with cancer
Most Commented