Marisa Tufaro, who survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer at the age of 13, was the inspiration behind a generous gift five Central Jersey women made to a local children’s hospital.
Kimberly Allen and Susan Hermann of Somerset joined Amy Papi of East Brunswick, Randy Stevenson of Colts Neck, and Diane Uniman of North Brunswick in making a $1,000 donation to the Child Life Program at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick on Wednesday morning.
“The story of Marisa Tufaro made a heartfelt passionate impression on inspiring us to come together and make a contribution,” read an inscription on a card that accompanied the generous donation.
“We are grateful to everyone at BMSCH for the love and care you give to all pediatric patients, as well as supporting their families. We hope our donation encourages others to join together in this manner to help with the needs of the children and the hospital.”
The donation has special meaning to Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, whose daughter immensely benefited from child life services during hospitalizations at multiple medical centers, including BMSCH. Born with a complex congenital heart defect, Marisa was also under the loving care for her entire life of Joseph Gaffney, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and RWJUH.
“The benevolence of these unassuming women, who were inspired by Marisa’s courageous journey, will make a profound impact on the pediatric patients at BMSCH,” Cyndi Tufaro said. “Words can’t accurately convey our family’s gratitude to this kindhearted quintet for its remarkable act of generosity. We know BMSCH’s child life specialists will put their wonderful donation to excellent use.”
The Child Life Program at BMSCH is available to assist patients and families in making the hospital experience positive by helping with the overall adjustment to hospitalization, illness or injury, and treatment.
The hospital’s team of child life specialists is specially trained to help children and their families understand and manage challenging life events and stressful healthcare experiences. Specialists provide developmental, educational, and therapeutic interventions that support growth and development, recognize family strengths and individuality, and respect different methods of coping.
At BMSCH hospital, child life specialists provide age-appropriate preparation for surgery, medical procedures, tests and treatments, hands-on learning experiences to teach children and siblings about all aspects of hospitalization, therapeutic art and recreational sessions in the activity centers and at the bedside, activities to help “normalize” the hospital stay including play, special events, holiday celebrations and parties, emotional support to help patients and family members minimize the stress that often surrounds hospitalization, as well as guided imagery, relaxation and distraction sessions.
Shortly after their daughter’s untimely passing in 2017, Cyndi and Greg Tufaro established a nonprofit in her honor and loving memory to assist pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
Since its inception less than six years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than a quarter of a million dollars to fulfill its mission. The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value. In addition, the foundation has awarded $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 high school seniors.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years (including many stays and emergency department visits at BMSCH) and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa Tufaro was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
The foundation is a fitting way to keep alive Marisa’s indomitable spirit and allow her legacy to be one of helping others.
“This donation from Kimberly, Susan, Amy, Randy, and Diane in Marisa’s loving memory means the world to us,” Cyndi Tufaro said. “We hope their benevolence is exponentially returned.”