Marisa Tufaro was born with a brave heart, one whose remarkable resilience and strength cancer ultimately overcame.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in a myriad of extracurricular activities. She lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant to correct a complex congenital cardiac defect.
The transplant, which was supposed to extend Marisa’s life, tragically cut it short when a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of cancer known as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder.
After chemotherapy and radiation treatments failed to thwart the aggressive disease that riddled her body and brain, Marisa succumbed to her illness on Jan. 30, 2017, following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.
On the eighth anniversary of Marisa’s untimely passing, the nonprofit bearing her name has made a generous donation to support pediatric oncology patients and their families at the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, scheduled to open this spring, and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick.
In addition to supporting the hospital and cancer center’s comprehensive Child Life programs – including music therapy and pet therapy – The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s donation provides financial assistance to families of pediatric oncology patients.
PROVIDING COMFORT
“We are eternally grateful for the 13 years God blessed us with Marisa, but struggle to live every day with the cruel irony that the transplant performed to save her life inevitably claimed it, along with the heart of a donor whose family is also grieving,” Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg Tufaro said.
“We hope today’s donation in Marisa’s loving memory, made possible through the remarkable generosity of our foundation’s benevolent supporters, will provide comfort to pediatric oncology patients and their families as they courageously continue their own battles with cancer.”
The donation has special meaning to the Tufaro family because Marisa immensely benefited from Child Life services, including music therapy and pet therapy, during hospitalizations at multiple medical centers, including BMSCH.
She 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.
TUFARO FOUNDATION’S MISSION
Established seven and a half years ago to assist pediatric patients and underserved children throughout the greater Middlesex County area, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating more than $375,000 to fulfill its mission.
The foundation has assisted multiple families whose children are in medical crisis, providing financial support through the payment of medical and/or personal expenses to help lessen the burden of parents who have lost wages while spending time at the hospital or providing care at home for their loved ones.
The nonprofit, which makes community service an integral part of its mission, has also spearheaded multiple initiatives resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter coats, baby supplies, school supplies and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, the foundation has awarded $33,000 in scholarships to exceptional high school seniors who have helped children in need and sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.
IMPACT OF CHILD LIFE
A hospital stay can be daunting for a child. Through age-appropriate play, education and communication, child life specialists help pediatric patients cope with the anxiety and fear that can accompany treatments, medical procedures, hospital visits or admissions. Child life specialists make the healthcare experience less stressful and more understandable for children and their families.
As part of its child life services, BMSCH offers a comprehensive music therapy program and pet therapy program.
BMSCH’s pet therapy program brings joy and comfort to children and families during their hospital stay. Therapy pets provide an invaluable source of emotional support, offering calming companionship to some and playful excitement to others. Research has shown that interacting with therapy pets can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, creating a more positive and healing environment for young patients.
A board-certified music therapist provides individualized sessions tailored to each child’s needs, addressing pain management, emotional regulation, communication, and overall well-being. Through a variety of musical techniques and instruments, including specialized options for infants and those in bereavement, BMSCH’s music therapy program creates a soothing and supportive environment, helping children cope with the challenges of hospitalization and fostering a positive healing experience.
BMSCH’s Child Life program offers a vital source of comfort and play and will extend those efforts, when opened, through the Toy Store at the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, where young patients can choose from an assortment of complimentary toys, games, and activities to help them cope with stress and maintain a sense of normalcy.