Santo R. Malvone Memorial Research Fund CHARITYSMITH

The Santo R. Malvone Memorial Research Fund

Santo R. MalvoneSanto (Sandy) Malvone was a devoted husband, loving father and adoring grandfather. Sandy’s friends and family describe him as a gentleman and a gentle man.  He was a caring, hardworking man with dreams of traveling and growing old listening to music in his garden.

Those dreams were crushed when, on October 24, 2009, after experiencing indigestion for a few weeks, he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.  After 6 weeks of treatment, he lost his voice and the vision in his right eye as the cancer spread.  After another biopsy, it was determined that what was called liver cancer was actually LUNG cancer! 

Sandy did not want to die, enduring treatments, transfusions, and endless blood work.  He trusted the doctors and lived by their guidelines, drinking Ensure like a trooper and taking his medication religiously.  But, by the time the lung cancer was identified, Sandy had been racked with infections caused by the growing cancer and the chemotherapy pills he was taking for liver cancer.  His body was tired, and on January 11, 2010, he entered hospice care in the Palliative Care Unit of North Shore Manhasset Hospital in NY.  He passed away 8 days later, on January 19, at the age of 69, with his beloved wife and his 3 children by his side. 

During the Malvone family's struggle with Sandy’s disease, they learned about the deception of this type of lung cancer. Not only can the diagnosis be life-threatening, it is often misdiagnosed as liver, brain, or even lymphatic cancer.  Lung cancer, they learned, is NOT just a smoker’s disease, as they had previously assumed.  Sandy’s family believes his past career 30 years ago as an exterminator caused this cancer, and when they mentioned it to family and friends, they heard similar stories.  The need for advocacy grows ever stronger as a result.

Sandy immigrated to the United States from Italy when he was 25 years old.  To support his family in Italy, he left school at the age of 12 to work on the freighters.  As a result, Sandy had a passion for education, insisting that his children have more opportunities than he was granted.  He instilled this belief in education in his children and grandchildren, driving them to always do better than their best.

The intent of the Santo R. Malvone Memorial Research Fund is twofold.  First, it will provide support to the Palliative Care/Hospice staff at North Shore Hospital, in honor of his favorite nurse, Katie, and all those caregivers who know what cancer can do, and still find the strength to go back to work the next day.  They are angels, bringing comfort to patients and support to their families. 

Second, this fund will provide a scholarship to students entering the science or medical field.  It is our hope that through one of them, the fight against cancer can be won.

In memory of Sandy, and in honor of all the brave people afflicted by cancer, we pray for a cure.

 

 

Fund Administrator:

 

 

Donations:

The Santo R. Malvone Memorial Research Fund is a division of CHARITYSMITH: National Society of Memorial Research Funds, a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to the creation and governing of memorial endeavors. All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation.

Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer. For more information please contact CHARITYSMITH.

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