Barbara Sciandra was just 34 years old when she heard three devastating words: “You have cancer.”
Since her diagnosis seven years ago, all Barb has had to do is take care of her three children with her husband Sal, keep her career as a pharmacist going and, oh yeah, help raise $330,000 to date through a foundation she co-founded.
Paint Pittston Pink (PPP) has been one of the most successful fundraising efforts in Great Pittston since its inception in 2014 when it raised $30,000. Each year since, PPP has grown and so have the donations. Last year, $90,000 was raised and PPP isn’t stopping there. This year’s goal is an incredible $100,000.
“We’re in the process of setting up our own fund at the University of Pennsylvania and at The Moffitt Cancer Center,” Barbara said. “This will ensure that we have more of a beat on all the latest research so we, as a group, can decide and direct where our donations will be used.”
As far as Barb’s health is concerned, at 41, she’s doing great and is currently a seven-year cancer survivor. She keeps up on the latest technology, gets to her doctor’s appointments and, most importantly, keeps her immune system strong.
Barbara has been in a clinical trial under the care of Dr. Brian Czerniecki’s immunotherapy cancer research that was formerly at the University of Penn and is now at Moffitt. PPP divides proceeds from all fundraisers to both institutions.
Over the summer, Barb flew to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL to receive an immune booster — a series of vaccinations that, in essence, teaches the body to attack new or lingering cancer cells.
“Before my (clinical) trial started, my immune response was zero which meant if anything were to happen, my body wouldn’t be strong enough to fight it,” Barb said.
Her vaccine regiment at Moffitt has been a process of apheresis where white blood cells are removed from her body while a manufactured vaccine designed specifically for her is sent back into her body, essentially retraining her white blood cells to attack.
She has one more vaccination to undergo later this fall.
“It was easy going to Penn for my vaccinations,” Barb said. “It’s a little more challenging going to Florida, but it could be worse; we could be going to Alaska.”
Barbara is thrilled with how far PPP has come, especially since she put a bit of pressure on her committee in year one when she said she wanted to raise $50,000. PPP fell short, raising $30,000 but was encouraged. In the second year, the organization hit the $50K mark.
Barbara said the goal for 2019 is to send $25,000 to the University of Penn and $75,000 to the Moffitt center.
“We started off just wanting to sell flags for Main Street,” she said. “It kind of just spiraled into something; we had no idea what it would turn in to. I don’t think any of us thought it would be an ongoing event or get as big as it has.”
Family and friends
Barbara and Sal have three children — Jameson, 12, Chase, 11, Cameron, 7.
“They’ve seen everything kind of transpire and I don’t even think they remember some of this stuff, which is a blessing for sure,” Barb admitted. “I was 34 and it was three months after Cameron was born when I was diagnosed.”
Barbara is happy to have a strong baseline with family and friends over the years.
“My family and friends have been supportive. I mean, if it wasn’t for family and friends, this (PPP) wouldn’t have taken off the way that it has,” she said. “The kids love it and I really like seeing the kids involved and their school involved.
“Pittston Area kids are involved, which is really nice because the kids are the future of everything so I’m glad they are participating so much because some day, hopefully, they will take this over and keep it going,” she added.
As for Sal, he’s 100% behind his wife but, according to Barbara, he has a tougher time because he relives her situation and, at times, it becomes painful for him to see his wife in a dire situation.
“I try to keep Sal out of doctor’s appointments,” Barbara admitted. “It’s tough for him and, if I put myself in his shoes, I think it’s harder to be a caregiver than a patient.”
2019 PPP events
“You have to try different things and we try to reinvent ourselves every year which is why there are new activities and we try to make things a little different so people are still excited to come out and support PPP,” Barbara said.
She gives credit to the committee for having the enthusiasm and excitement to make the PPP campaign successful, but extends her thanks for all those in Greater Pittston who have supported and financially contributed to PPP.
“The community has been beyond supportive,” she said. “We are so very lucky.”
