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You know, Cancer is a terrible disease but one that doesn't necessarily mean death anymore. Since my sister died I have done an incredible amount of research on cancer. Its causes, effects, treatments and what is out there for the patient as WELL AS THE FAMILY. Cancer affects EVERYONE not just the patient. I want to tell people; There are groups on the Internet that offer on-line Support Chat rooms. (Check with the different ISP's and look for the ones that have chat rooms.) Anonymity sometimes helps people open up enough to share their fears and doubts. Their hopes and strengths. Donna was part of an online support group that not only serves as a fountain of information for anyone with Breast Cancer, but a supportive "family" that truly understood what she was going through: each step of the way. Kind of like a case of "Been There, Done That." The Chat rooms can also help members of the family, like me. They helped me deal with my grief and my anger. They taught me that by giving others moral support and by sending them information that I found on the web regarding Cancer, I could help myself deal with my feelings. For ME this was the only way that I could deal with losing my sister. By helping others, I felt that I was making a difference. This was also a way to "CONTROL" Cancer. The more I "knew" the more ammunition I had to fight it, for me or people that I know. I couldn't save my sister, but maybe the information that I find and pass on, will save or help someone else.

I want to also take a moment to publicly thank Sue Houghtalen(Prodigy Breast Cancer Chat) and Patti Filion (Prodigy Grief Chat) for all their support. Especially Sue! (Who I tracked down one night on my computer. I found Sue's screen name on the Breast Cancer chats Donna saved on her harddrive before she died). Sue was in the chats with my sister and I felt a "bond" wth her because of this. I had the pleasure of meeting her in January 1997 when she came to New Jersey for a Deaf Conference.

Sue Houghtalen and I
January 1997

She is a very special Lady, and let me tell you, her spirit and strong personality show from the get-go! She, my sister and sooooo many others are an inspiration to me in many different ways. They should be to you too. For their courage and strength in the face of something that, for some is so FINAL.

Thank you to Sue, Patti, Lia, and Chris and all the others. If you hadn't encouraged me, this web page might not have been here today. I wanted to DO something when Donna died. I wanted to make sure that there would be 'something' that would go on to tell everyone how wonderful, smart, kind, strong, beautiful, loyal, generous and warm, my sister, Donna (Caltagirone) Pollack was. I swore to her before she died that she would NEVER be forgotten. I even named my second daughter: Alyssa Donna to carry on her name. Donna was so happy that I did that. She saw and held Alyssa (born December 1st, 1996) and I remember her telling me, "Oh! How beautiful!" Not surprising that my daughter looks so much like my sister.

Donna Marie Caltagirone

Alyssa Donna Turizo
1998

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