Son’s
battle with rare cancer inspires parents’ fundraising effort
By Amanda Roberge CORRESPONDENT
When Shrewsbury native Scott Zenaro arrived in California three years ago, he couldn’t possibly have understood that he was being given a second chance at life.
A rare diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma at age 30 led to four long and difficult years, which included a handful of surgeries, 18 months of chemotherapy and 70 days of radiation. By the time Scott was 34, his doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston had nothing left to offer him. They had exhausted their resources and referred Scott to an oncologist in Santa Monica named Dr. Sant Chawla.
Dr. Chawla was unique in that he offered terminally ill patients a chance to participate in FDA clinical trials, and the family rejoiced in this gem of good news: Scott was one of the few people chosen to be part of a trial for the antibody drug R1507. However, the joy of the news quickly faded, and it became clear that there was one potentially major roadblock. Dr. Chawla’s clinic was in Santa Monica.
In between the East Coast and West Coast there were a number of problems to solve, not least of which had to do with finances. How does a 30-something cancer patient on a fixed income afford a 3,000-mile move to one of the most expensive cities in the country, just to roll the dice with an experimental treatment? The Lazarex Cancer Foundation in Danville, Calif., exists for this exact reason.
“Our mission is to provide resources for cancer patients who’ve been told they have no other options, but who are not yet done with their journey in life and refuse to give up,” said Susan Sappington, director of development at Lazarex. “Our goal on a daily basis is to help build a bridge to hope for not only the patients but to their families, who need to know they have done everything possible for their loved ones.”
When Scott began to question the logistics of his cross-country leap, Lazarex stepped in and provided him with a condo in a beautiful Marina Del Ray community and took on the burden of his medical and living expenses.
“He loved his time in Marina Del Ray,” said Scott’s father, Ron Zenaro. “He became very important to everyone at Lazarex, and of course we are very indebted to them.” Not only was Scott enjoying his role in California as a Lazarex spokesman, he also found that his body was responding well to treatments.
Much to everyone’s delight, Scott took it upon himself to become the self-appointed Lazarex ambassador and welcome wagon for incoming patients.
“He made them feel so welcome,” said Ms. Sappington. “He became an important part of everyone’s experience here, helping them with whatever they needed.”
When Scott’s treatments ceased to work, Lazarex funded a trip to the Philippines for him to receive additional treatment, where his winsome and outgoing character continued to shine on everyone at the clinic.
“He just had so much personality,” said Ms. Sappington. “He made everyone laugh. He was always cracking jokes.”
Scott died on Feb. 24, at 36 years old, after flying home to Boston for a bronchoscopy that doctors hoped would help him continue his life. When all hope was lost and he failed to regain consciousness, his family made the difficult decision to pull his breathing tube and let him be at peace, a long journey over after a courageous and admirable life.
His death was devastating and sudden in its own way, and has left holes in the hearts of not only his parents, siblings and countless friends, but also the people at Lazarex. “We all loved him very much,” Ms. Sappington said.
While Scott’s friends and family continue to deal with the trauma of their loss, Scott’s mother, Carol, has found her own way to give back: crafting beautiful bracelets from beads made of clay, glass and wood. The family has begun pounding the pavement for donations in return for one of Carol’s creations. In fact, she began crafting the bracelets before Scott’s passing, while he was still in the Philippines. During his visit home for Christmas in 2009, Scott commissioned nine bracelets to take back to the clinic for his nurses and staff.
“He called us from one of his appointments after he got back to the Philippines and we could hear everyone yelling ‘Thank you,’ ” said Mr. Zenaro. “But still, the bracelets weren’t that big of a deal until after he died.”
Indeed, production and sales — all executed with love and reverence by a mother who continues to grieve the loss of her youngest child — have become something of a career for Mrs. Zenaro since her son’s passing. Mr. Zenaro is proud to point out that through her craft, the family has already been able to donate more than $13,000 to Lazarex and has no plans to slow down.
“This whole thing has been very devastating,” he said. “(Making the bracelets) is good for her.”
Ultimately, because 100 percent of every donated dollar goes directly to the patients at the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, the family is invested in raising funds in this grass-roots way. Mr. Zenaro, for one, carries his wife’s wares with him everywhere he goes. A natural salesman, he has taken to promoting her product with steadfast enthusiasm.
“The Lazarex Center allowed Scott to lead a dignified, normal life for two and a half years,” he said, adding that Scott became the center’s longest living patient and, ultimately, a huge success story for the experimental treatments he received through the clinic.
To purchase a bracelet or make a donation to the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, go to www.lazarex.org.
