There are many ties that bind a family together, but the unique bond that exists between a mother and daughter is especially strong and complex.

Rene Giacalone, formerly of Melville, is now a single mom of three children. Life changed for the entire Giacalone family in January 2002 when Rene’s youngest daughter, Alicia, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer.

“I made a vow [to Alicia] that she would never be left alone in the hospital,” says Rene. To assure that Rene kept her promise, her parents stepped in to help with her other two small children, and her neighbors on Honeysuckle Court in Melville assisted the family in many different ways. “Everybody chipped in. They would make play dates at the hospital and had sleepovers,” Rene recalls. Through the support network created by Rene’s friends, family and neighbors, Rene was able to maintain a healthy outlook while helping her daughter cope with the arduous cancer treatments.

“Alicia went through 17 cycles of chemotherapy and was in and out of the hospital for 13 months,” says Rene. Between her chemotherapy treatments, Alicia also had to endure radiation. While everyone was trying to keep Alicia’s spirits up, the young girl came up with the idea of selling jewelry at a “store” she would open at the hospital. Alicia made signs announcing the store opening, and in her first week of business sold $1,000 worth of jewelry. Instead of spending the windfall on herself, Alicia told Rene that she wanted to take the profits and help other children who had cancer.

Using the $1,000 as seed money, along with the assistance of neighbor and attorney Michael Borg, they established the Honeysuckle Fund (HF) in December 2002, named after the neighborhood that rallied around the family through a very difficult time.

HF provides support through the LIJ/North Shore Healthcare System for the psychosocial aspect for children with cancer and blood disorders and offers the resources to help them deal with the devastating effects of cancer from the initial diagnosis through the end of treatment.

“I found my strength and my calling,” Rene says as she recounts the complexity of Alicia’s illness and care. “It was grueling. Towards the end of Alicia’s treatment, her hospital roommate passed away and Alicia said to me, ‘What am I doing this for?’”

“I was fighting so many battles,” Rene recalls. “I didn’t want my memory of her being in a hospital. I wanted her to be laughing. She didn’t know how very sick she was and she needed to understand what was happening to her. Alicia felt empowered that she had a choice [with] her treatment. The goal was not to have her dwell on cancer. It was almost ironic that she did so well because of that.”

Rene is hoping to help other families deal with a child’s illness by publishing a book containing the emails that she accumulated during Alicia’s treatments, titled Alicia’s Update: A Mother’s Memoir of Pediatric Cancer. “From diagnosis to the end of her treatment, it’s truly a story about life. It deals with how something traumatic happens to you. It’s about hope. None of us have a guarantee [in life],” says Rene.

HF is supported by donations raised privately and through a variety of fundraisers. All volunteers are unpaid, as is Rene. “I have an optimistic view that I am going to change the face of pediatric cancer,” Rene says firmly.
Alicia has been cancer-free for six years and continues to be the inspiration of the foundation. “Alicia stuffs envelopes, works at every event, she’s our official greeter,” Rene says proudly.

Rene’s goal is to establish an HF in pediatric oncology facilities nationwide. She continues to fight for children who are affected by cancer. “Our lives have made a difference. That’s why we do this. We have to be out there. Everything was put on hold because of the economy, but there are still children getting sick,” Rene says. “There are dozens of Alicias out there and they are all my heroes.”

For more information or to donate call 631-885-1009 or go to www.honeysucklefoundation.org or email rene@honeysucklefoundation.org.

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