In Loving Memory of Annie Pagliarulo McAdams' Fundraising Page

In October 2017, Antoinette M. “Annie” Pagliarulo McAdams had a regularly scheduled mammogram.  Unfortunately, the doctor called Annie with results no one ever wants to hear-three separate cancerous tumors were found in her left breast. Shortly before Thanksgiving, Annie had a double mastectomy.   As genetic testing revealed that Annie had a high level of reoccurrence, the doctor recommended chemotherapy.  Annie was a trooper - undergoing chemotherapy every week.  In April 2018, Annie had her last chemotherapy treatment and went on vacation with her husband Tom, her daughters Susie and Stephanie, and her son TJ, hopeful that she had beaten the disease.

In December of 2019, Annie thought she had sprained her hip.  Not feeling well, Annie had an x-ray, and the doctor discovered a lesion.   In January 2020, Annie was told that she had metastatic breast cancer in her hip and that she could not be cured.   Annie was determined to push on and spend as much quality time as she could with her husband and three young children.  For the next year and a half, Annie worked with the doctors and staff at the Dana Farber, especially with Dr. Judy Garber, her oncologist, who made sure Annie had every treatment available.  Each person provided Annie with the strength and support to help her fight this cruel disease. 

Annie never gave up hope and showed tremendous faith and courage.  She tried multiple types of treatments, but her cancer continued to progress.  She suffered through multiple fractures of her hip, spine, sternum, ribs, and femurs.  In October 2021, Annie started experiencing headaches and was told that the cancer had metastasized to her brain.   Annie refused to stop battling and continued to receive various treatments and procedures.  After spending the month of March in the hospital, she came home determined to have another chemotherapy treatment.  Two weeks later, on Easter April 17, 2022, Annie passed away at home surrounded by her loving family.  She was only fifty years old.  Annie showed amazing strength during her 4 ½ year battle with cancer and was inspiration to us all.

Thank you for considering donating money that supports research at the Dana-Farber in Annie's memory so that no one else needs to suffer the way Annie did.  We appreciate any and all support.