Courage for Cristina

Patty Maturo
Editor-in-Chief

Cristina Cortese spent all of the fall 2006 semester hopping from doctor to cure what they told her was bronchitis.  No matter what type of medicine she took, she still felt the same. She blamed a large amount of her aches and pains on her playing Rugby. It wasn’t until after New Year’s that a doctor listened to her heart and chest and realized something wasn’t right.  A cat scan revealed she was having breathing issues and chest pain because the bottom half of her left lung had collapsed due to a 10-centimeter mass that was covering the entire bottom of her lung.  Cortese had a biopsy the next day and found out she was suffering from thymic carcinoma, the rarest form of thymus cancer.  She later had a full-body cat scan and learned the cancer had spread to her liver as well.

“On Jan. 7, I got the news I had cancer for a year; I had been living with cancer and I had no idea,” Cortese said.  “I had a fever all the time and lost a total of 22 pounds through this; I had swollen fingers and toes and had trouble going up the stairs.”

Cortese was supposed to return to living on North Campus this spring, but when she got news of condition, she had to move out of her townhouse and back to Tolland with her family.

According to the National Cancer Institute, thymic carcinomas are rare tumors of the cell that are on the outside of the thymus.  The thymus is a small organ that is in the upper chest under the breastbone, part of the lymph system.  The thymus produces white blood cells called lymphocytes that protect the body against infection.   

Last week, Cortese went in for another biopsy and three more masses in were discovered in her liver; her cancer is classified as stage four.  She is awaiting notification of when she can have surgery on her liver and lung.  The surgeries have to be done separately because they are both high-risk with an extended recovery period.  However, Cortese said she believes they will be performed in April into early May, making her able to attend graduation.  She’s already been through a series of chemotherapy and radiation from January into early March, but she’ll have to do more after the two surgeries are complete.

Cortese is a senior psychology major at Southern, specializing in mental health with a minor in Spanish.  She spent the summer of 2004 studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain. She is currently president of the psychology club and served as a student worker in the marketing department.  Last semester, she was an intern in the Yale Children’s Inpatient Psychiatric Services. Cortese played on the women’s rugby team, where she made a lot of close friends who she said are helping her get through this rough time. 

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of friends,” Cortese said.

Student Government, IRC and other organizations across campus have organized a fundraiser to help pay for Cortese’s medical costs. Student Government is selling lime-green bracelets modeled after the Livestrong ones for $2 that say “Courage for Cristina.”  According to Student Government Treasurer Elyse Williams, Student Government and the Rugby team are selling the bracelets at this time, but they are trying to get other organizations to get on board as well.  The rugby teams also just ordered their sweatpants for the season, which display the cancer ribbon in honor of Cortese. 

“We’re looking to do a dodge ball tournament in spring week and charge per team to participate as a form of fundraising,” said Williams.  “IRC is also going to charge admission to the dance and all that money will go to her.”

Williams said Student Government is working with Residence Life to do penny wars between the different halls to raise money. 

“It’s a fun thing to do between floors and it gets all the residence halls involved,” said Williams.  “We’re [student government] going to try to match the highest amount raised to donate as well.”

Williams added that North Campus Residence Complex also plans to do some form of fundraiser since that is where she lived last. 

“It’s important that Southern comes together and supports fellow students who are in need, and Cristina is in need.”

Cortese said she is having difficulty with her insurance paying for all her medical costs because she is 21.  She said she keeps having to prove that she’s still a student in order for them to cover her expenses.

“At first, they weren’t paying some of the bills or not giving me enough of my anti-nausea medicine nor paying for it,” she said. “They’re covering it, [the costs of chemo and hospital visits] but we just have to fight them for it; it’s a constant battle.”

Cortese’s professors have allowed her to complete her coursework from home this semester so she doesn’t fall behind so close to graduation.  She said she is very appreciative of Southern for being so understanding and compassionate.

“They’ve been really supportive, the psychology department has worked with me every step of the way,” Cortese said.  “When I finish my work, I send it to them via e-mail.  I get to do it at my own pace, no pressure at all.”

Upon graduation in May, Cortese plans to attend Southern for graduate school to get her masters in clinical psychology.  Afterward, she hopes to get her doctorate in clinical psychology at Argosy University in Hawaii. She spent the spring of 2005 living in Hawaii with her family and she has relatives who permanently reside there.  She said her experience thus far living with cancer has changed who she is as a person as well as changed her perspective on a lot of different issues.  She said this experience will have a positive impact on the field of study she hopes to get into.

“It [having cancer] opens your eyes to new things and teaches you to slow down,” she said.  “”People go and help out other people who are sick either mentally or physically all the time, but they don’t really understand what they’re going through.”

Student Government, the women’s rugby team and other campus organizations will be selling the “Courage for Cristina” bracelets at different events until the end of the semester. 

Throughout the past few months, Cortese said she has worked hard to keep a positive attitude and outlook.  She said her friends and family have been her main source of strength.

"It’s all mind over matter,” Cortese said.  “If you think things are going to going to go well, you’re going to do well.”

Comments

[anonymous]

Hello,
I am very sorry about the loss of Cristina. My thoughts are with her family in this time of sadness.
I was just wondering, where can I get a courage for cristina bracelet?? I am not a student at SCSU so I am not sure where to get one.
Thank you sooo much!

[Lisa Cortese]

Today is August 26 our family is coping with the loss of Cristina four months and 13 days ago. Our life will never be the same without her. We miss her every moment of everyday. We wish to thank so many of you who supported our daughter in her darkest days. What we hold onto is that she knew how much we loved her and we knew she loved us. What a gift that alone has been. I am looking for wonderful pictures of my daughter some of you may have. I would like pictures that show Cristina with differant expressions. ie: crying, laughing, mad, confused, drunk, happy anything you might have. You know the ones that if you look at the picture of her you know exactly what she is saying or feeling. Also I am looking for someone who thinks they have the best picture of Cristina smiling. I do like the two on this page and would love to get a copy of them. The best picture will be ingraved on Cristina's head stone so we are looking for the best one we can find. You can send it to our address at 117 Reed Road Tolland, CT 06084 attention Lisa Cortese Cristina will remain the spirt we wake up for the smile we see last when we close our eyes and the memory we hold in our hearts of who she was. Love from our family Pasquale, Lisa, Cristina, Angela, Cassandra an Pasquale