Sara M.

2010 Ambassador Kid

In October, Sara Martorano woke to her big sister singing Happy Birthday, the smell of pancakes (a rare treat in her home) drifting up from the kitchen. Later that day, her classmates dressed her up as a princess " crown and all " as they celebrated.

A typical 5-year-old girls birthday, so it seems.

It was more than a fifth birthday, said Erin Martorano, Sara's mom, it was a day of being thankful for the opportunity to enjoy Sara.

In late 2007, Erin found a lump on Sara's side while she was giving her a bath. The doctors suspected cancer, so Erin started researching. When told her Sara had Wilms tumor, Erin's reaction caught the doctor off guard when she jumped up, smiled and hugged him because she had learned that Wilms tumor has a relatively high cure-rate.

Sara had surgery to remove the twelve-centimeter tumor growing on her left kidney that had spread to her chest and liver. And after a year of treatment, her family hopes the next scan will show no evidence of cancer.

If you ask the Martorano's their feelings about the cards they've been dealt, they'll say, "Cancer made us all better people. We always look for the good in every situation."

And this 5-year-old little girl's zest for life is proof. She spends her mornings at preschool, afternoons following her older sisters' lead, and evenings rooting for the underdog in her favorite movie, The Sandlot. She practices her nursing skills on any willing person, already prepping for a future career as a pediatric oncology nurse. Even her hair is beginning to grow back, though she's rather disappointed that it isn't coming in blue.

Photo by Kirk Shepherd Photography


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Sara was Diagnosed with nephroblastoma (Wilm's Tumor) on 12Nov08. The tumor on her left kidney was 12 cm, and spread to her chest and liver. Sara underwent 6 week of chemo before they removed her left kidney on 30Dec08. Following the surgery Sara will undergo 11 straight days of radiation treatment and 27 more weeks of chemo. Sara is a fighter, but she's not fighting this alone. Along with myself, my wife and our two other daughters, family and friends we are fighting this as one. LET'S GO SARA BEAT THAT CANCER