Longtime School Employee Battles Rare Form of Cancer

Sayville, NY— The family of Donna Papa, a longtime Sayville resident and school monitor in the community, will be holding a fundraiser they dubbed "Donna's Day" to help assist in offsetting the round-the-clock care needed for Papa, who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and is battling a rare form of abdominal cancer.

Tony Papa, Donna's husband, told Patch that he has become her full-time caregiver, after seven rounds of chemotherapy forced Donna to pause her MS treatments and become less self-sufficient. The couple raised four children in Sayville and Donna also worked in the Sayville schools for twenty years.

"We have good insurance, thank God," Papa told Patch, "but we have to pay out of pocket for health aides and caregiving." Papa is self-employed and has had to cut down on hours worked to be able to care for his wife, who has lost 40 pounds through the ordeal.

"Donna's Day" will be held Friday, January 24th, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the V.F.W. Post 433 at 400 Lakeland Avenue. The Chinese Auction is $20 and will have a cash bar.

For more information contact 631-374-7054