On September 25, 2025, we lost our mom, Paola, to cancer. She was the heart of our family, devoted to my sister Luisa and me, her four grandchildren Luca, Leo, Mattia, and Nico, and a constant source of strength for our dad, Federico.

During her five year battle with cancer, she faced each day with courage and always looked for ways to help others, including participating in over half a dozen clinical trials. She called every day to check in, hear about the grandkids, and make sure we were okay.

At her service, my sister shared these words that perfectly capture our experience with the grieving process:

For anyone who has lived with grief, you come to understand that you have to make room for it. You pour it a cup of coffee and welcome it beside you on the couch. You say, ‘You can sit here for a while. I know you’re not leaving.’

Through that grief, we were lifted by an incredible community of friends and family. The best way we know how to thank them is to pay it forward.

We are raising money for Imagine, which provides free, year round grief support for children and families coping with loss. Your support ensures no family faces grief alone and helps transform loss into connection, resilience, and hope.

Thank you for helping us honor our mom and support families learning to live with loss.