East Islip High School Senior Named Woman of Distinction

From E. Islip Schools: Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi recognized Heather McNamara, as the 2019 10 th District “Woman of Distinction.”

Heather is currently a senior at East Islip High School. At four years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. As a consequence of her illness, her pancreas, gall bladder, stomach, spleen and part of her intestines were removed, along with a baseball-size tumor. Today, Heather is seventeen years old and is celebrating ten years cancer-free. Determined to inspire strength and make the world a better place, Heather has been a spokesperson for New York/Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and the New York Blood Center. She is an Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, and volunteers at Saint Ann’s Soup Kitchen in Brentwood. She is also a Kiwanis Club Youth Ambassador and President of the East Islip High School Key Club. Heather believes she was given a second chance at life and has devoted herself to making a difference in her community.

Cilmi said, “Heather is an extraordinarily strong young woman. She has faced, and continues to face, challenges associated with her health with maturity and grace well beyond her years. At the same time, she selflessly devotes her time and energy to helping others in need. Heather is an inspiration to her peers and to all of us, and I am honored to designate her my 2019 Woman of Distinction.”