Community Rallies as Local Woman Loses Breast Cancer Battle

RIVERHEAD, NY- A familiar face on the Riverhead canvas has lost her brave battle with breast cancer.

Suzanne Gallo died Sunday night, according to a post by her mother Dianne Moosmeueller on her GiveForward fundraising page.

“Our daughter Suzanne died last night. She is at peace now with no more pain. Her determination and courageous strength showed in everything she did and her love for her family and friends will surround us always. She will be so missed,” her mother wrote.

A memorial service will be held at Tuthill-Mangano funeral home, 406 East Main Street in Riverhead on Friday, she added.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at GiveForward online, or donations to the Sue Gallo Breast Cancer Fund can be dropped off at the funeral home or sent to 326 Sheep Pasture Road, East Setauket, NY 11733, her mom said.

“Thank you all for all your love, prayers and support through out this very difficult time and also the past four years.”

The Riverhead community had come together for months to support Sue Gallo, 42, in her battle with breast cancer.

Gallo was a beloved local Little League coach and known for her Thanksgiving Feasts for Campers. and for her work in home appraisals, the page said.

“Did you walk with her to raise money for breast cancer awareness? You may have noticed her. She was in her first round of chemo, could barely walk and had to stop along the way but was determined to show us all that she would fight and also raise money for the cause. She did just that and raised over $2,000. It’s true; she has touched many of us with her never-ending love of life and generosity. Once you meet her, you are blessed with a forever friend. She stays so positive, protecting you from her pain so you may not even know her story.”

Gallo, the page said, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in May, 2012. She continued to coach, camp and work, fighting not only to live life but also to enjoy it, the page said.

In her own words, Gallo wrote: “In May 2012, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast Ccncer and went for 16 weeks of chemo. I had a right mastectomy with full axillary lymph node dissection and had an expander placed for reconstruction in November. After recovering from the surgery, I started 30 days of radiation treatments in January, 2013 that lasted through March. All was okay and I was recovering physically and mentally. Life began to almost resume normalcy. I returned to work in April of 2013 and, once again, actively participated in my kids’ sports and extra-curricular activities.

After much consideration, in February, 2014, Gallo said she resumed the complex process of tram reconstruction.

“The plan was to have the final reconstruction surgeries during the summer. This did not happen because in April my cancer markers went up. It was discovered that my cancer had pretty much spread to all my major bones. This meant I am now a Stage 4 cancer patient. In April, after learning that the cancer had spread, I began a targeted therapy with the drug Fulvestrant. By July, the cancer in my spine caused the pain to be so unbearable, it was decided to halt all plans of reconstruction and I was placed on radiation therapy for my spine. In August, my expander was removed so that I would be able to have MRIs done for more accurate diagnoses. This September tests showed that the treatment with Fulvestrant was not working and I was switched to a new chemo, Xeloda. In October, we learned that the cancer had spread to my brain cavity so I started a ten-day radiation treatment and am now back on chemo,” she wrote.

“I am trying to take each moment in and fight hard while living life as fully and normally as this beast of a disease will allow. My family definitely is my strength and so are my friends.”

Gallo’s daughter Angelina turned16 in December; her son AJ turned 15 in January. “He is 5’10” already, towering over me. Angelina is looking into studying abroad for a year after high school or in 12th grade. Both of them make me proud every day. While totally different, thank God they are good to each other,” she said.

Her husband, Andy , she said, was “working as usual, maybe a little too much but I am out on disability so he worries. I worry about him, too. He doesn’t deserve a 41-year-old wife with Stage 4 cancer. But I tell him I am not going anywhere so he is stuck with me. The hardest part of all my treatment has been the loss of physical contact with those that I love. Throughout different phases of treatment the pain was so unbearable that to even have my kids sit next to me on the couch was painful. To receive a hug from my husband sometimes just took the strength right out of me. Thankfully, right now that has subsided because I love my cuddles, snuggles and hugs. They give me so much strength and positive energy.”

To donate and help Sue Gallo’s family, click here.