21-Year-Old Overcomes Cancer, Family Tragedy to Keep Brother's Dream Alive

When Lenore Montanaro announced to friends and family that she would be attending College of the Holy Cross in the fall of 2008, many were concerned. A spiritual and true New Englander, the region’s oldest Catholic college seemed the perfect place for the graduating North Kingstown High School senior, except for one factor. The Hill.

Perched atop Mount Saint James, Holy Cross’ geography has posed a problem for some and worked the quadriceps of many students and faculty. For Lenore, the campus would be especially trying. When Lenore stepped on to the majestically landscaped campus of Holy Cross that fall as a college freshman, she became the school’s first leg amputee. Nearly seven years earlier, Lenore had lost her leg to a rare form of cancer.

But The Hill wasn’t as much an obstacle for Lenore as it was a challenge. If the past 21 years of Lenore’s life have been indication, this girl is a seasoned pro at facing challenges and conquering them.

Lenore got an early taste of adversity when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age 5. Lenore would wage that battle three times over a span of seven years between 1995 and 2002, losing her right leg in the process when she was just 11 years old. Though the loss of her leg surely made life difficult (shoe shopping sadly does not have the same appeal to Lenore as it does with other females), Lenore has worked to make the most of it and persevere. In high school, Lenore even did indoor track. Looking to stay with athletics at Holy Cross, Lenore asked a classmate what sport she should pick up.

“Well, definitely not crew,” said the classmate, who told Lenore it would be a challenge with Lenore’s leg.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Lenore joined freshman crew. Within a month, she had made it to varsity.

“She’s extremely driven,” said Lenore’s mother, Debbie.

Along with her fighting spirit, Lenore is well known for her affinity for giving back to her community, starting when she was just 5 years old. According to Lenore, she wrote a song, recorded it and sold it to neighbors and friends for $1 to donate to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. After spending countless hours and days in the hospital for cancer treatment, Lenore wanted the money to go to patients who couldn’t leave. On top of that, Lenore began collecting Beanie Babies and toys for children in the hospital (including auctioning off the much-coveted Princess Di Beanie Baby). While enrolled at Holy Cross, Lenore began teaching English to students and their parents, and helping cancer patients unable to afford housing through the American Cancer Society. This past summer, she served as a disability law intern at a legal services office, assisting those who were unable to afford legal assistance.

“I learned it could be so much worse for me,” said Lenore of her experiences.

Lenore’s biggest challenge came in the form of cancer in 2005, almost two and a half years after her final dose of chemotherapy. This time, it wasn’t Lenore who was battling the disease: It was her younger brother, John.

The siblings, only 14 months apart, had been incredibly close, often tricking classmates and teachers into believing they were twins. Throughout her cancer treatments, Lenore recalls that John was the one always trying to nurse her back to health. This time, it was Lenore who had to watch as her brother battled the same illness that stole her leg.

Last spring John succumbed to the disease, devastating the Montanaro family. Though John only lived 19 years, Lenore looks to keep her brother’s legacy alive for years to come. Following John’s passing, the Montanaro family began to put time into expanding one of John’s greatest causes — supporting ailing animals.

As part of his senior project for North Kingstown High School, John worked to raise funds for Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich to pay medical expenses for pets with cancer. Most pets diagnosed with feline leukemia are euthanized due to the medical costs of treating the illness, but John sought to help rectify that. Through his project, John raised $1,100 and saved 12 pets — all while battling cancer.

The family is now selling blue dichroic glass heart jewelry pieces, sold at Sweet Twist in East Greenwich and on the fund’s website, to benefit the fund and help keep his cause alive. Learn more about the fund here.

“We’re just trying to keep him alive and in people’s thoughts and hearts,” said Lenore.

Lenore’s drive, sense of community and demeanor in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed: She was recently awarded second place in Citizen’s Bank’s TruFit Good Citizen Scholarship program. Lenore was one of only 20 recipients selected out of more than 1,800 applicants, receiving a $5,000 scholarship to put toward her final semester at Holy Cross.

As for what the future holds, Lenore plans to go to graduate school and dreams of working for the American Civil Liberties Union.

“I love poetry, I love playing guitar but my big thing would be to keep my bother’s fund alive,” said Lenore.