Tiffany

Tiffany Pugliese was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor in May 2005, when she was just 6 years old.

In November 2005 she found out she was cancer free, until May of this year when she relapsed and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments at University Hospital in Syracuse. Wilm's Tumor is a rare form of childhood
cancer that affects the kidneys. In 2005, Pugliese underwent a nine-hour surgery to remove one kidney along with her tumor, “which was the size of a grapefruit,” according to doctors. She had 42 lesions on her lungs and was
classified as having Stage IV cancer, the highest stage, which means the cancer has spread to another organ. After the surgery she had quite a long recovery. She underwent eight radiation treatments and 24 weeks of
chemotherapy.
She was cancer free for 18 months. However, in May, another nodule was found on her lung and a biopsy found she had a recurrence.
She's just 8 years old and this is extremely difficult for her, the cancer requires frequent hospital stays, often five days every two week. Pugliese suffers from fevers, low blood counts, and has to have many blood transfusions.
Pugliese will be entering third grade this year at Benton Hall Academy in Little Falls.


To help offset the costs of the treatment, a benefit is being held for Pugliese on Oct. 28 from 1-7 p.m. at the Best Western in Little Falls. The cost is $10 per ticket and children under 5 are free. There will be food, music, games,
raffles, door prizes, a Chinese auction, karaoke, a clown for the children, a kids' corner and more.

On Sept. 8 there is a Little Falls vs. Dolgeville football game at Little Falls and all proceeds from the raffles will go to benefit Pugliese.

On Sept. 23 the Holy Family Parish in Little Falls is holding a breakfast at the church from 9 a.m. to noon with proceeds going to Pugliese.

Oct. 20 will be “teeing off for Tiffany” which is a golf tournament in Little Falls with tee times at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Also at Benton Hall, there is a common cents program where at the end of each month the grade level that brings in the most extra change gets a prize. One month has been dedicated to Pugliese and the proceeds from that month
will be donated to her. The school will do “trick-or-treating for Tiffany,” where students dress up and collect donations for her, and also a “tree for Tiffany” where students and community members will be able to buy ornaments
off a Christmas tree with proceeds going to the Pugliese fund.


To make a donation to help Pugliese and her family, checks should be made payable to “Michelle L. Miller for benefit of Tiffany Pugliese,” and should be sent to 18 Gordon Ave., Herkimer, 13350.
For more information call 866-3145, 823-1582, or 823-3053.