When the Beacon sat down for an interview with Misty Lourenco, 39, last September, she was bald and had two legs. Visiting with her a year later, we found her hair now growing, but she had lost a leg in the process, and she was more alive than ever.

After enduring discomfort in her right foot for some time, Misty underwent surgery for treatment last July and the mystery source of pain was soon discovered. It was osteosarcoma, a type of cancer that starts in the bone. Affected bones become fragile, weak and very painful. According to the American Cancer Society, this type of cancer is most commonly found in children and teenagers but can occur at any age.

“The last year was challenging but also exciting,” said Misty. “The challenging part was the treatment and the surgeries and all that stuff, but the exciting part was watching the community come together and gather around my family, and I never had to worry about them. I would be in Boston for five or six days for treatment, and there would be gift cards for shopping in the mailbox or random food being delivered. My husband was still able to work, and I could get my treatment and my children were taken care of.”

Treatment for the cancer, which had spread to her lungs, included amputating Misty’s leg from the knee down. She then underwent two lung surgeries and had eight spots removed from her right lung and three removed from her left.

A benefit walk last September, sponsored by her friends and members of the Warwick sports organizations she loves, was organized and held at Warwick City Park’s walking trail loop. The goal was to raise funds to assist Misty and her family with the long and financially difficult road to recovery. About 500 people attended, and the walk raised more than $24,000.

“It helped supplement my income because I only get 60 percent of my income now, and it paid so many medical bills,” said Misty. “It paid for my two prosthetics, so it’s now running low. But I can’t imagine the debt I’d be in and how I would have been able to get through. It’s wonderful to have friends in the community like this one.” 

Misty was declared NED, meaning doctors found no evidence of the disease, in August. She must have a CAT scan of her lungs every three months and a full body scan every six months as the likelihood of cancer coming back is extremely high, about an 80 percent probability. 

“But everything happens for a reason and now I can be an advocate,” said Misty, who wants to pay it forward and help others affected by pediatric cancer know that, like her, they do not walk their path alone.

Misty is the chairperson for Rhode Island Wrestling, overseeing all the clubs. She’s involved with Warwick PAL football, and is the team mom of the junior midget team. She also acts as the scholastics coordinator for Warwick PAL. She’s using those connections to support pediatric cancer awareness.

This Sunday the Warwick PAL Patriots are going gold (wearing everything gold) to support September’s childhood cancer awareness month, and are asking for the community’s help. Beginning at 8 a.m. at Toll Gate High School, the day will be filled with football games, raffles, food and fun, all to raise money for The Tomorrow Fund, a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer who are treated in The Tomorrow Fund Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

“I’d love to see Warwick go gold,” said Misty. “Tie a gold ribbon around trees and on homes. People may not be able to give money to the charity, or may be going through their own difficulties, or may have a child with cancer. But to just show that support and bring that awareness, that’s really what we’re trying to do because there’s not enough of it.”

Football players, cheerleaders and participants will be wearing gold socks, bows and clothing in recognition of September’s awareness month. A gold fire truck, presented by the American Cancer Society’s Colors for a Cure, will also be at the event.

“Being able to be here and be a part of this, hopefully it can become gigantic,” said Misty, who has organized the event with other members and friends of PAL. “Very rarely do you see anyone doing anything big for pediatric cancer. We don’t have a goal set for this year because it’s a brand new program, but we’d like to see how much we bring in so that when we do this again next year we can top it.”

With a rallied community, Misty and event organizers hope their efforts might make a difference for families and friends like hers.

“Childhood cancer affected me, and it can affect anyone,” said Misty. “I don’t want to see what happened to me ever happen to a child.”

For more information on osteosarcoma visit the American Cancer Society’s website at www.cancer.org/cancer/osteosarcoma. To contribute to the Go Gold event, make checks payable to The Tomorrow Fund and mail them care of Misty Lourenco, 65 Sandy Lane, Warwick, 02889.