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An Ode to Lisa Marino: A Journey of Strength, Love, and Legacy
In honor of ALS Awareness Month, Samantha Marino, Executive Assistant at ASCI and daughter of Lisa Marino, beloved ASCI caseworker, bravely shares her mother’s journey, a testament to courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Lisa’s legacy transcends mere words; she was a beacon of strength, advocating for families with an unmatched passion. Join us as Samantha unveils the profound impact of ALS on her mother’s life and the extraordinary resilience that defined Lisa’s spirit. Through Samantha’s heartfelt narrative, we commemorate Lisa’s enduring legacy and raise awareness for ALS, a disease that touched her life and inspired her relentless pursuit of making a difference.
An open letter from Samantha Marino,
It’s hard to put into words what my mom’s journey was like. My mother was a very strong-willed person. She was unapologetic and always true to her beliefs.
Before my mom joined the ASCI team, I watched her struggle to find her niche. She wanted to do something she was both passionate about and enjoyed doing. It wasn’t long after becoming an ASCI caseworker that I saw a change in her. This change helped mold me to be the mother I am now. I used to get jealous of how attached she was to her children and families until I realized those families needed her.
My mother lived for her job, and it truly helped make her a better person! Nobody expected her to continue doing this after the gut-wrenching diagnosis of ALS. She didn’t share her diagnosis with anyone until it noticeably affected her. I often think it was her pride or just not wanting to be looked at differently. To our surprise, the outpour of love and support from her ASCI work family as well as the families she serviced was something magical.
My family and I held a fundraiser to help with her diagnosis and the overwhelming turnout from both work and family was more than we could expect. Once it came time to retire and focus on her health, I watched my mom become sad, bored, and restless. So, in true Lisa Marino fashion, she continued to work as an ASCI consultant. As her daughter, I wanted her to stay retired and focus on her health but her drive to help children and families helped her fight the diagnosis.
Despite all of her efforts and countless treatments, the ugliest illness would strike her next- cancer. Again, she told no one. Soon, she realized she would once again need to retire. In my time with my mom before her passing, I witnessed former coworkers reaching out to lift her spirits and showing up to surprise her but nothing was more impactful than the families she once serviced who showed up for her.
People who started as strangers became family. Her fridge would soon become flooded with pictures of children she once helped or worked with. People would share stories that helped me become okay with her illnesses.
ALS is such a debilitating disease. It strips your ability to speak, to eat, to use your limbs in their correct function, and so much more. Watching someone you love, no matter who it may be, suffer is harder than anything. I know my mom pushed through all of this because of the love she received from ASCI with her serviced and work families. I, myself, returned to ASCI because this is where I feel at home. I love hearing stories of my mother, the work she did, the impact she made, and the friends she gained. Although ALS altered our lives, she took everything she was given and made the absolute most of her life and what she loved. I am proud to say that my mom has made a major impact in this world. Long Live Lisa.
