Keeping the “Faith”: A Mothers Legacy

When was the last time you read a story that was worth reading?  One about love, strength, tragedy, and hope?  If you find yourself hard pressed to think of an answer, then today is the day.  We are confident that everyone who reads this will be able to relate in one way or another, and that it will help all of us look at life in a different light, the brightest one possible.  If you know someone who has had cancer, if you’ve lost someone you love, or if you don’t believe that there are heroes among us everyday, then this story is for you. Montco Happening could not be more proud to share the story of a mother’s life, and her daughters pursuit to honor that life through helping others.

Jeanette Faith Pironti, a beloved mother, wife, and member of our community, lost her life to melanoma in 2007.  She was very well known in the Upper Dublin area for the work that she did with children.  Many students might remember her for the elaborate classroom parties that she would throw at Jarrettown Elementary School every year.  Or for the afternoon program that she taught in all of the Upper Dublin schools called “Krafty Kids”.  In addition, Faith also set up a craft tent at Robbins Park every summer where kids would come to learn while having fun!  The school parties, the afterschool program, and the craft tent all had clever themes in which she incorporated music and decorations.  “She lived for crafts and giving back to children” said her daughter Jeanette, “it was what made her happy inside”.

Faith was first diagnosed with melanoma in 1998.  When the doctors first realized this, they operated on a large portion of her back to remove the cancer. They determined the operation a success after testing the surrounding lymph nodes and finding that the cancer had not spread. However, in 2005 she began feeling a tightness in her chest. This prompted her to schedule an x-ray which revealed that the melanoma had not only returned, but was now in the form of tumors in her lungs.  Soon after, Faith was enrolled in several experimental treatments, each becoming more abrasive as the cancer spread.  Jeanette recalls her mom and dad being gone for months during treatment.  Her mom had lost her hair during chemotherapy, and her immune system had deteriorated  due to the treatment. For nearly two years, Jenanette and her father Leonard spent countless hours in the hospital while Faith underwent an exhausting amount of tests.

It wasn’t until the last treatment that the doctors began to see promising results. It was the last bit of hope that the family felt. Although her tumors began to shrink, her immune system was not coming back the way it had before. After an extended time of returning to the hospital twice a week for blood transfusions and seeing no improvement, she began hospice at home and passed away a few months later.  When we asked Jeanette about her mother, she had a hard time explaining the type of woman that anyone could fully understand.  She stated, “There literally was not a day that went by, during EVERYTHING, that this woman did not smile. I saw strength in her that I had no clue even existed. She wanted to stay alive for my dad and I, and would do anything the doctors told her that would allow that. She never complained. Not once. Not about pain, not about losing her hair, not about spending all of her time in hospitals. I honestly don’t know that if I were in that situation, that I would be able to handle it the way she did. She was always the most happy, upbeat woman and cancer did not suppress those wonderful qualities”.

Jeanette Faith Pironti is a woman that we here at Montco Happening will always look up to, admire and will remember forever after hearing her story through the words of her best friend and daughter.  Although all those she touched miss her dearly, she left behind a living legacy in her daughter Jeanette.  This 25 y/o Montco resident is now raising funds to help other families, mothers, and anyone who has been affected by this deadly disease.  Jeanette will be running the 6th Annual “Miles for Melanoma” 5K Run/Walk in Delaware on Sunday, September 15th, and although she wouldn’t take credit for it, we think she is a hero in every way.  Jen is carrying on her mom’s love for helping others and she could absolutely use our communities help and support.  If you are interested in running/walking “Miles for Melanoma” the information is located below.  If you can’t make the 5K, there is still another way you can help!  Follow the Team Faith link below to help with any donations you can.  Not only would you be helping Jeanette, but 100% of the donations raised will go directly to the fight against  a cancer that will claim the lives of almost 10,000 people in the  U.S. this year. Jeanette’s selfless actions, huge heart and dedication to improving the lives of others is proof that there are ordinary people doing heroic things in our county every day.  We thank her for sharing her story, and we hope that our community can rally together to help raise funds, spread awareness, and support a local that we should all be proud of!

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