Ron’s Rescue Stories: Susanna
Ron's Rescue recipient Leda Pinto, with her daughter, Susanna Burgess
In the hardest times, it's often the kindness of strangers that offers solace and support. Such was the case for Susanna Burgess, a resident of Griswold, CT, originally from Brazil, who found herself navigating her mother's pancreatic cancer diagnosis. It was through Ron’s Rescue that Burgess and her family found comfort in their darkest hour.
Burgess, who runs the animal rescue organization, All Paws on Deck, was no stranger to compassion. However, when her own mother, Leda Pinto, began experiencing severe stomach pains, leading to a devastating stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis at the age of 68, Burgess found herself grappling with the harsh realities of a healthcare system that seemed stacked against her family.
What made the situation even more challenging was the fact that Burgess's mother, a permanent legal resident in the US, did not have health insurance due to the fact that she and her longtime American boyfriend of a decade had never married. Despite being in the country through proper legal channels, she found herself ineligible for any kind of assistance, including Medicaid, leaving the family burdened with mounting medical bills and a sense of helplessness.
In their hour of need, Burgess stumbled upon the Ron Foley Foundation. After applying for assistance through Ron’s Rescue, Burgess and her mother were relieved to receive a grant from the foundation, which proved to be a lifeline in their time of crisis.
Reflecting on her experience with the Ron Foley Foundation, Burgess expressed gratitude for the compassionate support they provided. "The experience was very pleasant," she said. "Cathy [Lou King, staff member at RFF] was always so kind at a time when comfort and kindness were what I needed so much. Her emails were like virtual hugs."
As her mother's condition worsened and she completed her final round of chemotherapy, her mother’s desperate wish was to return to her home in Brazil. Thanks to the grant from Ron's Rescue, Burgess was able to fulfill her mother's wish, purchasing a plane ticket that allowed her to spend precious moments with her family and beloved animals.
Tragically, upon her return to the US, Burgess's mother's partner passed away, leaving her with nothing. With no treatments left and the disease progressing, she made the difficult decision to return to Brazil, where she spent three precious months surrounded by loved ones before peacefully passing away with Burgess at her bedside.
For Burgess and her family, the support they received from the Ron Foley Foundation was nothing short of invaluable. In a time of uncertainty and despair, the foundation provided not only financial assistance but also a sense of compassion and understanding that helped them navigate the challenges they faced.
As Burgess continues her work with All Paws on Deck, she carries with her the memory of her mother's courageous battle and the kindness of those who helped ease her burden along the way. She is determined to help change legislation that did not allow her mother to be eligible for assistance, despite being a legal resident of the United States for many years.