PLAINFIELD – Once Jennifer Martello answered the phone a year ago, it was her sister Natalie Martello calling from a fast care.
“They believe I have actually mono,” she said.
Thirty mins later, Natalie called Jennifer back. She didn’t have actually mononucleosis: The Plainfield resident had an aggressive leukemia.
“I thought, ‘No means could this be happening,’ ” said Jennifer, of Morris.
That was April 4, 2015. On Dec. 5, 2014, Natalie lost her husband, Gary, 52, to melanoma. Natalie and the couple’s four youngsters – Eileen, 18, Teddy, 13, William, 10, and Charlie, 9 – were still grieving Gary’s death.
Natalie went by ambulance from fast care to Loyola University Medical Focus in Maywood. She began treatment the next day. Over the next month, Natalie had 2 forms of chemotherapy.
In July, Natalie’s brother, Michael Hartmann of Chicago, donated stem cells for a transplant. Due to her weak immune system, Natalie went to the Crest Hill estate of her sister, Kathleen Maugeri, for the 100-day recovery period.
On Day 90, Natalie was from remission. On Dec. 18, Natalie had a second stem cell transplant. She was 43 Once she died Dec. 30.
Through everything, Natalie never ever complained.
“She constantly said, ‘It could be worse. It could be just one of the kids,’ ” Jennifer said.
Kathleen said Natalie’s battle was a lot more for her youngsters compared to for herself.
“She stored saying, ‘I have actually to fight. I’m the last parent. I have actually to be there,’ ” Kathleen said.
Kathleen, that is 2 years older compared to Natalie, remembers her baby sister as the family clown, the daring kid that rode her Huge Wheel down the front steps.
Natalie was her own person, the form that wore goth suiting up and dark lipstick in higher school Since it suited her design at the time, Jennifer said.
During her intense cancer battle, Natalie continued using her bold, bright lipstick and never ever lost her characteristic sense of humor.
“The Sunday prior to she died, she was cracking jokes,” Kathleen said.
As an adult, Natalie was a patient mother, Kathleen said. Jennifer said Natalie showed her youngsters the importance of giving spine by donating to various organizations, including the American Cancer Society.
Natalie’s main pastime was reading, Jennifer said, especially manuals relating to self-help.
“She wanted to much better herself all of the time,” Jennifer said. “She wanted to be a lot more organized – even though exactly how can easily you be organized along with four youngsters – a much better mom, much better at work, smarter.”
Although it’s tough to figure out Once Natalie realized her fight was ending, Kathleen and Jennifer said Natalie seemed serene Throughout her last couple weeks.
And after that something happened that told them Natalie knew.
When bringing Natalie estate one night in December, Jennifer noticed a package had arrived along with Natalie’s name on it. Jennifer asked Natalie if she wanted to open it, however Natalie shrugged off the question by saying, “It’s merely a dress I ordered.”
“A couple days later we opened the box,” Jennifer said. “It was a black dress.”
A pasta supper fundraiser for the Martello family Will certainly be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. April 23 at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, 15629 S. Illinois Route 59, Plainfield. Presales are beloved by April 9, even though walk-ins are welcome.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youngsters 10 and younger. Beverages and desserts Will certainly be readily available for $1 each. For tickets, call Trina Bank at 815-212-0056 or Karen Domabyl at 815-355-9304, or email martellofundraiser@gmail.com. For post or to donate, visit martellofundraiser.com.
• To feature somebody in “An Extraordinary Life,” contact Denise M. Baran-Unland at 815-280-4122 or dunland@shawmedia.com.
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