“My daughter was tough. She was a fighter, and she never gave up.”
Grief remains fresh for Sandy Barry, more than two years after losing her daughter, Kerianne Capadanno, to colorectal cancer. Kerianne was only 35 years old when she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. After undergoing treatment locally near her home in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, Kerianne’s physician eventually ran out of treatment options and referred her to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she began seeing Andreas Varkaris, MD, PhD, a cancer physician-scientist who focuses on both direct patient care and pioneering translational research.
“Dr. Varkaris was phenomenal. He did everything he could to get Kerianne help through Mass General’s early clinical research trials,” says Sandy. “Kerianne and her care team gave it their all, but we lost her in August 2022.”
Creating a Legacy by Funding Research
Kerianne was — by all accounts — a positive force: a loving mother and brave fighter who was determined that other young people would not suffer as she did. In that spirit, Kerianne created the KBD Care Foundation from her hospital bed. Her wish was that the money raised would help find new colorectal cancer treatments and offer hope, especially for young adult patients who have entire lives in front of them.
“She was so dedicated to the Foundation. In her last days, she said, ‘Mom, you have to keep it going!’ And I have,” Sandy says.
Since Kerianne’s passing, Sandra and the Foundation have raised $38,900 by holding community bowling events. They sell event tickets, run a 50-50 raffle and hold a silent auction with items donated by local businesses. The events offer pizza and entertainment, and hold space for loved ones, supporters and members of the community to come together and honor Kerianne’s vision: to find a cure for colorectal cancer.
“My daughter’s time here was short, but impactful. She really felt Mass General gave her the best chance at survival because of the research being conducted here,” Sandy says. “And I agree; Mass General is one of the best in the world. The caretakers here really do care — one of the clinical trial nurses even came to Kerianne’s wake! Everyone has been so caring, connected, professional and personable.”
A Disturbing Trend and the Quest for Answers
A 2024 American Cancer Society report confirms colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men younger than age 50 in the United States, and the second deadliest cancer among women in the same age group. This alarming spike is why Mass General established the Center for Young Adult Colorectal Cancer, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program to address the unique needs of young and mid-life adults with colorectal cancer. The Center’s Medical Director, Aparna Parikh, MD, spoke at a recent bowling event for the KBD Care Foundation.
“Losing Kerianne never gets easier. My heart is shattered, but working on our Foundation and donating to Mass General gives me a purpose, and it helps me find a way through the grief.”
“We are so grateful Sandy and the KBD Care Foundation chose to donate to Mass General in honor and memory of Kerianne,” says Dr. Parikh. “The funds raised support us, specifically our larger efforts, including biospecimen collection and analysis to help us determine who is getting cancer younger, and why. If we more fully understand the drivers of this cancer, we may be able to offer targeted, early screening to younger people. Colorectal cancer is largely preventable and, in most cases, curable, especially if it’s detected early.”
Finding a Way Forward
In November 2024, Sandy attended Mass General’s appreciation event, A Toast to Community Fundraisers, which celebrated successful fundraisers like Sandra and thanked donors for their work on behalf of the hospital. Sandra said the experience reinforced her commitment to supporting Mass General.
“Losing Kerianne never gets easier. My heart is shattered, but working on our Foundation and donating to Mass General gives me a purpose, and it helps me find a way through the grief,” says Sandra. “I’m glad I can continue to do it. I want to help other people, which is what Kerianne wanted, because it’s about the research. I don’t want to see anyone else go through what my daughter went through. Every dollar counts in the quest to find new treatments for the next generation of patients.”
To learn more about becoming a Community Fundraiser, click here.
