Jennifer Lanzaro, 33, cystic fibrosis advocate, dies

Every spring, Jennifer Lanzaro gathered her family and friends to walk for a cure for cystic fibrosis, the disease that took the life of her 27-year-old sister Marissa Bishop in 2006.

"They had a bond that was unbelievable, and she did miss her terribly," said their mother, Kathy Lanzaro of East Meadow.

The two sisters both fought cystic fibrosis and four years ago - four months after her sister died - Jennifer Lanzaro underwent a double lung transplant at a time when she herself only had a few days to live, her family said. Since her transplant, Lanzaro worked for the local office of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, spoke to medical students at Mt. Sinai Hospital about being a transplant patient, and continued to honor her sister's memory.

'She was full of life'

On Nov. 13, Lanzaro, 33, lost her battle with the disease. Services were held Thursday at St. Raphael Church in East Meadow.

"Quietly, persistently and ever so graciously, Jennifer led a life of strength redefined," said her godmother, Patricia Quinn.

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Born in New York Hospital in Manhattan, Lanzaro moved with her family from Queens to East Meadow when she was 3 years old. She graduated from St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay and studied social work at New York Institute of Technology.

Lanzaro worked for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Greater New York Chapter, Long Island Office as a team leader for its Great Strides walks. She also would help out in the office, said Arlene Dayboch, senior director of development.

"She was adorable, very, very brave," Dayboch said. "She was full of life, she was a fighter and she was sweet as sugar. We enjoyed her visits, and we are going to miss her."

A difficult year

Lanzaro underwent a double lung transplant at Mount Sinai Hospital in November 2006. According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's website, about 900 lung transplants are performed each year in the United States. As many as 90 percent of people are alive one year after transplantation, and 50 percent are alive after five years.

Transplanted lungs come from people who do not have the ailment. However, after the transplant, the recipient still has cystic fibrosis in the sinuses, pancreas, intestines, sweat glands and reproductive tract.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States.

"The last year was very hard on her," her mother, Kathy Lanzaro, said. "She was in and out of the hospital continually. I think it was over 150 days in the hospital."

But "her spirits never wavered, she was always hopeful and she was always pushing to try to accomplish. She had a lot of things she liked," she said.

Strong connections

Jennifer Lanzaro liked good conversation and kept up with current events. She was an avid Mets fan and spoke with Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey, who called her a few weeks ago.

She also met others with cystic fibrosis online and became quite close with them following the death of her sister. She had a cocker spaniel, Joy, who was "the light of her life," her mother said.

In addition to her mother, Lanzaro is survived by her father, Charles; her grandmother, Elizabeth Quinn of East Meadow, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Long Island Office, 425 Broadhollow Rd., Suite 318, Melville, NY 11747.