NEWBURYPORT — For nearly seven years, Alicia Denisco has been on the receiving end of calls from people who are sick or injured as a dedicated member of American Medical Response's communications team.
Now, as she continues her own fight against cancer, AMR has dedicated something in her honor— an ambulance sporting a bright pink stripe in honor of breast cancer awareness that will be used as a frontline responder in Newburyport.
Denisco, 30, has been fighting cancer since the age of 24 when she developed breast cancer, Denisco's co-worker, Elizabeth Maisonet-Guadalupe said. Throughout a series of setbacks, her colleagues have been inspired by her perseverance and attitude.
"Alicia is amazing as far as her strength and spirit and positivity — she's an amazing kid," Maisonet-Guadalupe said. "She's a very optimistic young woman. She keeps fighting and fighting and fighting — you have got to give her credit. Her spirit has been wonderful."
When she was first diagnosed six years ago, Denisco had a double mastectomy to be safe, although the cancer was only in one breast.
Throughout the past few years, her recovery was going well, but last year Denisco starting developing headaches and earaches, and doctors found a tumor at the base of her brain, near her cervical spine, Maisonet-Guadalupe said. She was sent to Boston to get the tumor removed during an 11-hour surgery, but not all of the tumor was removed because it was tangled in nerves at the baseline of her brain. To attack the rest of the tumor, Denisco went through aggressive radiation.
To make matters worse, this year Denisco developed another brain tumor that pressed on her nerves, leaving her without facial movement on her right side, along with a tumor on her hip.
Denisco and her boyfriend of 15 years, Saul Joubert, both of Lawrence, credit the support of friends, family and the community; her co-workers at AMR; as well as the doctors at Beth-Israel Hospital in Boston, with helping the couple and their two children — Emilio, 13, and Macy, 10 — get through this tough time.
"Everything is just so overwhelming," Joubert, 34, said. "It's tough, but we keep our faith — our faith is very strong."
With Denisco's medical bills piling up and the fact that she has been out of work, friends and family started a website, TeamMoMo.net, for donations; participated in walks in her honor; and hosted various fundraisers, including a fundraiser at the Haverhill Elks Club on Friday, which raised several thousands of dollars to help offset medical and living expenses for Denisco and her family.
It was at this event that AMR general manager Brendan McNiff surprised everyone with the ambulance dedication, which he had kept a secret. McNiff had called the division and told them the ambulance had to come in for warranty repair. He had it brought in and painted, and drove it to the event last week.
"That's where I got the surprise of the ambulance — it was outside waiting for me," Denisco said. "It was great, and overwhelming."
"It was very, very beautiful to see that," Joubert said of the pink ambulance. "Not just for Alicia, but for every woman who has breast cancer. We're with everyone going through this."
Denisco hopes the ambulance will help raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of detection — she found her breast cancer herself at age 24.
"We did this dedication for this particular employee, but the goal was to raise awareness for breast cancer," McNiff said. "There isn't anyone that hasn't been affected in some way by cancer — everyone's got their story."
McNiff said about 40 percent of AMR's work force of nearly 1,000 is female, and he has gotten requests from several other employees who want their trucks painted pink. He also said the ambulance has "gone viral" from employees who posted pictures of it on Facebook.
"This ambulance has caught so much attention in the last three days," McNiff said. "I'm absolutely amazed."
The ambulance will be used as a frontline truck and will be seen all over Massachusetts. It is also slated to do standby for the three-day Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk in a few weeks.
"As an employee of AMR for 181/2 years, I am honored to be a part of this amazing dedication," said Maisonet-Guadalupe, who is Joubert's aunt. "This is a big thing — AMR did something incredible. You don't have ambulance companies doing this."
Maisonet-Guadalupe believes the ambulance is not only a reminder of Denisco's story and the importance of breast cancer awareness, but a tribute to the great person she is.
"You will be amazed at the positive attitude and kindhearted person she is," Maisonet-Guadalupe said. "She has overcome a lot for being so young."
"She's been through so many things," Joubert added. "Her willpower is so strong, so we've learned not to underestimate her. She keeps overcoming adversity."
Despite her situation, Denisco said she tries to stay positive.
"Just keep smiling," she said. "And people like (Maisonet-Guadalupe) make me smile. My co-workers are great."
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