The Burgos stick together after cancer diagnosis
By Alfie Eville
What began as an effortless transition to freshman secondary education major Matthew Burgo’s fall semester at Rider abruptly shifted in an instant, as a life-altering diagnosis was delivered to his sister, Briana Burgo.
Earlier this fall, Briana was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer that destroys a person’s lymphatic system. Even through her diagnosis, she has remained a light for her family.
Matthew said, “[she]is a very positive person,” “loves to make jokes and tell stories” and “can be the light in any conversation.”
However, behind her positivity, Briana has gone face-to-face with her challenges.
“She has special needs, and at a young age, no one understands what that means,” Matthew said. “I would constantly hear questions like, ‘Why isn’t she normal?’ or ‘What’s wrong with her?’ I always felt the need to protect her, which still carries to this day.”
This sentiment was also expressed by their mother, Jessica Trump. She said “Since they were babies, he has been there supporting her, teaching her and protecting her. Matthew is her strength and the reason she has always walked so bravely in this world and overcame so much.”
The bond built between the siblings through the years was tested with Briana’s illness, in a way so profound that neither were prepared. The Burgo family was negatively impacted, left to navigate this difficult situation, trying to figure themselves out, and how to take care of Briana.
The emotional toll on Matthew and his mom was immense, “We both broke out into tears instantly, thinking the worst.” However, it would be his sister, true to form, to be a pillar of strength. Even in her most vulnerable of states, when fear could have overtaken her, Briana was there to be courageous.
Trump asserted that her daughter “has been a fighter and defying the odds since the day she was born. Briana went from Friday night in the ER to the following Friday getting chemotherapy. Briana has been so strong through this, and she is so brave.”
Matthew reflected on his sister’s attitude, saying, “Things have seemed really bleak recently, but she is always reminding me that things will be better, and she will be OK.” That sense of resilience, he added, has been the family’s biggest comfort throughout the whole process. “I know she’s scared, but she’s also the bravest person I know,” Matthew continued.
Right now, Briana finds herself out of the hospital and back home with her family. She’s undergoing chemotherapy, and things look to be back on a positive trajectory. While having Briana back home is a sign of a positive future, it has brought a difficult period of adjustment for Matthew and his mother.
“Things seem to be better now that she is home, but it is still rough as my mom is no longer working and college has been a lot more stressful,” he concluded by maintaining that “it’s all worth it for my sister.”
Matthew ascertains that Briana “is a champion” and that she has spent her entire life defying the odds. He said, “They once told my mom she would never walk or smell — she can do both — or that she could never read,” to which she overcame.
Briana is a strong-willed soul and has a natural gift of strength and perseverance so seldom found in average folk. To aid her family through medical expenses, Trump has set up a GoFundMe account to assist in paying medical expenses, as well as household finances, while she is out of work caring for her daughter. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps lift a weight off the Burgo family’s shoulders and fuels Briana’s fight to recover, Matthew said.
In coming together as a community, concern can be transformed into action and hope into something tangible. Briana’s mother expressed her gratitude, and said, “Since all this has started, I’m beyond thankful for the Rider community not just for supporting Briana and our family, but the way Rider has shown up for Matthew as a family.”
As Briana continues her fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, her family asks for the Rider community to stand with her, whether it be through a donation, a kind word or simply by sharing her story, ensuring she never has to face this battle alone.
Matthew said, “I know times are hard for a lot of people right now, so if you do not donate, all I ask is that you share support for my family. It would mean the world to all of us right now.”
This QR code is linked to the Burgo family’s GoFundMe. All proceeds will go to assisting the family during Briana Burgo’s fight against cancer.
