Chastain flew from Brookings, OR to France!
Samantha flew from Palm Springs, CA to Jordan!
Lisa flew from Chicago, IL to Finland!
Fly Again By the Numbers
3
Dream Vacations
Granted
35
Average Age of Dream Vacation Applicants
200%
Increase in Dream Vacation Applicants
34,016
Miles
Traveled
Each donation, regardless of size, supports our mission of funding Dream Vacations for those courageously battling this disease. In honor of our namesake, we empower young adults fighting breast cancer to answer a question filled with hope and optimism, inspired by the late Lisa Marzullo:
"When can I fly again?"
Taking Flight Across the Globe
From the shores of the Sea, to the top of the , check out where our Dream Vacation recipients have ventured around
the .
Click on a destination to see the journey!
“The trip was something like a dream. I wanted to be in it and experience it. I just really wanted to be in the moment.”
Samantha’s breast cancer journey began with her Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Stage 2 diagnosis, shortly after her 14-year-old daughter, Amirah, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Samantha’s first year post-diagnosis consisted of four surgeries, including a double mastectomy and reconstruction, as well as “maintenance” for hormone receptor positive tumors. Samantha did the work and rang the bell to say “no more cancer”. But after three years of following her treatment plan, her cancer came back. After four rounds of chemotherapy and five weeks of radiation, Samantha rang the bell again in October 2022. As Samantha entered 2023, she needed an emergency liver transplant as a result of her breast cancer medications.
It’s been, and will continue to be, a journey for Samantha, but she finds joy and support from her daughter and travel companion, Amirah. Together, the two traveled to Jordan on a Dream Vacation where they explored the homeland of Samantha’s father who passed away shortly before the trip. In a beautiful twist, Samantha’s mother was able to fund herself and join the adventure; three generations of strong women living each moment to its fullest.
Their trip was jam-packed with excitement! They joined a lively group tour that explored the wonders of Jordan, from the bustling streets of Amman to the ancient ruins of Jerash and Petra. They enjoyed a culinary journey with cooking demonstrations and tasted local delights.
And who could forget their unique experience of floating in the Dead Sea, a moment of relaxation and wonder amid their adventures! But that's not all – they also raced through the vibrant red desertscapes of Wadi Rum, adding a dash of adventure to their unforgettable journey.
Get to Know Our Dream Vacation Grant Recipients
Dream Vacation, Real Impact
Taking Flight Across the Globe
From the shores of the Sea,
to the top of the , check out where our Dream Vacation recipients have ventured around the .
Click on a destination to see the journey!
Chastain flew from Brookings, OR to France!
Samantha flew from Palm Springs, CA to Jordan!
Lisa flew from Chicago, IL to Finland!
“This Dream Vacation is a request to help me celebrate myself, and that spirit that I have shown through one of the hardest times of my entire life.”
A proud former Chicago Public Schools teacher, Lisa Siciliano is a PhD student earning her doctorate in Learning Sciences. In March 2021, at age 38, Lisa was diagnosed with triple positive invasive breast cancer, along with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). In one year she received 12 rounds of chemo, 21 rounds of radiation, multiple rounds of immunotherapy infusions, and began a 5-10 year journey of hormone medication. Prior to starting chemo, she underwent four failed rounds of fertility preservation (IVF). Because of this, Lisa no longer has eggs of her own for a child in the future.
But during her battle, she exuded a spirit and determination to face her diagnosis head on. Because of the failed IVF attempts before chemo, Lisa hopes to carry a child through donor eggs and IVF, and she would love to be able to find a potential donor that shares her heritage. The thing is, she grew up familiar with her father's Italian culture growing up, but didn't feel as connected to her mother's Finnish heritage.
That all started to change during her breast cancer battle as Lisa grew closer with her mother, sparking conversations about her Finnish heritage. As Lisa learned more about her Finnish roots, she felt the pull to connect with her ancestry and show her mother how much her heritage mattered. But with treatment and the pandemic, Lisa’s hopes were put on hold.
The Lisa Marzullo Fly Again Foundation created a custom 15-day Dream Vacation to Finland for Lisa and her husband Chuck. From saunas to a river igloo to an arctic treehouse, the Dream Vacation included stops in multiple cities so Lisa could fully immerse in the culture, but the most important was to ensure she visited where her Finnish family is from and where they live today.
While in Kokkola, Lisa had the experience of a lifetime when she met with many of her cousins, and saw photos and heard stories about her Finnish family she never knew. Today, Lisa keeps her Finnish family close–emotionally and geographically. In the year following her Dream Vacation, her Finnish family swapped the saunas for some sunshine and traveled to California for a reunion.
“I feel rejuvenated and refreshed.”
“My breast cancer journey is not as common as others, statistically.”
Imagine a world where you are 25, active, married, mother of a toddler, and have no family history of cancer. You have a fun night out with friends, then come home to soak in a bath, and then you discover a lump in your breast while soaking in a bath. That’s Chastain Brown’s story.
But, Chastain’s journey is not as common as others, statistically.
At 25, Chastain found a lump in her breast and was diagnosed with Stage 2 TNBC, which as you might know by now, exclusively impacts young adults. Chastain immediately started chemotherapy, and like our dear Lisa, she bonded with her nursing staff while she received 12 Taxol and Carboplatin, 4 AC drugs endearingly called the “Red Devil,” and Keytruda, enduring colitis as a side effect.
While she acknowledges that going through treatment was the hardest year of her life, Chastain resolved to stay as happy and hopeful as possible.” She attributes much of her unwavering strength to the support provided by her husband, Weston, and their two-year-old son, Wally.
In 2023, Chastain jetsetted to France with Weston. From the City of Lights to the French Riviera, the couple was able to revel in delicious food and drink, lively entertainment of the country. Chastain's Dream Vacation included savoring the Mediterranean Sea, cooking with fresh local ingredients in Nice, indulging in the world's finest cheeses (goat cheese being her favorite), experiencing the vibrant atmosphere of the Moulin Rouge, and relishing the delightful baguettes and affordable wine that France has to offer.
C'était un rêve devenu réalité pour Chastain aka “It was a dream come true!” for us still stateside.
