Jill Costello (December 1, 1987 – June 24, 2010)

June 25, 2010 by Jennifer Windrum in "Just Like Jill" campaign

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This is a guest post from the Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation.

“Life is all about how we handle the challenges we are given.”
— Jill Costello, June 14, 2009

“My promise to Jill is to work harder, faster and more furiously to find an end to this disease and I know that Jill will be by my side and in my heart the whole way.”—Bonnie J. Addario, June 24, 2010

“Because of ALL OF YOU, Jill didn’t spend her last year dying…she spent it living.” —Mary Costello, Jill’s Mom, June 24, 2010

A little less than one year ago, 21-years-young, Jill Costello, came into all of our lives, through a shocking diagnosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer. The meaning of courage has never been so profound. With unbearable sadness, we must let you know that Jill is now an angel watching over us and continues to lead the way from a much more peaceful place. It is not what she wanted. It is not what we wanted. But, God had other plans.

In her short time here on Earth, she has done more than anyone has done in the last 40 years. Lung Cancer belongs to all of us–it is our problem to fix. There was never one moment, not even one–that Jill gave up fighting this horrific disease…her own, and all of ours. And, we made her a promise…her fight is not over. It’s ours, ALL of ours, now, and we will continue to make her dream come true…to end Lung Cancer.

Jill’s accomplishments are too many to mention in this post. She graduated with the highest honors from UC Berkeley in May. She led her team, as coxswain on Cal Women’s rowing crew to second place at the NCAA Women’s Division I Rowing Championships.

We have a saying here at the Foundation…it’s not always good to be #1. Lung Cancer is the Number 1 Cancer Killer. Perhaps the world will now know through Jill’s legacy that we all must cherish her dream and fight with the determination that she gave us to understand what is needed. Just last week, Jill was writing to us from her tiny break at home from the hospital, with her idea for the next Lung Cancer campaign. She wants to call it “Take 2.”

We would like to invite you to join in her campaign. To never forget that Jill will end Lung Cancer as the unforgivable disease it is right now. It doesn’t have to be this way.

A letter from Bonnie J. Addario:

FOR JILL…

I met Jill about a year ago when she was first diagnosed with Lung Cancer…

She had me at “Hello”….

A tiny young lady with more courage and verve than I have ever seen in such a young one. I watched her endure hours, weeks and months of chemotherapy with an attitude I have never before witnessed. She was always convinced that her next scan would bring positive news of NED (No Evidence of Disease). When the outcome wasn’t what she hoped for, she would just roll up her sleeves (literally and figuratively) and continue to battle the disease.

Lung Cancer finally took her little defenseless body but it did not take her Spirit.

When people remember Jill they will remember the coxswain that led her

team to win the finals in Crew…they will remember the first Jog For Jill, which she named and spearheaded with Darby Anderson on February 7, 2010. Jog for Jill led over 900 young students, friends, sorority sisters and fraternity brothers and family to walk and run for her on Super Bowl Sunday at UC Berkeley. Jog for Jill led to all the people following her journey to love their lives just a little bit more because of knowing Jill.

My promise to Jill is to work harder, faster and more furiously to find an end to this disease and I know that Jill will be by my side and in my heart the whole way.

Jill has already taught the entire world that “Anyone Can Get Lung Cancer”…

I love you Jill…

I had to ask a higher power how this adorable young girl could be afflicted

with such a horrible and insidious disease.

I have yet to have an answer.

–Bonnie J. Addario

On behalf of everyone at BJALCF and all of you…let’s do this for Jill. Jill chose to come and work for the Foundation after she graduated. She asked for the title of Director of Public Awareness. Let’s finish her job. Please be sure to read Jill’s letter on CaringBridge or Facebook, written on Sunday, June 20th…four days ago.

And finally…here is part of a message Jill wrote to ABC’s Diane Sawyer (Diane.Sawyer@abc.com) on May 11, 2010.

“I would be so honored and appreciative if you could help me tell my story to the world.”

For further information, please call Sheila at 415.357.1278 or email at sheila@lungcancerfoundation.org.

The lyrics for “ONE DAY”…Jill’s favorite song. Thank you Matisyahu, for your permission to share:

sometimes I lay
under the moon
and thank God I’m breathing
then I pray
don’t take me soon
cause I am here for a reason
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
it’s not about
win or lose
we all lose
when they feed on the souls of the innocent
blood drenched pavement
keep on moving though the waters stay raging
in this maze you can lose your way (your way)
it might drive you crazy but don’t let it faze you no way (no way)
sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it’ll all turn around
because
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
one day this all will change
treat people the same
stop with the violence
down with the hate
one day we’ll all be free
and proud to be
under the same sun
singing songs of freedom like
one day x4
all my life I’ve been waiting for
I’ve been praying for
for the people to say
that we don’t wanna fight no more
they’ll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day x6
ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

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6 Comments - Leave a comment!

Alsport3

I never knew Jill. Never met her, never heard of her. I just finished reading the story about her in Sports Illustrated (Nov. 29, 2010 issue) and was extremely touched. She is an inspiration to those who suffer from cancer and to those who don’t.
May her family take comfort in her success as a loving, caring, and special human being.
Abate6

Jessica Marie Abate Date of Death: 01/13/2007
Jessica Marie Abate, 23, of Wilmington, NC, died Saturday, January 13, 2007 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. She was born in Silver Spring, MD, November 2, 1983, daughter of Peter J. Abate and Regina Corvelli Abate of Wilmington, NC.
Surviving in addition to her parents are three sisters, Christa, Elena, and Regina Abate; grandparents, Frank and Rose Abate, Mary Grace Corvelli, and Homer Wade; her fiancée, Jonathan Hall; her devoted pet, Sam; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by a grandfather, Henry V. Corvelli.
Jessica graduated from UNCW in December 2005 with a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, with a major in management. Jessica paid her way through college by working numerous jobs, including Manhatten Bagel, Belk-Beery, Enterprise, and the Social Work Department at UNCW. After graduating from UNCW, she was employed by Cooperative Bank in February 2006 as a teller, and after three months was promoted to Commercial Lending Assistant. Cooperative Bank was a special place to Jessica; she loved her job and all the staff. The most important part of Jessica’s life was her immediate family, mom, dad, three sisters, her loving fiancée, Jon Hall, and her dog, Sam. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Nothing made Jessica happier than coming to her parent’s home with Jon and Sam to enjoy a good meal, spend time around the pool, and watch movies. Jessica and Jon were engaged and planned to marry in April 2007. Jessica especially loved her three sisters who will miss her dearly. They were always spending time together and had a special loving bond. She was always a great role model for her sisters. Jessica was an honest, loving, courageous, and dedicated woman who will be missed by all who knew her. She was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma / Lung Cancer in August 2006. Before that she had never been sick a day in her life. She maintained a healthy lifestyle and we have no idea how she got this terrible sickness. During that time, she always maintained a smile and had the heart of a lion and never gave up. We would give everything we own just to hold her once again; just to touch her once again. Love, dad, mom, and sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 17, 2007, at

St. Mark Catholic Church by the Rev. Msgr. Matthew Hendrick. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel, 4108 South College Road, Wilmington, NC. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church, 1011 Eastwood Road, Wilmington, NC, 28403.

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Abate6

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UNCW grad ‘always did right thing,’ family says
By Jennifer Moore,
Star-News Correspondent
Published: Sunday, January 21, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, January 21, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

Since the day Jessica Marie Abate and Jonathan Hall went on their first date – Oct. 27, 2000 – the two were nearly inseparable.

Hall proposed about two years ago, and the pair planned to marry this April.

Abate had her dress picked out, and was looking forward to becoming a wife and mother, her family said.

But in August, just nine months after her graduation from UNCW, Abate was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had never smoked. Abate died Jan. 13 after a battle with lung and brain cancer. She was 23.

The young men who were slated to be the groomsmen in her wedding instead served as pallbearers Wednesday, as Abate’s family and friends celebrated the life of a young woman they say was always loving, kind and giving.

Abate was born in Maryland but grew up in Wilmington, graduating from Hoggard High School and UNCW. In February, she got a job at Cooperative Bank as a teller. She was quickly promoted to commercial lending assistant and hoped to one day become a loan officer.

“Her potential was endless,” said her father, Peter Abate.

As the oldest of four girls, Abate was always responsible, said her sister, Christa Abate.

“She would watch out for us all,” Christa Abate said. “She always did the right thing.”

When Christa was a senior in high school, she went to Myrtle Beach with some friends. The girls got in a big fight and Christa called her big sister in tears, she recalls.

Jessica Abate drove the two hours to pick her up and bring her home.

“She would always do whatever she could to help,” Christa Abate said.

As the “leader” of the family, Jessica Abate would make decisions for everyone, family members said.

“This wasn’t just an average girl. She was out there wanting to make a statement, wanting to do something with her life that was above and beyond what was expected, and she did a good job of it,” Hall said. “She was a leader. She took charge of every situation and just excelled.”

At home and at work, Abate was organized and responsible, always paying attention to details, her family said.

“Everything had to be in place,” Hall said. “If they weren’t, she’d just look at me until I put them there.”

When she was diagnosed with cancer, family and friends began sending money to help with her medical bills. Abate took the time to write a thank you note to each one, Christa Abate said.

Abate loved to shop and worked for many years at the Belk at Independence Mall. She also adored her dog, Sam, a 3-year-old German shepherd-chow mix.

But most of all, Abate enjoyed spending time at home with her fiance and her family, watching movies, baking cookies or just hanging out, her family said.

“We were happy just being with each other,” Hall said. “There’s just something about her, you could talk to her and just feel comfortable.”

In February, she developed a cough that wouldn’t go away, Peter Abate said. After months of tests and misdiagnoses, a liver biopsy revealed cancer. Though the doctors and specialists did everything they could, Peter Abate said, the cancer had spread. Still, he said, his daughter faced the illness with courage and “the heart of a lion.”

“We didn’t know how strong she was until she got sick,” Christa Abate said. “Even when she was sick, she was happy. She never showed any of us how much she was hurting.”

Abate leaves behind her parents, three sisters, her fiance, four grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Abate6

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Networking pays off in job search

By Carol Motsinger
Star-News Intern

Published: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 2:06 p.m.
( page 1 of 2 ) {this same day we found out she had lung cancer}

You found the perfect frame for your diploma. Now you just need to find the perfect office to hang it in.

In your daydreams, maybe you work out of a corner office with a leather couch and floor-to-ceiling windows framing a gorgeous view of the Wilmington skyline.

But don’t start picking out window shades just yet.

The large number of graduates applying for jobs in the area makes Wilmington a relatively small town “when it comes to professional employment,” said Thom Rakes, director of career services at UNCW.

Local graduates with initiative and professionalism, however, can find their dream job in the area, Rakes and local employers said. Every job quest is different – some track down a dream job the second day after graduation, others spend months.

One graduate’s story

UNCW graduate Jessica Abate is on the path to her dream job. Here’s her story, along with some helpful job-hunting hints from area employers.

Abate, 22, never thought she would work as a commercial lending assistant at the downtown branch of Cooperative Bank after graduating in December. She expected to be a manager because she earned a degree in business administration with a concentration in management.

But after assuming some managerial responsibilities at a retail store, Abate realized she didn’t want to be a manager. So, she went back to the drawing board and sent out about 15 resumes and applications.

Her fiancé’s parents suggested she apply to Cooperative Bank – even though it was not advertising a job opening. They use the bank and were able to find her a contact.

“The number one key (for finding a job) is to always network,” Abate said.

She was hired as a teller and was promoted to commercial lending assistant after three months.

“I think a lot of college graduates come out expecting something to fall into their lap,” said Abate, who wants to be a lender. “You just have to be satisfied to start somewhere.”

Metro desk: 343-2217
ML Newell

we just read her story in Sports illustrated, and her story is inspirational.
http://www.medicalnegligenceireland.com/cancer-misdiagnosis/ Cancer Misdiagnosis

If you are suffer from any problems of breast cancer then you can confirmation that information so it very most important, and tell his other friends who suffer it problems thanks..

Jill Costello (December 1, 1987 – June 24, 2010)

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