Marisa Petroro is a talented actress and an example of determination, dedication to her art. She has a fighting spirit – one that empowered her to overcome Rhabdomyosarcoma - a rare childhood cancer that affects the muscles.

But there’s so much more to her than beauty and brains. This talented actress has a heart of gold and believes solidly in “paying forward” for all the good things in her life.

“I’ve been helped and encouraged by so many people in my life,” says Marisa. “Especially during the trying times. The nicest part was that the people who did it wanted nothing in return. I believe that’s the nicest way to give.”

Marisa’s battle with cancer opened her eyes to the plight of hundreds of thousands of young people across the country, too many of whom never know the joys of remission. Never one to sit back while others take action, Marisa supports the Tomorrow’s Children Fund and is the 2008 spokesperson for The Sarcoma Foundation Of America. Because she understands the unique challenges that stem from being a survivor of disease, Marisa volunteers her time to help others who have been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy.

She also takes the time to personally answer the letters from kids facing similar challenges. Considering her popularity as Number 18 on the hit TV show Deal or No Deal, the volume of letters is significant.


“Their requests are simple,” says Marisa. “Sometimes they ask for photos of other girls on the show or of Howie Mandell. Most of the time they simply share their story hoping for a response.”

Because Marisa gives the letters such personal attention her involvement sometimes extends beyond correspondence.

“One little girl wrote in and asked for photos,” says Marisa. “She was diagnosed at two years old with Neuroblastoma which manifested in her abdomen. She’d undergone chemotherapy, radiation, experimental treatments and multiple surgeries over the past four years yet she was still full of joy. We exchanged letters and I spoke to her.”

Marisa traveled to New York for the screening of a movie she'd starred in called, "Everybody Wants to Be Italian." She stopped by to visit Courtney Marie “Spud” Saunders in her hospital room. Though Courtney was having a bad day on chemo, Marisa spent an hour just sitting with her.


“Her mother felt bad that I’d come all that way and Courtney wasn’t her usual perky self. She kept trying to explain how Courtney was feeling,” says Marisa. “But it wasn’t necessary. I’d lived it. I knew. I sat with Courtney and she drew me a beautiful picture. I still keep it on my refrigerator.”

Marisa remembered many long days passed in hospital rooms with her own mother by her side.

“I was older, I’d experienced so much in life, but I still needed my mom,” she says. “I felt for this sweet girl who’d endured so much pain from such a young age. I hugged her close before I left. When I moved to say good-bye to her mother I looked into her eyes and recognized the hope, fear and exhaustion that I’d seen in the eyes of my own mother. In that moment I felt an instant kinship with this woman. We didn’t need words and yet we knew each other’s most real emotions. I will never forget that experience.”

Sadly, Courtney’s treatment did not give her family the remission they so desperately wanted.


“I got a call from the family a few weeks later,” says Marisa, her eyes filling with tears. “The doctors had stopped chemotherapy and given Courtney days to weeks. Her final wish was to meet Miley Cyrus. People from her community responded to the family’s request and helped to get her tickets to the concert, a hotel room, airfare … all they needed was a backstage pass.”

Considering the phenomenal popularity of this Hannah Montana star, it seemed to be an impossible request. 

“I’ve got a friend who is a powerful agent,” says Marisa. “I met him about a year ago and had never asked him for a favor for myself. I called him for Courtney.”

The backstage passes came and Courtney’s wish came true. She died a few short weeks later on May 4, 2008. She was six years old.

“It’s hard to see children go through that,” says Marisa. “But knowing I was part of helping to make her last days more joyful makes all the difference.”

The family established a scholarship foundation in Courtney's honor. People interested in giving can contact the Courtney Saunders Foundation.