features-linda-mussara
Features

Turning Tragedy Into Positivity

Linda Mussara, Supervisor at Einstein’s Bagels, Discusses ‘Relay’ Motivatio


features-linda-mussara

One woman in the University community found hope after heartbreak. Having survived cancer, suffering the loss of her beloved husband and caring for her sick mother, Linda Mussara, supervisor at Einstein’s Bagels, turned her grief into something positive.

For the last five years, this strong woman has put her energy into the Desperate Mama’s Relay for Life team and turned her pain into motivation to help others. Mussara’s husband Joe suddenly passed away eight years ago from glandular cancer. Enjoying five years of marriage together, he was diagnosed on January 14, and after unsuccessful cancer treatments, died exactly three months later.

“That really put Relay at the front of my brain to say we’ve got to do something here,” his widow said. “If we can save one life it’s worth it.”

Mussara is one of many who have been saved from cancer. She fought her own battle against throat cancer 15 years ago. “I spent a summer getting radiated five days a week for 12 weeks,” she said. “They never tell you what the radiation is going to do to you later on down the road.” Relative five-year survival rates for nasopharyngeal cancer are 72 percent when diagnosed at stage one, as Mussara was, according to the American Cancer Society’s website.

A woman whose eyes light up behind her gold-rimmed glasses when she smiles under her shoulder- length red hair shared how she first got involved in Relay for Life. Eight-years-ago, Mussara first participated in the event at Freehold and attended a couple of survivor luncheons. She spoke fondly of Barbara Rogers, who passed away from stomach cancer in 2007 and also lost her husband to cancer. Mussara invited her along to Relay for Life the year Rogers’ husband died. Rogers was an English professor at Monmouth from 1999 to 2006 and retired as an adjunct. “It was such a moving experience for her, to see what it was all about,” Mussara said.

On January 17 of this year, Mussara underwent surgery to replace her carotid artery, which feeds blood to the brain, and had deteriorated due to the radiation treatment. Two weeks following that surgery, her appendix had burst and she underwent an appendectomy. One week later, she was back at Einstein’s keeping her spirits up and serving the customers enthusiastically.

As supervisor of the bagel shop for the past seven years, Mussara greets many of her customers by name. Her favorite part of the job is the students. “I’m like their mom-away-from-home,” she said. They share more than just their bagel order with the outgoing redhead. “You become like a family over there,” Mussara added. She knows who is dating whom and what is happening in the kid’s lives.

Trish Bartlett has worked with Mussara at Einstein’s since September and spoke about her motherly ways. “She’ll take care of you,” she said. “She’s so great with all the students.”

Mussara enjoys her job at the University where she has worked for 15 years. Before Einstein’s opened seven years ago, she worked for Aramark in the Student Center. Being around young people and the energetic atmosphere is an escape from her difficulties at home. It gets her through the tough days. “The first kid that walks in is really nice to you, it puts you in a better head and you just go with it,” she said.

After hustling to feed students and get them off to class on time, Mussara goes home to care for her mother, who is in the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This illness is a neurological disorder where brain cells degenerate and die, according to the Mayo Clinic website. The disease causes dementia, loss of intellectual and social skills, and a decline in memory and mental function. It is progressive and has no cure.

“My mom doesn’t really speak too much anymore,” Mussara said. “I actually think that’s why I enjoy being here so much, because this is a great escape for me.” During the day, her father takes care of her mom and Mussara takes over in the evening. It is heartbreaking and stressful as she struggles to get her mother to eat. “She’s forgetting how to open her mouth,” she said with concern in her voice.

Kristine Simoes, communication professor, built a friendship with Mussara and is also a member of the Desperate Mama’s Relay for Life team. “When I think I might be having a bad day, I think about what Mussara’s day is,” she said. “She leaves here and is caring for her mother every single day.”

Simoes, who also helps her parents manage their healthcare, understands that the difficulties and responsibilities go beyond the daily needs. Dealing with Medicare, finances and pharmaceutical companies are all part of the job. “Health care is a huge thing,” she said. “Mussara and I talk about that a lot.” Mussara needs to hire a home-health aid for her mother just to get a night out with her boyfriend, Artie Woods, who is a HVAC technician at the University.

The two friends helped the Desperate Mama’s beat their goal of raising $2,000 for Relay for Life. As of April 4, the team raised $4,479.99 and has the highest amount of donations at the University, according to the team’s website. On the night of the event, they expect to collect even more. Mussara, who also has her own catering business and 43 years experience in the food industry, is considering sausage, peppers and onions for the event. “I put in all the cooking,” she said with a hearty laugh. The event takes place on April 13 in the Multipurpose Activity Center. The survivor dinner begins at 5:00 pm and the opening ceremony begins at 7:00 pm.

Relay for Life participants stay overnight and have someone from each team walking the track through the entire event. Staying up all night is a representation of the slogan “Because cancer never sleeps,” according to the ACS website. Each year, 3.5 million people participate in Relay for Life with an additional 5,000 communities internationally. Money raised goes to support Hope Lodge, which is housing for patients, their families and caregivers when they need treatment far from home. It also funds programs that assist with driving patients to appointments, having a cosmetologist help women cope with changes in their skin and hair, breast cancer support groups and college scholarship opportunities for cancer survivors. ACS raised $525,400 in special event fundraising in 2010 and a total of $903,200 donated by the public’s support, according to their website. Monmouth’s teams raised a total of $23,442 as of April 4, with nine days left to go until the event where teams can collect more donations.

A shadow of sadness passed over Mussara’s face as she talked about the first time she was interviewed several years ago about her experience. Mussara shared the story about how the girls she spoke to was moved to tears from hearing about her loss. The pain of the past emanated around her as she choked up thinking back to when she lost Joe. A professor, whose name she could not recall, approached her one day, gave her a hug and thanked her for giving the girls an epiphany and helping them understand the deep meaning of what Relay for Life can do.

“Her positive attitude is amazing to me for all the stuff that she’s gone through with her own situation, [and] her family situation,” her co-worker, Bartlett, said.

Working at Einstein’s and seeing about 300 students a day helps to keep the busy caretaker grounded. “[It] takes all that and puts it somewhere else for the day,” she said. Even though she spends her day preparing food and nights caring for her mom, she still makes time for herself. “You have to make sure that you take care of yourself,” Mussara said. “[It] makes all the stuff that you have to do a little easier.” This summer, Mussara and Artie are planning a ride in a hot-air balloon. She has always wanted to skydive but has yet to experience it. At least this trip will get her floating among the clouds.

Her strength to endure difficulty and positive attitude shines a bright light on those around her. “There’s always obstacles and struggles in everybody’s life, it’s how you deal with them,” Mussara said with determination. “You can’t let it get you down, you gotta survive.”

PHOTO COURTESY of Michelle Callas