When Marlene and David Sardo-Infirri found out they were expecting their second child, they were overjoyed to welcome a little girl into the world.
Seven months into Marlene’s pregnancy, and preparations were well underway.
So, when David felt unwell and visited his doctor, the couple was distracted and did not think it was a cause for concern.
Cancer was the last thing on their minds — but “cancer doesn’t discriminate”, Marlene said.
David was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in March 2019.
A week before Marlene gave birth, David was preparing to start chemotherapy when he mentioned to his specialist that he felt dizzy.
An MRI revealed more unwelcome news — there was a mass on his brain.
David was rushed into emergency brain surgery, as Marlene anxiously waited for any news.
“It was very overwhelming for me and my little boy,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.
David did not let his cancer cause him to hide away from the world.
Instead, he used the social media pages of his family business, Passione Gourmet Deli Cafe in Perth, to share his journey.
“He got a lot of support from people and that gave him strength during a challenging time,” Marlene said.
The father-of-two began to record his cancer journey for a documentary, recruiting friends to film interviews with his family, hospital visits and his highlights, including boxing and riding his bike.
“He wanted his story to become a guide for someone else for them to know it’s OK,” Marlene said.
Throughout it all, David remained optimistic about beating cancer and thought he would be alive to share the end of his documentary.
However, despite surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation, David’s cancer returned and had become resistant to treatment.
He died in August 2022, leaving behind his darling three-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son.
A lasting legacy
David’s death was devastating for his family, but Marlene finally feels ready to share his journey and documentary with the world.
“Watching it now can be a bit overwhelming,” she said.
“He still saw himself in the future … he saw himself at his daughter’s wedding.”
By keeping David’s memory alive, he continues to help others.
“We didn’t really think about cancer, but if he had heard more people talking about it, maybe it would have changed something for him,” she said.
“The more people that talk, the more that will get checked.
“Listen to your body … if you feel something isn’t right, see someone or get a second opinion.”
Marlene is holding a fundraising screening of his documentary in Perth on Wednesday to raise money for Cancer Council Australia.
The family also sponsors a room in David’s name at the Cancer Council WA Crawford Lodge, accommodation for regional cancer patients and carers in Perth.
“We know it helps people, and it’s what David would have wanted.”
This May, Marlene is sharing her story supporting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, which hopes to raise $15 million dollars for Cancer Council Australia.
