{"id":3158,"date":"2025-10-15T10:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T10:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/3158\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T10:08:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T10:08:08","slug":"staten-island-emt-worker-25-dies-after-6-month-cancer-battle-she-was-the-light-of-everybodys-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/3158\/","title":{"rendered":"Staten Island EMT worker, 25, dies after 6-month cancer battle: \u2018She was the light of everybody\u2019s world\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.\u2014 Brianna Sison was known for her unwavering dedication to helping others, both in her role as an emergency medical technician, and in the lives of friends, family, and even strangers.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was always the first one to volunteer to assist anyone whenever they [were] in need, 24 hours a day. It\u2019s really difficult to convey how much she gave to not just her family and friends, but to the random people that she\u2019s met along the way,\u201d her father, Todd David, told the Advance\/SILive.com. \u201cShe always has been and always will be the kindest, most generous person you could ever meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, her loved ones are in deep mourning: Sison, 25, of Sunnyside, died Oct. 10, following a six-month battle with cancer.<\/p>\n

Sison was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer that typically affects children and teenagers but can also affect adults. A person can develop rhabdomyosarcoma anywhere in the body, but it usually affects muscles in the arms, legs, head and neck, and abdomen, according to the Cleveland Clinic<\/a>. Each year, between 400 and 500 people in the United States receive a diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma.<\/p>\n

Sison, who served with North Shore Rescue Squad, Staten Island University Hospital, and Richmond University Medical Center, was not only skillful and dedicated, but compassionate, her friends and family told the Advance\/SILive.com.<\/p>\n

\"BriannaBrianna Sison, 25, (middle) pictured with her Dad, Todd David (left) and Mother Aimee David.Courtesy of Nicholas Portera<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was the light of everybody\u2019s world, she always had a smile on her face,\u201d Nicholas Portera, Sison\u2019s best friend said. \u201cDespite any challenges that she had, she always looked out and cared for others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sison\u2019s dad concurred, saying that his world has been dulled and colors are no longer radiant without his \u201clittle ray of sunshine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BriannaBrianna Sison, 25, (middle) pictured with family at her favorite place, Disneyland in California. Sison who has on Stitch character Mickey Mouse hears, fully embraced the “Ohana” concept from Lilo & Stitch.Courtesy of Nicholas Portera<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m devastated everyday, it\u2019s definitely like I lost my heart, my soul,\u201d David said through tears. \u201cIt is extremely difficult to move on right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Known for her gentle spirit and unwavering professionalism, Sison quickly became a cherished member of Staten Island\u2019s EMS family after beginning her career in emergency medicine in June 2020. The following year, Sison joined the North Shore Rescue Squad, where her impact was immediate and lasting. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s always a ray of sunshine, a hard worker, dedicated worker,\u201d said Portera, who quickly became great friends with Sison through work. \u201cShe became an EMT during the (coronavirus) pandemic and started volunteering with Volunteer Heart Ambulance when she was 16 years old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BriannaBrianna Sison, 25, (left) pictured with her best friend Nicholas Portera at a formal gathering. Sison and Portera went to many concerts together after the COVID-19 pandemic.Courtesy of Nicholas PorteraAward-winning EMS worker<\/p>\n

Sison, a huge Disney fan, made it her mission in life to live by the promise of ohana, made popular by the 2002 Disney cult classic, \u201cLilo & Stitch.” In the movie, the titular character Lilo famously says, \u201cOhana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.\u201d <\/p>\n

The concept of ohana, was central to Sison\u2019s life, said friends and family, and she extended this value to include not just those close to her, but also to those she tended to as an EMT. <\/p>\n

Her strong work ethic and innate dedication to helping people led her to becoming an award-winning EMS worker, having responded to over 3,500 calls in her five years of service. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe would always take every available shift, whether or not she was scheduled for it\u2026every job she was more than happy to assist and to volunteer for,\u201d David recalled. \u201cHer work ethic made her go above and beyond. She was not looking to prove anything to anyone. That was just our family\u2019s values.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embraced life with passion and joy<\/p>\n

In addition to her service as an EMT, Brianna was also academically accomplished. She was an only child who attended St. Christopher\u2019s for elementary school in Grand City. <\/p>\n

For her secondary education, she went to the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies in New Springville, where she distinguished herself by graduating with honors in 2018, according to Portera. <\/p>\n

Sison embraced life\u2019s experiences with great passion and joy. She was an avid concertgoer, having attended around 20 shows in the year following the pandemic lockdown with Portera. <\/p>\n

\"BriannaBrianna Sison, 25, (lower right) loved to cheer on the New Jersey Devil\u2019s hockey team with friends as pictured here.Courtesy of Nicholas Portera<\/p>\n

Her diverse musical tastes included artists like Tate McCray, the Jonas Brothers, Tyler Hubbard, and Jason Aldean. <\/p>\n

She was also a self-proclaimed \u201cfoodie\u201d who loved exploring new restaurants and trying different dishes. <\/p>\n

Recently, Sison also began to build complicated Lego Disney and race car sets.<\/p>\n

As a child, Sison loved going trick-or-treating for Halloween with her dad. She was always thrilled to dress as a Disney princess for Halloween. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe had this absolute love for Disney princesses, David recalled through tears.<\/p>\n

Supporting Sison\u2019s Family<\/p>\n

In the wake of her diagnosis, fellow EMTs launched a fundraiser to support her and her family, selling bracelets and T-shirts to raise donations.<\/p>\n

A GoFundMe fundraiser was started for Sison and her family<\/a>. As of this writing, the fundraiser has raised $31,501 of its $40,000 goal. The fundraiser can be found by visiting gofundme.com and searching \u201cPlease help raise funds for brianna and her family ASAP.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BriannaBrianna Sison, 25, who embraced the “Ohana” concept from Lilo & Stitch, is mourned by the EMS community after her six-month battle with the rare cancer.Courtesy of Nicholas Portera<\/p>\n

Sison\u2019s visitation will take place on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Her funeral service will take place on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Matthew Funeral Home and Cremation Services<\/a> located on 2508 Victory Blvd., in Willowbrook.<\/p>\n

Those interested in supporting Sison\u2019s family may send sunflowers, her favorite flower, to the funeral home or donate to the American Cancer Society in her memory.<\/p>\n

The EMS community is also encouraged to attend Sison\u2019s services in uniform to honor her life, show solidarity and support for her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really appreciate the generosity that everyone has shown. It\u2019s been definitely overwhelming during this difficult time,\u201d her dad said. \u201cBrianna was special, not just to me, but to everyone that she knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sison is survived by her mother, Aimee, and father Todd.<\/p>\n

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