At her scheduled four-month check-up, Amanda Rose Cafaro was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. She was admitted to Maine Medical Center and eventually transferred to Children's Hospital in Boston, where, after an unsuccessful experimental bone marrow transplant, she passed away.

During her struggle, the communities in the greater Glens Falls area rallied to the aid of Amanda and her family. To offset the extremely high cost of her treatment, numerous fund raisers were held including Lake George's 'Amanda's Week' that included a different event on eight successive days. Prayers and good wishes were received from congregations of all dominations from Albany to the Canadian border.