OUR STORY

Working Towards a Better Tomorrow

Few people ever think the unexpected will happen to them, and we were no different. However, in April of 2008, the unexpected became our reality. Our daughter, Heather, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma brain cancer. On April 24, 2008, she had her first of two craniotomies to retract her tumor; her second surgery was June 12, 2008. Even though both surgeries were considered successful, the entire tumor could not be retracted. She completed 6 weeks of radiation with low dose Temador (chemotherapy) and then completed 11 months of high dose Temador.  After 11 months, her body said, "No more!" Her tumor remained "stable" until March 2014.  After additional specialized radiation in San Francisco and another year of high dose Temador, she was "stable" once again.

It all sounds so easy, but it was not. Seizures, swelling, steroids, Avastin (which had to be stopped because of two strokes) followed her re-diagnosis.  Heather remained a fighter as she continued to battle the side effects: weight gain, limited gait, memory loss, hair loss, tiredness, aches and pain.  Her life drastically changed, but she continued to fight even though she knew the end was near.  She took her last breath on November 8, 2016 at the young age of 37.

We always believed Heather was destined to be living proof of medical advancements for this dreadful disease.  And we still believe that in a small way, she was.  She beat cancer on so many levels, just not the level she needed to remain with us.  

In the end, she knew how many people loved her and how many people she inspired to live a more meaningful life.  So many were touched with her honesty, positive outlook on life, twisted sense of humor, and hope for a future.  Her lessons remain in our hearts and give us a path to follow.

LEAP-FOR-A-CURE DONATIONS:
MAKING A DIFFERENCE

2010 =   FUNCTIONAL MRI AND STEALTHMERGE

2011 =   THE 1ST BRAIN TUMOR CONFERENCE AT METHODIST ESTABROOK CANCER CENTER

2012 =   $50,000 DONATION TO THE TISSUE BANK FOR METHODIST ESTABROOK CANCER CENTER

2013 =   $300,000 STEALTHMERGE UPGRADE

2014 =   $10,000 DONATION TO HOPE LODGE OMAHA

2014 =   BIONESS L300 SYSTEM AND IPADS FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY

2016 =   THE 2ND BRAIN TUMOR CONFERENCE AT METHODIST ESTABROOK CANCER CENTER

2017 =   HYDROWORX 2000 WATER THERAPY POOL – “HEATHER’S HEALING PAD” – AVERAGING 24 PATIENTS DAILY WITH GAIT, BALANCE, AND WEAKNESS ABNORMALITIES.

2018 =   POOL HEATING PANELS AND HALLWAY HANDRAILS FOR PATIENTS

2020 =   HYPERARC SOFTWARE FOR THE VARIAN EDGE (STEREOTACTIC RADIATION SURGERY)

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