The costs for cancer research as well as patient and family care are staggering. Less than 8% of all cancer research funds go toward researching childhood cancers. For A Cure exists to increase awareness of and funding for the Children’s Hospital HRLLP. We will accomplish our goals by hosting high-quality, community-based events such as golf tournaments, bike rides, hikes, fun runs, etc., where we connect community members to the doctors, nurses and researchers involved with the HRLLP and to the families who have been impacted by their work.
In 1985, I moved to Everett and joined The Everett Clinic as an Obstetrician- Gynecologist. I have taken care of thousands of patients over the years, delivering their babies and doing surgery. I retired in 2021. I know the terrible impact cancer has on patients and their family, as do most of you. I lost my dad to cancer when I was 8 years old, and that experience led me to dedicate my life caring for people and practicing medicine. I have witnessed the toil of childhood cancers which can be so devastating.
I watched Lucy, our granddaughter, fight leukemia for 51/2 years, through two bone marrow transplants and two t-cell immunotherapy treatments. She was courageous but we failed. It’s devastating to hear when the doctors told us there are no treatment options left for Lucy. She passed away at 81/2. I joined this group to provide critical research dollars to the dedicated researchers at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
As a career long healthcare manager, I understand the challenges facing the medical profession. Lower reimbursements and increasing costs reduce funding available for specific programs. Having personal relationships with friends who’ve been affected by blood cancers, I didn’t hesitate when asked to support For A Cure NW.
I was drawn into working with For A Cure by fellow board member Tom Hayes. After being diagnosed with leukemia himself and while he was still in treatment, he turned his attention to helping others, and specifically children who are living with a leukemia diagnosis. I am honored to be working alongside Tom, the other board members and so many volunteers whose goal is to improve outcomes and provide support for children and families affected by leukemia.
My involvement as a founding member on the board is because two of our Co-Founders of “For A Cure NW” have fought their own personal battles with Leukemia. Tom Hayes has faced the disease head-on and continues to press through it to full recovery. The fight of Don Barbacovi’s grand daughter Lucy with this challenging illness resulted in her passing at the young age of 8. I have watched both of these men as they have moved through very difficult times. I have seen how this has impacted both of them and their families.Their approaches to meeting the tests of Leukemia have been an inspiration to me. I am committed, through “For A Cure NW”, to support children and their families as they confront this terrible illness called Leukemia. Our focus through “For A Cure NW” is to help improve the cure and the process that these children and their families experience as they press forward towards their recovery.
“While in remission from a leukemia diagnosis, I started fundraising for the unfortunate patients and families of the High-Risk Leukemia program at Seattle Children’s. After my own stem-cell transplant, several committed individuals decided to form a foundation to continue the vision and mission. I am on the board to build on this service.” Read Tom’s Journey in the presentation below. Click the [play button] to enjoy original music by Terry McGovern. Click the [right] and [left arrows] on the bottom navigation bar to move through the slides or expand the slide show by clicking on the [expand button] in the lower left corner of the presentation.
