As you may know, in December of 2015, my son Oliver experienced a seizure while on a ski trip in Italy. With a diagnosis from the Italian doctors of a mass in his left frontal lobe, we were put in contact with the doctors at Brigham & Women’s and Dana Farber Cancer Institute (thank you Colleen!). On January 27, 2016, Oliver had a 5 cm glioblastoma removed from his left frontal lobe in a 7½ hour operation. With no further treatment indicated for his type of tumor, we entered into a new phase of our lives, living with cancer. Oliver would be monitored every two months for a year, then the MRIs timing would gradually be extended. He went back to his internship in his Northeastern mechanical engineering pursuit just a month or so after his operation and resumed life with his particular gusto.
In April, his first MRI was exactly what the doctors wanted to see, no evidence of tumor remaining and his brain beginning to return to normal. Yesterday, June 27th, the news was not as good. The tumor returned and in just two months, grew to the size of a cherry. Suddenly, the roadmap of potential outcomes increased dramatically, not all good. We are awaiting the scheduling of his next surgery to remove this interloper and develop a revised treatment plan. We are learning that life as a cancer family is one day at a time and treatment does not go in a straight line. This is the work being done at Dana Faber Cancer Institute. Supporting not just ground-breaking treatments but also individuals and families, now us, in dealing with cancer in all its forms.
This year, I will again be riding the Pan Mass Challenge to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund, my sixth ride. The PMC is a two-day, 192-mile bike ride across Massachusetts, from Sturbridge to Provincetown. The Pan Mass Challenge contributes 100% of donated funds to the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of Dana Farber, and is a model of fundraising efficiency. In the 36 year history of the PMC, generous donors have contributed more than $500,000,000, yes, that is half a billion dollars! This year, 6000 riders committed to raise more than 46 million dollars.
There are many ways to donate. The easiest is to click the following link: http://www.pmc.org/profile/DB0205. Alternatively, you can send me a check, made out to PMC, to my address below. Check your company for matching funds as well. Contributions can also be made from Donor Advised Funds (DAF). There is even an iPhone app.
On August 6th and 7th, I will ride 192 miles in honor of my son Oliver and his ongoing challenges dealing with this scourge of a disease. Please ride along with me by making a contribution to support Dana Farber and the important work they do. Please also feel free to forward this email to others I may have missed.
