Medical student, bad-ass runner, cyclist, painter, daughter, sister, friend, fiancée...only some of the descriptors of Kristen Marie Ettensohn. Kristen is the reason why I am again riding and fundraising for the Pan Mass Challenge, in order to help in the effort to fund the life saving research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The fewer people that need to re-live a situation like this, the better. I can only imagine a world without cancer.
Kristen was an eternally optimistic person who lived a full 27 years. Here is our story:
Kristen and I were set up by a mutual friend in 2008 and immediately hit it off. Kristen was someone that knew what she wanted, notably to become a doctor, and so she was a dedicated medical student at UMass Medical School. But that is far too narrow of a descriptor of Kristen. Like I said above, she was a woman with many passions and pursuits, and so it was easy for us to connect on many levels. With our shared love of running, art, cycling and music it was a pairing that really worked. Kristen’s family was amazing, and our close friends became friends too. Some of the most fun things we did was to introduce each rother to new bands by making mp3 playlists, going to concerts, brunching with a diverse group of friends, hitting art museums in Boston and New York, and getting out on our bikes. But then, out of the blue, and only a couple of months into our relationship she was diagnosed with tongue cancer. She may have known the seriousness of the cancer at the time, but she really downplayed it with me and I was very, very confident that this was a blip in her tragectory.
Kristen came from a very close family, many of who are doctors, but her cancer diagnosis was still a complete shock to her and those that knew her as she'd lived such a healthy lifestyle. I can remember the time she told me that she didn't know what the treatments would entail, but it could be very involved and that she would completely understand if I didn't want to get involved in a serious relationship at that point. I know she was looking out for me, but in this case what kind of person would I be if I walked away at that point? I didn't want to, and I definitely wouldn't. Several months later we were engaged. We had a great, intimate family celebration on the Cape and enjoyed all that we had. Everything seemed to be on the up and up, we were so optimistic and death from cancer didn't seem like a possibility. I can only speak for myself here but I honestly didn't know what was to come.
In this case, cancer was relentless. Through the next couple of years we went through the many ups and downs with her treatments. We'd get some small bit of good news like that the cancer was not spreading, a tumor wasn't growing, a promising trial drug was going to be available, or that a potential surgery could save Kristen's life. At this point when faced with a new reality, I just wanted to hold on. I wanted to be with Kristen every single day. I wanted to help her in any possible way I could. I wanted to be respectful of her immediately family and friends that wanted the same thing too. It was not hard to stay positive because any tiny bit of good news would send me through the roof with joy, but I was not oblivious to the fact that the days together with Kristen may be limited. She was only 26/27 years old and this couldn't be happening, but it was...
In late June of 2010 Kristen had enough and she was not going to go through with further treatments. I can assure anyone reading this, as a by-stander this is the hardest moment. That’s the moment you’re faced with the reality that cancer is truly horrific and going to take the life of someone you love. The last couple of weeks were quiet, she was very worn out from the treatments and the toll the disease was taking on her. Kristen passed away in the evening on July 11, 2010. She was surrounded by her mother, father, brother, and me. I'm riding the 2019 PMC in honor of Kristen M Ettensohn, her friends and family who loved her so much.
Post script 2020: I’m happily married to a wonderful woman, Ann. Lightning struck twice. However, I will never forget the effect Kristen had on me.
I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. One of te most incredible parts of the PMC is that 100% of rider-raised revenue goes directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.
Medical student, bad-ass runner, cyclist, painter, daughter, sister, friend, fiancée...only some of the descriptors of Kristen Marie Ettensohn. Kristen is the reason why I am again riding and fundraising for the Pan Mass Challenge, in order to help in the effort to fund the life saving research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The fewer people that need to re-live a situation like this, the better. I can only imagine a world without cancer.
Kristen was an eternally optimistic person who lived a full 27 years. Here is our story:
Kristen and I were set up by a mutual friend in 2008 and immediately hit it off. Kristen was someone that knew what she wanted, notably to become a doctor, and so she was a dedicated medical student at UMass Medical School. But that is far too narrow of a descriptor of Kristen. Like I said above, she was a woman with many passions and pursuits, and so it was easy for us to connect on many levels. With our shared love of running, art, cycling and music it was a pairing that really worked. Kristen’s family was amazing, and our close friends became friends too. Some of the most fun things we did was to introduce each rother to new bands by making mp3 playlists, going to concerts, brunching with a diverse group of friends, hitting art museums in Boston and New York, and getting out on our bikes. But then, out of the blue, and only a couple of months into our relationship she was diagnosed with tongue cancer. She may have known the seriousness of the cancer at the time, but she really downplayed it with me and I was very, very confident that this was a blip in her tragectory.
Kristen came from a very close family, many of who are doctors, but her cancer diagnosis was still a complete shock to her and those that knew her as she'd lived such a healthy lifestyle. I can remember the time she told me that she didn't know what the treatments would entail, but it could be very involved and that she would completely understand if I didn't want to get involved in a serious relationship at that point. I know she was looking out for me, but in this case what kind of person would I be if I walked away at that point? I didn't want to, and I definitely wouldn't. Several months later we were engaged. We had a great, intimate family celebration on the Cape and enjoyed all that we had. Everything seemed to be on the up and up, we were so optimistic and death from cancer didn't seem like a possibility. I can only speak for myself here but I honestly didn't know what was to come.
In this case, cancer was relentless. Through the next couple of years we went through the many ups and downs with her treatments. We'd get some small bit of good news like that the cancer was not spreading, a tumor wasn't growing, a promising trial drug was going to be available, or that a potential surgery could save Kristen's life. At this point when faced with a new reality, I just wanted to hold on. I wanted to be with Kristen every single day. I wanted to help her in any possible way I could. I wanted to be respectful of her immediately family and friends that wanted the same thing too. It was not hard to stay positive because any tiny bit of good news would send me through the roof with joy, but I was not oblivious to the fact that the days together with Kristen may be limited. She was only 26/27 years old and this couldn't be happening, but it was...
In late June of 2010 Kristen had enough and she was not going to go through with further treatments. I can assure anyone reading this, as a by-stander this is the hardest moment. That’s the moment you’re faced with the reality that cancer is truly horrific and going to take the life of someone you love. The last couple of weeks were quiet, she was very worn out from the treatments and the toll the disease was taking on her. Kristen passed away in the evening on July 11, 2010. She was surrounded by her mother, father, brother, and me. I'm riding the 2019 PMC in honor of Kristen M Ettensohn, her friends and family who loved her so much.
Post script 2020: I’m happily married to a wonderful woman, Ann. Lightning struck twice. However, I will never forget the effect Kristen had on me.
I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. One of te most incredible parts of the PMC is that 100% of rider-raised revenue goes directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.
| 2021 | $100.00 | PMC Fundraiser |
| 2020 | $3,030.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2019 | $5,260.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
