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Our doctors are happy to discuss your individual case with you. Serious inquiries only, please. To request an initial
team consultation, call Dr. Arenson, For more information
about CNI's Brain & Spinal Tumor Team, |
A survivor is defined as "one who lives through affliction or
adversity". On October 20, 2005 a group of survivors gathered at
the home of Dr. & Mrs. David Trevarthen to celebrate overcoming the
affliction and adversity of high grade brain tumors. More than 60 people
came to celebrate at the 2nd Annual Long-Term Survivors Party. Those
who are three or more years from diagnosis and treatment of a grade 3
or higher brain or spinal tumor were invited to attend. All are patients
of the CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors.
Adding that extra touch to the festive atmosphere was food catered by
the Warren Tech High School Catering Program, and a coffee cart serving
specialty coffees sponsored by Lisa Wynja of the Celegene Corp. Photographer,
Ned Davis, was on hand to capture the images of the evening. The event
was organized by Mary Pierick, Lorre Gibson and Stacey Per. Ed Arenson,
MD and Tim Fullagar, MD, generously, underwrote the expenses for the
evening.
As in the past, we have found candle lighting ceremonies to be very emotional
for the patients and their families. The survivor's event makes it even
more so. Each survivor is given a small cake with the number of candles
signifying their years of survival. The overhead lights are turned down
low, the candles are lit and the guests of honor sing "happy anniversary" to
us, all ending with a resounding cheer. It may seem like a small gesture,
but to someone battling this disease, it is a cheer of triumph.
Covering the event for the local media were Channel 2 who aired a piece
later that evening and Channel 9 who interviewed each survivor present
and aired a story on Sunday, November 13, 2005. Read
9News story.
Surgical advancements, new chemotherapy drugs and the expertise of our
staff are allowing patients to live longer and more productively than
at any other time in history. As we look forward to next year's event,
we ask you to rejoice with us and celebrate all the survivors of brain
and spinal tumors.
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The
little town of Castle Rock is home to an estimated 35,000 people. On the
first Sunday of June for the past 18 years that number has grown by as
many as 7,000 when the Compass Bank Elephant Rock Cycling Festival is
held. The unofficial kick-off of the cycling season, E-Rock, offers 7
road and off-road courses for riders of every age and ability.
With 14 aid stations posted along the 100-mile route, that means a lot of supplies. Statistics published by the Rocky Mtn. News included 32,000 granola bras, 14,000 bananas, 14,000 gallons of sport drinks, 11,000 fig newtons, 10,000 oranges, 8,000 bagels, 300 pounds of pretzels and 260 rolls of toilet paper.
Scot
Harris, E-Rock founder and brother of brain tumor survivor, Jil Grund,
encouraged and supported The CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors in
using this ride as a fund raiser for the Program. We were able to field
a team of pedal pushers (see the list of riders below) who raised over
$20,000 for the program. “Train for the Brain” t-shirts and
bright blue cycling jerseys distinguished us from the crowd. (There are
some t-shirts and jerseys left in limited sizes. If you are interested
in purchasing either of these, please contact Lorre Gibson.)
Corporate sponsors who underwrote the expenses for the event are: MDC Holdings, Inc., Arapahoe Sertoma Club and HealthONE Swedish Gamma Knife Center. Treads Bicycle Outfitters donated gift certificates for participants who raised $500 or more in donations.
All proceeds will be used to support patient care and research for the CNI Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors.
Elephant Rock Brain Tumor Team Riders
| Carol Greenwald, MD Eric Kalhoefer, MD Chris Livingston Steve Birnbaum Patrick Croasdaile John Lindeberg Hope Acree |
Jeff Armstrong Katherine Bain Mary Ann Baker Sam Brow Jun Connelly John Davis Marc Williams |
Congratulations to all the riders and thank you to all those who raised funds and those who gave so generously to help us meet our goal. Thank you, too, to the volunteers and staff who made all the difference and worked so tirelessly to assure success for CNI.
Kim Merlo is a brain tumor survivor. Sarah Spencer is the daughter of Michael and Nancy Tomicich. Michael lost his battle with brain cancer 2 years ago. What brought these two young women together is a love of running.
Before Kim became ill in April 2001, she was a marathon runner who had qualified for the Boston Marathon. The dreams of running that race had to be put on hold while she fought for her life. She won that battle, but vision and memory deficits prevented her from continuing her love of running. In steps Sarah Spencer.
In
the Spring of 2005 Sarah had come to devote much of her time and fund
raising efforts to the CNI Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors. In June
she rode in the Elephant Rocky Cycling Festival raising funds for brain
tumor research. Recently she was asked to head up the development committee
for the program; a position she gladly accepted. In addition Sarah is
also a runner. When asked if she'd like to help Kim get back into running,
she gladly accepted that role as well.
Kim and Sarah started running about 2 months ago, the first time since Kim was diagnosed. Sarah tried to meet Kim once a week or so to jog. The first outing ended after only a few hundred yards, but soon Kim was able to do 2 miles without stopping. What an accomplishment!
On Sunday, August 28th, Sarah, her mom, Nancy, and Kim ran the 9th Annual Race for Research 5K Fun Run/Walk at Washington Park in memory of Michelle Plachy-Rubin, a young woman who lost her fight in 1998. Kim was able to do the entire 5K in 46 minutes. This was the farthest Kim had run since becoming ill more than 4 years ago.
We applaud Kim's accomplishment, we cheer Sarah's dedication and we look forward to even greater things from both these young women.
In years past, the Program has adopted a family to "angel" to for the holidays. On December 23, 2005, Stacey Per, LCSW and Lorre Gibson, Program Coordinator, along with Natalie Pyle, Events Coordinator for CNI, presented a check for $500.00 to the Trujillo Family. The monies were collected from a few staff members with a small donation from The HeartStrings Project. Martin Trujillo has a brain tumor and his wife, Maria, has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Eight-year-old A.J. offered a blessing to the staff members present.
Approximately 80 people came together from all parts of Colorado to celebrate life and hope at the 6th Annual “Reflecting the Light” services for brain and spinal tumor patients, their families and members of the CNI staff.
Under a brilliant blue sky we sang songs of hope, healing and celebration of life. Several patients and caregivers reflected on their brain tumor journeys. These included caregivers Janice Hinds and Samantha Brow, and long-term survivors Patrick Gilliam, Mike Lonergan and Scott Vickroy
Others who offered blessings, words of encouragement, and support were Dr. Ed Arenson, D. Jo Lowel, Swedish Medical Center Chaplain, Stacey Per, Patient Care Coordinator, and Susan Spero, Musician.
The candle lighting ceremony, always a moving event, did not disappoint. Every candle was lit and all remained so for the remainder of the event. Faith stones were given to all who lit a candle for a loved one. Each stone was engraved with a word of inspiration.
And a Garden Tribute: On the campus of Swedish Medical Center the fish pond area where this event is traditionally held was recently re-landscaped for the 100 year anniversary of the medical center. In those re-landscaping plans the Brain & Spinal Tumor Program Team had a dream of a memorial flower garden to honor brain tumor patients. This was inspired in part by Janice Hinds, the friend and partner of Leanne Conner who died from the effects of a spinal tumor in June 2003. For the last two years on the birth date of her partner, Janice made a donation to CNI in the hopes that we could use the monies for “something” to honor all of the patients; those who have lost the battle and those who still face the challenge. With the landscaping at Swedish complete, the administrators of the hospital agreed to let CNI start a memorial flower garden in the fish pond area. This dedication took place on May 18th at the Reflecting the Light service. Janice Hinds was on hand to help plant the first two iris plants. She donated them from Leanne’s own garden.
Additional details on how this garden will continue to grow will be
available soon in the CNI offices and on the website. We will be planting
iris and day lilies. These flowers will insure that we have blooms from
early spring right on through autumn. What a lovely tribute to our patients
and their families. In the near future a paving stone will be engraved
with an inspirational verse and the name of the Program.
Beth Sherman - wife, mother and brain tumor survivor. Each year more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with brain tumors in the U.S. In 2000 Beth was one of those people. She was told it was a very aggressive tumor and it would be wise to put her affairs in order. Beth had been experiencing headaches but nothing had prepared her for this.
Over the next twelve months she had 3 surgeries, radiation, PDT (photodynamic therapy), and several chemotherapy "cocktails" at the CNI Center for Brain and Spinal Tumors. In 2002 her MRI scans were clear. It was as close to a miracle as anyone could hope for. Since then Beth has shown her support for CNI by offering encouragement and support to other brain tumor patients and their families, but Beth always wanted to do more. With the help of her brother she was able to do lots more.
Beth's
brother, Dan, lives in New York and has many friends and acquaintances
in the entertainment field. On February 8th Sue Matsuki organized a benefit
in honor of Richard Skipper's birthday. Richard chose CNI Center for Brain
& Spinal Tumors to be the recipient of the proceeds from the benefit.
The event held at the piano bar, "Don't Tell Mama" on 46th Street in New
York City was a huge success and the "star" of the evening was definitely
Beth. Many people were moved to donate by her story of survival. (Pictured:
Beth and the birthday-honoree, Richard Skipper, at the event)
Ms. Matsuki made a special teddy bear that was auctioned off for $200. The lady who won the bear in auction, Laura Slutsky, immediately named the bear Beth. "Beth the Bear" went on to be featured in a cabaret act on February 11th that Laura hosted as another benefit for CNI. The monies raised will go to help others fighting this disease.
Beth is an inspiration to all who meet her and thanks to some wonderful
people in New York, she is able to share her story and inspiration with
even more people.
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Colorado Neurological
Institute Center for Brain & Spinal Tumors
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