Lon Garber’s Excellent Adventure: facing Gollum, P.T. & Paul Simon with R2D2
Lon Garber It all began in Africa with a pain in my backside. My wife, Val, jokingly called it payback time since I’d been a pain in her backside for 37 years. The [...]
Member Story – Meghan Marre
Mary Marre says her daughter Meghan was diagnosed with GIST in the fall of 2002, just a few weeks before her 21st birthday. All through high school Meghan was anemic; she was also plagued with stomach problems. Each time a doctor would say it was heavy periods, ulcers, heartburn and the like … this to a child who outwardly seemed so healthy.
GIST Member Story – Peter Greenwood
For Peter Greenwood, a successful freelance illustrator, GIST is a burden and a tool. Like most GIST patients he feels the pressure of scans and occasional hopelessness. But despite all of this, Peter has found ways to use GIST to his advantage, to use it for inspiration by using his illustrations as tools to fight GIST
Member Story – Janice Gabriel
I traded in uniforms and business attire for comfort clothes. I could no longer keep pace with the meetings and travel commitments of my job. My travel now includes only visits to Dana-Farber and my time away from home is dictated by my energy level, nausea, diarrhea and heartburn. My appointments to get my hair done, a manicure, pedicure and facial have been replaced with appointments with my local oncologist for blood work, ultrasounds, etc., as well as counseling sessions.
GIST Member Story – Donnie Ray Chadrick Jr.
It all started shortly after my 36th birthday in February 2001. I was working for a small oil company as a tanker driver here in Medford, Ore. I began to develop severe pain in my lower right quadrant and lack of energy that I ignored until I could no longer justify not seeking medical attention.
GIST Member Story – Jeroen Pit
Dutch GISTer raises $2M for GIST research. “If GIST cases in the US range from 5,000 to 10,000 diagnosed a year, and 10,000 people donated just ten dollars a month, we would have 1.2 million dollars a year for GIST research.”
GIST Member Story – Jerry Call
You sit alone in a dreary doctor’s office; evidence of his medical expertise and importance adorn the walls. Maybe you sit there with a loved one, equally as scared and unprepared as you. The doctor hands you a verdict that says your time is up. Well now what do you do?
Pat George: the man, the myth, the legend
Pat George, LRG member and volunteer is well-known in the community. Pat recently took it upon himself to help educate the local students