Miracles happen....
Because of YOU!
Saints Alive!
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
Please welcome our
new donors from June
and July to the Family!
Good to the Bone
Anonymous
Appleton East High School
Auto Aces
Bay de Noc Senior Flight
Chappell Hill School
Chris Barszcz
Creative Kids Rock
Design a la Mode
Dickinson Elementary
Dr. Bradley Burmeister
Dr. Bruce A. Benkley
Dr. Michelle Schoen Langenfeld
Fajita Republic
Family Video
Gilligan’s Bar & Grill
Girl Scout Troup #4371
Girl Scout Troup 4070
Girl Scouts
Home Again of Green Bay
Jeff Gordon Foundation
John and Kim Erickson Family
Foundation
Josephine’s Pizza & Pastaria
Kelly Logue
Kewaunee North High School
Kidz Town
L. E. Jones Company
Los Magueyes
Marco’s Pizza
Greg Roberts was no stranger to the HSHS St. Vincent
Cancer Center. As the Director of the local H.O.G.
(Harley Owners Group) Chapter, he’s been part of
the ‘Jerry Parins Cruise for Cancer’ – a benefit that has
raised more than $1 million for the Cancer Center – for
a number of years.
“Back in 2012, our group was invited to tour the Cancer
Center and see the amazing things our donations
made possible for patients. The things we saw were
incredible, but during the tour I leaned over to Jerry
Parins and said ‘I never ever want to experience
anything like this in my life’.” Little did Greg know at
the time that he was about to become more familiar
with the Cancer Center and the critical services it provides to patients.
“Being a High School Business teacher, football coach, and President of the H.O.G.
Chapter, I talk a lot. Beginning in 2012, I noticed that my voice would crack from
time to time. And other people –
my students and my friends –
started noticing it, too. I was 45
years old – well past puberty –
so I knew something wacky must
be going on. But I didn’t think it
was a big deal at the time.”
Continued on insert
Edited by Matt Astleford.
Saints Alive! is a bi-monthly publication.
Please write to HSHS St. Vincent/
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospitals at P.O. Box
11706, Green Bay, WI 54307-1706,
Attn: Development Department if you
wish to opt out of receiving future
fundraising requests supporting any of
these organizations.
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Local Harley Riding High School Teacher Says “Thank You!”
“After weeks of putting it off,
I finally went to the doctor in
early 2013. My doctor was able
to confirm there was something
going on, but neither of us were
too concerned. After all, I was young, healthy, and didn’t smoke. There was just a
1% chance that it could be cancer. We set up an appointment for a biopsy, though,
just to get a better handle on what was going on.”
Continued on next page
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has a page on Facebook. Friend us and get weekly updates on happenings
related to your favorite hospital. Leave us messages, send us information you
would like posted or questions you would like answered. Help us spread the
message of our mission and the good we do in our communities!
8/28/15 12:59 PM
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
Good to the Bone ...continued from front page
“I took a solo motorcycle trip to Alaska and when I returned I went
in for my appointment. They performed the procedure and told me
they would follow up with me in 7 to 10 days. The phone rang the
next day, I saw it was the hospital and thought ‘this can’t be good’.”
“When someone says ‘you have cancer’ there is an initial shock
that kicks in. You think ‘I’m going to die’ and then you start to think
about all of the things left undone.”
“I’ve been a very fortunate person. I’ve lived a full and incredible life. When the initial shock
wore off, I sat back and realized that I’ve accomplished everything I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve
been all across the United States on my motorcycle. I have healthy and happy children that I’m
proud of. I have my dream job – teaching High School students. So I wasn’t afraid of the things
left undone. Instead I was thinking of how I could use this situation to help others.”
Greg sat down with his Cancer Care team and went over his options. “The doctor told me ‘we
are going to take care of this. We’re going to beat this.’ and I believed him,” he says.
Ultimately, Greg opted for surgery. He underwent the procedure – just 12 days after his diagnosis.
“After the procedure I couldn’t talk at all. It was part of the healing process. And let me tell
you – it was tough! You should have seen me – I had a little white board and notecards to
write on. But guess what? It was worth it. I’ve been cancer-free for two years now and
couldn’t be more grateful!”
Greg now serves as a resource to others who are battling cancer. He’s even working to
Have you or a loved
create a foundation that will help people starting their cancer journey – just as he had
two years ago. And the wonderful care he received from caregivers at the HSHS
one ever received care
St. Vincent Cancer Center – and the dedicated donors like you who support their work –
at one of our hospitals?
is his biggest inspiration.
If so, we would love to
“To the Cancer Center donors, I say this: thank you so much! As someone who saw what
hear your story! Please
it is like on the other side I can honestly tell you that when you make a gift to the HSHS
St. Vincent Cancer Center you aren’t giving money, you’re giving hope.”
contact Matt Astleford
Thank you to Greg and to the wonderful donors who do so much to help our cancer
at (920) 433-8055 for
patients! You make a huge difference!
more information.
We’ve Been “Un-friended” (and that’s a good thing!)
We Heard You: “Friends” is now the “Foundation”
We are proud to announce that the “Friends of St. Vincent/Friends
of St. Mary’s” is changing its name to HSHS St. Vincent/St. Mary’s
Foundation to better reflect our role as the philanthropic arm of
HSHS St. Vincent and HSHS St. Mary’s Hospitals.
With your generosity and support, together we have been able to serve the community and provide health
care to those who need it the most. While our name may be changing, our purpose is not. We will continue
to provide our community with a local avenue for community giving and volunteering to ensure the best
health care possible for Green Bay and the entire region.
You have been a valuable supporter of the Foundation in the past, and we hope you will continue to join in
our mission of providing the best health care possible for all who need it. We can’t do it without you.
Thank you for you continued support of the HSHS St. Vincent/St. Mary’s Foundation!
11x17 Saints Sept 2015.indd 2
8/28/15 12:59 PM
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
Our Littlest Donors Do Extra Chores To Help Others
Children at Three Bears Daycare Inspired to Pay It Forward
Because of the Wonderful Things You Make Possible
Your generosity is contagious! Our friends at Three Bears Daycare in Denmark
recently made a donation to help our pediatric cancer patients. And here’s the
incredible thing – the children at the daycare raised all of the money!
“During our Summer School Program we teach a class on the importance of paying
it forward,” says Sheila Londo, owner of Three Bears Daycare. “As part of the
program the children, who are between 5 and 10 years old, are asked to raise
money and give it to a local organization to help others.” Because many of the
children knew someone touched by cancer they decided to make a donation to
help our pediatric cancer patients at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital.
“My daughter has severe asthma so we spent a lot of time at St. Vincent Hospital over
the years,” says Sheila. “We were always so impressed by the great care and great
people there that we are more than happy to pay it forward to help other patients.”
The children placed their allowance and the extra money they
earned from doing extra chores into little jars at the daycare.
“One little girl even donated a gift certificate she had won at
the fair,” Sheila says.
At the end of the week, the children gathered all of their
money and gave it away to help others. Our Pediatric Cancer
Program received a check for $569.33 from these generous
children. Included with their donation were instructions from
the children as to how the donation could be used. Here is
what one child wrote:
Thank you to our
friends at Three Bears
Daycare for their
generous support and
to you, our donors,
for inspiring them to
pay it forward!
Your Support is Helping Our Caregivers Stop Cancer Before It Starts
Tales from the Frontline: Genetic Counseling
Did you know the HSHS St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center has five
Genetic Counselors and one physician, Dr. David Wargowski, who help
identify individuals and families who are at an increased risk for cancer?
And that donors just like you support their life-saving efforts?
Our Genetic Counseling team assess a patient’s personal and family
history. They provide education and counseling to at-risk patients. And,
when appropriate, they offer genetic testing for cancer genes and then
accurately interpret the results. Based on family history and test results,
the counselors and physicians provide individual treatment plans
catered to each patient.
Sometimes, the test results show a risk. “Recently, a 51 year old
patient of mine had one of the genetic mutations we look for. So she opted to undergo preventative surgery to
remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes,” recalls Genetic Counselor Sumedha Ghate, MS, CGC. “It turned out she did,
indeed, have an early stage of ovarian cancer. She was so thankful to have caught it early.”
Sometimes, the results show nothing. “After undergoing genetic testing, one patient learned that he had not inherited the
cancer gene carried in his father’s family. This knowledge lifted a huge burden from his shoulders,” says Genetic Counselor
Karen Metzler, MS, CGC. “He was so happy to tell his daughters that they are not at an increased cancer risk.”
Thanks to donors like you, more and more patients in the Green Bay area have access to this preventive and life-saving service.
“We are fortunate to be able to help so many families live happier and healthier lives,” says Metzler. Thank you for making
this possible!
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
Donors Give the “Little Engine that Could”
a Needed Push Up the Hill
Cancer Research Institute at HSHS St. Vincent on the Verge of
Major Breakthroughs – Thanks to Donor Support
You probably already know that our hospitals work hard
to discover the right mix of toxic drugs, so that the
to help cancer patients each and every day. But did you
combination will kill more cancer cells than healthy cells
know that HSHS St. Vincent Hospital has a nationally
in the human body. With persistent research efforts and
recognized Cancer Research Institute – one of only 34
new discoveries, we are finally moving forward – in a big
major cancer research sites in the U.S.?
way!,” says Dr. Brian Burnette, a physician investigator at
the Cancer Research Institute.
Most cancer research institutes are located at large
university hospitals in big cities, not in communities and
Unfortunately, just as research and results are really
hospitals our size. This is what makes ours so special and
moving forward, funding for the institute took a big step
rare – “the little engine that could”. Our Cancer Research
backwards. The Federal grant that helps the program run
Institute – thanks to the dedicated donors who support its
will cover little more than half of its total expense for
work – has been quietly bringing innovative and lifeeach of the next three years.
saving treatment to local patients for more than 30 years!
Just as major breakthroughs are progressing, Federal
Trials conducted at the Institute have changed the way
funding is slashed. Thankfully, the Institute has dedicated
in which we care for
supporters – people just like
patients with cancer and,
you- to help ensure that the
Thank you for your faithful support of our mission
more importantly, changed
momentum of discoveries
and our hospitals. Your steady and loyal support
the lives of our patients and
from our clinical trials will
those around them. Many
continue uninterrupted.
of our Cancer Research Institute – “the little
cancers that were once
Thank you for your faithful
engine that could” – is commendable.
considered a death sentence
support of our mission and
can now be treated thanks
our hospitals. Your steady
to research being conducted at the institute and the
and loyal support of our Cancer Research Institute –
donors who support its work.
“the little engine that could” – is commendable. And as
And we are on the verge of some major breakthroughs.
Dr. Burnette said, “We are moving forward in a big way.”
“In some ways, cancer treatment has been stuck in the
With your dedicated support, we will continue to do so.
mud for the last 30 years. Researchers have been trying
Thank you!
Pint Sized Packer Fan
In-Kind Donors Throw a Lifeline to Packer Fans Stuck in Bear Country
Charlotte Karaway wasn’t born at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, but you could say her
love of the Green Bay Packers was!
Her parents, Nathan and Casey, live in La Grange Park, Illinois and were watching the
Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons game on December 8, 2014 when ESPN aired a story that
highlighted the many ways Green Bay shows its love for its team. The story featured
little green and gold hats knit by our talented hospital volunteers for newborn babies.
Nathan knew he had to have one for his little girl set to be born in May 2015. He
contacted the hospital and was assured of a hat.
“We are die-hard Packers fans living in Bears Country, which is next to miserable,”
Nathan said. “With Christmas right around the corner, I knew this would be the perfect
present for my wife and our baby-to-be.”
We were happy to send the Karaway family one of these beautiful, hand-made hats. As you
can see in the photos, Charlotte – born May 29 – looked quite adorable in her new cap. And
as first-time parents, Nathan and Casey are over the moon – thanks to the generosity of our
in kind-donors and our wonderful hospital volunteers!
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