Award Recipients
Below are the recipients honored at the 2008 Head for the Cure 5k:
Tim Elliott
Tim Elliott, age 48, of Overland Park, was diagnosed May 8, 2008, with a brain tumor. He underwent tumor de-bulking surgery six days later. He left the hospital May 17, 2008, to continue his recovery. His neurosurgeon deemed the surgery a success, removing 60 to 70 percent of the tumor and did not invade healthy brain tissue.
The surgical pathology report was sent to Johns Hopkins Hospital to determine the type and stage of the tumor. The John Hopkins doctors classified the tumor as a stage II ogliodendroglioma, a rare brain tumor that grows slowly.
Neither Tim’s neurosurgeon nor oncologist has recommended radiation or chemotherapy. Tim will have periodic MRI scans to watch for changes in the remaining portion of the tumor.
Tim is an attorney in private practice in Overland Park. His wife, Stephanie, also an attorney, works for the Federal Public Defender’s office in the western district of Missouri. His stepdaughter, Alicia, is a research scientist in Port Orford, Oregon, and stepson, Jordan, is a high school teacher in Johnson County. Their daughter, Megan, is a sophomore at KU and son Michael is a senior at Blue Valley Northwest High School.
Never down long, Tim was at work full time a few weeks after the surgery. He has been an active leader in Boy Scouts, past president of Shannon Valley Homes Association and served with the Johnson County Bar Association’s Habitat for Humanity Committee. He appreciates all the joys and blessings received from the Holy Father.
Tim has adopted a healthier lifestyle, including changes in diet, supplements and exercise. He has always had a positive outlook and strong faith, and with the valued support of family and friends, looks forward to continued recovery.
David Minard
Twelve years ago, while his wife was pregnant with their fourth son, David was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor called an astrocytoma. Although benign, the tumor was touching his brain stem, making total removal, as of yet, unsuccessful. He has had two craniotomies to remove a portion of the tumor. Surgeons have said that they are unable to surgically remove the remaining tumor or perform a third surgery.
After his second surgery, he was in and out of the hospital for months because of complications. His incision site leaked spinal fluid and he suffered spinal meningitis … his family almost lost him.
Below is a story from his wife, Angela:
When David was in the hospital, after his second surgery, drugged on morphine and in horrible pain, he awoke from a restless sleep, calling out for me. He asked me if I had seen the hummingbird that had been flying around the room. I told him no, that I had been asleep. Excitedly, he described his vision of a hummingbird, filling the room with beautiful colors. The brightest most brilliant colors he had ever seen. He seemed so disappointed that I had not been awake to see it. He was certain that it had not been a dream. He was trying so hard not to cry as he told me that he knew now that it was not time to die. The hummingbird sent him a message filled with hope and life.
|
A Hummingbird Dream
The hummingbird's
kaleidoscope
of mosaic colors
bounce along
the hospital walls.
Hallucinations,
drug induced mumbling...
The hopeful beauty
of living.
|
Yes!
I feel your dream,
but no,
my eyes,
they do not see.
The hummingbird's
whirring wings,
they sing...
of many days
left to share.
|
No,
I do not hear,
but I believe.
Oh yes!
I do believe.
You're coming home
with me!
|
Rob Mullin
Rob Mullin and his family received news January 13, 2003, that would change their lives forever. Rob, a Sprint national account manager in Overland Park, KS, had been suffering headaches and loss of peripheral vision that eventually led Rob and his wife, Gail, to the local emergency room on that cold January morning.
The doctors believed Rob was suffering from migraines, but they decided to run a CT scan to "err on the side of caution." Nothing could have prepared the Mullin family for the news they received. Rob had a brain tumor the size of an orange in the back of his brain. Three days later, Dr. Paul Camarata performed the six-hour surgery that would remove the tumor and save Rob's life. The pathology report revealed Rob's tumor was a grade II oligoastrocytoma.
Rob and Gail, together with their children, Hollie and Gavin, decided to seek further medical treatment at The Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. Rob's tumor remained stable until December 2007 when it started to regrow. The doctors at Duke placed Rob on a clinical trial to hold the tumor steady ... and thus far, the chemotherapy has been effective. Unfortunately, Rob was also diagnosed with a rare spinal tumor July 8, 2008. While the Mullin family was thrilled to find the tumor was benign, Rob suffered side effects from the tumor resulting in doctors performing emergency brain shunt surgery to relieve elevated pressure in his head.
Rob and Gail are proud of the accomplishments friends and family have made through this difficult ordeal. This included starting a 501(c)(3) organization called beHeadStrong to help Kansas City area families, who have been affected by this disease and to aid organizations striving to find a cure for brain tumors.
Furthermore, Rob received the Presidential Call to Service Award from President George W. Bush March 22, 2007, for his community service work. The community that supports Rob has allowed him "to turn lemons into lemonade." Thank you friends and family for allowing us to have this opportunity for faith, love and the hope for tomorrow.
Paula Robinson
Paula Robinson has survived 14 years with a brain tumor through wit, wisdom and perseverance.
After her last surgery, Paula pursued traditional and alternative therapies to battle her cancer. She has gone through radiation, chemotherapy, acupuncture and herbal remedies for the past two years. Now, two months without chemo, she is growing stronger as the chemicals leave her system.
Her best friends know her as direct, funny, creative and wise. The ringer on her cell phone is "If I Only Had a Brain" from the Wizard of Oz. She is the strong one as her friends go through lesser trials. But she'll tell it like it is, share her true thoughts, and say, "pain is pain," if you feel guilty about sharing your problems with her. She approaches strangers easily with compliments and commentaries.
Having three grown, wonderful boys, she now cares for Tessa and Chloe, a rescue dog and cat. Paula is a survivor extraordinaire ... and we are proud to be sharing this event with her.
