NC TN SC SOUTHEAST MS AL GA FL
Dr. Gowda says the financial support provided by CureSearch for clinical trials is more important than ever because of cuts in federal funding to children’s cancer research. “Every one of us who cares about pediatric oncology patients needs to be a part of CureSearch, so that together we can raise more money,” he says. “I look forward to seeing CureSearch develop into one of the biggest organizations in existence to help fund the continued goal of achieving a cure for childhood cancer.”
Florida Oncologist Shares Pride in Work, Walk
Narayana Gowda, MD St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital
“I’m always very appreciative of CureSearch and what they do for children’s cancer research,” says Narayana Gowda, MD, an oncologist and COG principal investigator at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in West Palm Beach, FL. Dr. Gowda is proud to have taken part in the first
CureSearch Walk held in West Palm Beach in February 2011. “Over 500 people participated and we were able to raise over $50,000. We’d love to do this CureSearch Walk every year,” he says.
16 CureSearch for Children’s Cancer
On stage at the opening ceremonies of the CureSearch Walk at the Meyer Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Dr. Gowda told the crowd that standing before them – current and former patients, their families and friends – was one of the proudest moments of his career. “When I first began as an oncologist, not only were there very few researchers in childhood cancer, but there were even fewer survivors. Today, because of everyone’s involvement with this important cause and participating in fund- raising activities such as the CureSearch Walk, I have great hope for one day achieving a 100% cure for all children affected with this dreadful disease.”
Leslie would finish a round of chemo, her doctors found cancer in another location.
In June 2007, Tania Lastra dropped off her 11-year- old son, Lazaro, at basketball camp and went to work. That afternoon, she received a call that Lazaro had collapsed and been taken to the hospital. When she arrived at the hospital, she was told her son might not live another day. Lazaro had an aggressive brain tumor called a glioblastoma multiforme, and there was an overload of blood and fluid around his brain. Surgeons at Miami Children’s Hospital were only able to remove part of the tumor.
“He had suffered so much brain damage there was nothing they could do for him. He never even had any chemo or radiation,” says Tania. Lazaro lost his battle with cancer in March 2008, just a few days before his 12th birthday.
When Tangela began fundraising for the CureSearch Walk - Miami, which was held in February 2011, she discovered that Tania was planning to walk in memory of Lazaro. The two joined forces and got the entire school involved. “Team MSD for Leslie and Lazaro” raised more than $8,500.
Miami Moms Form Unbreakable Bond
Tangela Johnson-Miller and Tania Lastra met at their children’s school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) Elementary. Tangela is a second grade teacher there and Tania’s son Lazaro was one of her students. “When Lazaro was diagnosed, Tangela had just lost her daughter, Leslie, to cancer,” says Tania.
The youngest of three, Leslie Miller was 9 when she died in December 2006, six months after her diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Treated at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, FL every time
To encourage school participation, Tangela gave CureSearch bracelets to each child who donated $1 to team MSD. “The principal made it his goal to see every student wearing a bracelet,” she says.
Both moms are
planning to participate once again in the 2012 CureSearch Walk - Miami.
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