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Honored Patients
Our Inspirations
Omaha's Honored Hero
Alex Stowe
It was the summer of 2006 and just like most other high school seniors the only thing that was on my mind was graduation, and of course going on to college. But in July my mom noticed my cheeks had started to swell and that I wasn't my normal up-beat self. So we went to see a doctor to figure out what was wrong, I was unable to drive myself due to the fact my cheeks were so swollen. My friend Mike said he would be more than happy to help out, since my mom works and wouldn't be able to come pick me up. I remember my experience in the doctor's office like it was yesterday. My mom arrived about five minutes before we did and got me checked in, I went back after only about ten minutes of waiting and within another five minutes my doctor, Dr. McFadden, was drawing blood. He told me that I most likely had mono but there was a slight chance it could be cancer. Those words hit me like a ton of bricks, I didn't know what to do or say. He came back in after the longest 30 minutes of my life and told me that it was in fact leukemia and I needed to go to the hospital.
Alex Stowe, Omaha's 2011 Honored Hero
Read Alex's full story here!
Lincoln's Honored Hero
Audrey Jackson
My husband Tyler, my five year old son Cooper and I were expecting a new baby in March of 2010. I first noticed a lump in my right axilla (underarm) a few weeks before I gave birth on Friday, March 19th to my daughter Sophia. The following Thursday I showed the area, which had become larger and more uncomfortable, to my mother who told me I needed to call my doctor. On Friday, March 26th I was seen at my family practice office and had an ultrasound of the area. A biopsy was done on Monday, March 29th and the wait began. The idea of cancer was certainly foremost in or minds even thought no one would say it. I was told it would be three working days to get the results of the biopsy. By Friday, I still had not heard anything and the area under my arm had gotten bigger and more painful. I went back to my family physician and the results of the biopsy were still not available. I was sent to a surgeon's office and saw his nurse practitioner, who sat down with my mother and I and told me I had cancer. I left the office with surgery scheduled for the following Thursday to remove the mass and an appointment to see an oncologist.
Audrey Jackson, Lincoln's 2011 Honored Hero
Read Audrey's Full Story Here!
Omaha's Memorial Honoree
Kara "Klara" Luett
Kara was a recent graduate from the University of Northern Iowa and was looking for her "real" job when she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on September 19, 2003. Kara soon began several rounds of chemotherapy. She would rebound amazingly well from the chemo, but the leukemia always came back. After four months and six rounds of chemo, it was determined that a bone marrow transplant was the best course of action. Her brother Marc was a match. Numerous complications and continuous set-backs prevented the bone marrow transplant from taking place and the doctors suggested there was nothing else they could do. Kara thought otherwise. After asking numerous other doctors, one suggested an experimental drug. Kara's response was unprecedented. She came back from the brink of death to the bright, fun-loving person we all knew. The doctors said they had never had anyone respond so well to the drugs. Unfortunately, they knew that the results wouldn't last and follow-up doses drastically decreased the effectiveness of the drug. But Kara was able to get healthy enough to have the bone marrow transplant. A month after the transplant the leukemia had come back. Kara passed away almost a year to the day she was diagnosed on September 17, 2004 at the age of 26. Kara's biggest fear was that she would be forgotten, as if that were ever possible. Her family and friends continue to celebrate her memory despite continuing to miss her deeply.
Read Kara's Full Story Here!
Lincoln's Memorial Honoree
Gary Moore
Throughout Gary Moore's life, he was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend to everyone he met. He will be remembered for his faith, optimism, humor and amazing strength. To know Gary was to love him. Gary was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June of 2005. He began his treatment with optimism and faith. Through his four years of treatment, he went through numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiation, unexpected surgeries, as well as a stem-cell transplant. He remained in remission for a year and a half after his transplant in 2006 and was adapting well to his "new normal." Unfortunately, his cancer came back and he began treatment again in April of 2007. He continued his battle with the hope of remission. Over the next two years he fought a courageous battle. In 2008 we were hopeful the cancer was under control. In January of 2009, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Gary Moore lost his battle with multiple myeloma on April 28, 2009 and not a day goes by that he is not missed.
Read Gary's Full Story Here!
Omaha's Honored Hero
Alex Stowe
It was the summer of 2006 and just like most other high school seniors the only thing that was on my mind was graduation, and of course going on to college. But in July my mom noticed my cheeks had started to swell and that I wasn't my normal up-beat self. So we went to see a doctor to figure out what was wrong, I was unable to drive myself due to the fact my cheeks were so swollen. My friend Mike said he would be more than happy to help out, since my mom works and wouldn't be able to come pick me up. I remember my experience in the doctor's office like it was yesterday. My mom arrived about five minutes before we did and got me checked in, I went back after only about ten minutes of waiting and within another five minutes my doctor, Dr. McFadden, was drawing blood. He told me that I most likely had mono but there was a slight chance it could be cancer. Those words hit me like a ton of bricks, I didn't know what to do or say. He came back in after the longest 30 minutes of my life and told me that it was in fact leukemia and I needed to go to the hospital.
Alex Stowe, Omaha's 2011 Honored Hero
Read Alex's full story here!
Lincoln's Honored Hero
Audrey Jackson
My husband Tyler, my five year old son Cooper and I were expecting a new baby in March of 2010. I first noticed a lump in my right axilla (underarm) a few weeks before I gave birth on Friday, March 19th to my daughter Sophia. The following Thursday I showed the area, which had become larger and more uncomfortable, to my mother who told me I needed to call my doctor. On Friday, March 26th I was seen at my family practice office and had an ultrasound of the area. A biopsy was done on Monday, March 29th and the wait began. The idea of cancer was certainly foremost in or minds even thought no one would say it. I was told it would be three working days to get the results of the biopsy. By Friday, I still had not heard anything and the area under my arm had gotten bigger and more painful. I went back to my family physician and the results of the biopsy were still not available. I was sent to a surgeon's office and saw his nurse practitioner, who sat down with my mother and I and told me I had cancer. I left the office with surgery scheduled for the following Thursday to remove the mass and an appointment to see an oncologist.
Audrey Jackson, Lincoln's 2011 Honored Hero
Read Audrey's Full Story Here!
Omaha's Memorial Honoree
Kara "Klara" Luett
Kara was a recent graduate from the University of Northern Iowa and was looking for her "real" job when she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on September 19, 2003. Kara soon began several rounds of chemotherapy. She would rebound amazingly well from the chemo, but the leukemia always came back. After four months and six rounds of chemo, it was determined that a bone marrow transplant was the best course of action. Her brother Marc was a match. Numerous complications and continuous set-backs prevented the bone marrow transplant from taking place and the doctors suggested there was nothing else they could do. Kara thought otherwise. After asking numerous other doctors, one suggested an experimental drug. Kara's response was unprecedented. She came back from the brink of death to the bright, fun-loving person we all knew. The doctors said they had never had anyone respond so well to the drugs. Unfortunately, they knew that the results wouldn't last and follow-up doses drastically decreased the effectiveness of the drug. But Kara was able to get healthy enough to have the bone marrow transplant. A month after the transplant the leukemia had come back. Kara passed away almost a year to the day she was diagnosed on September 17, 2004 at the age of 26. Kara's biggest fear was that she would be forgotten, as if that were ever possible. Her family and friends continue to celebrate her memory despite continuing to miss her deeply.
Read Kara's Full Story Here!
Lincoln's Memorial Honoree
Gary Moore
Throughout Gary Moore's life, he was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend to everyone he met. He will be remembered for his faith, optimism, humor and amazing strength. To know Gary was to love him. Gary was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June of 2005. He began his treatment with optimism and faith. Through his four years of treatment, he went through numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiation, unexpected surgeries, as well as a stem-cell transplant. He remained in remission for a year and a half after his transplant in 2006 and was adapting well to his "new normal." Unfortunately, his cancer came back and he began treatment again in April of 2007. He continued his battle with the hope of remission. Over the next two years he fought a courageous battle. In 2008 we were hopeful the cancer was under control. In January of 2009, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Gary Moore lost his battle with multiple myeloma on April 28, 2009 and not a day goes by that he is not missed.
Read Gary's Full Story Here!
Audrey Jackson
My husband Tyler, my five year old son Cooper and I were expecting a new baby in March of 2010. I first noticed a lump in my right axilla (underarm) a few weeks before I gave birth on Friday, March 19th to my daughter Sophia. The following Thursday I showed the area, which had become larger and more uncomfortable, to my mother who told me I needed to call my doctor. On Friday, March 26th I was seen at my family practice office and had an ultrasound of the area. A biopsy was done on Monday, March 29th and the wait began. The idea of cancer was certainly foremost in or minds even thought no one would say it. I was told it would be three working days to get the results of the biopsy. By Friday, I still had not heard anything and the area under my arm had gotten bigger and more painful. I went back to my family physician and the results of the biopsy were still not available. I was sent to a surgeon's office and saw his nurse practitioner, who sat down with my mother and I and told me I had cancer. I left the office with surgery scheduled for the following Thursday to remove the mass and an appointment to see an oncologist.
Audrey Jackson, Lincoln's 2011 Honored Hero
Read Audrey's Full Story Here!
Omaha's Memorial Honoree
Kara "Klara" Luett
Kara was a recent graduate from the University of Northern Iowa and was looking for her "real" job when she was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on September 19, 2003. Kara soon began several rounds of chemotherapy. She would rebound amazingly well from the chemo, but the leukemia always came back. After four months and six rounds of chemo, it was determined that a bone marrow transplant was the best course of action. Her brother Marc was a match. Numerous complications and continuous set-backs prevented the bone marrow transplant from taking place and the doctors suggested there was nothing else they could do. Kara thought otherwise. After asking numerous other doctors, one suggested an experimental drug. Kara's response was unprecedented. She came back from the brink of death to the bright, fun-loving person we all knew. The doctors said they had never had anyone respond so well to the drugs. Unfortunately, they knew that the results wouldn't last and follow-up doses drastically decreased the effectiveness of the drug. But Kara was able to get healthy enough to have the bone marrow transplant. A month after the transplant the leukemia had come back. Kara passed away almost a year to the day she was diagnosed on September 17, 2004 at the age of 26. Kara's biggest fear was that she would be forgotten, as if that were ever possible. Her family and friends continue to celebrate her memory despite continuing to miss her deeply.
Read Kara's Full Story Here!
Lincoln's Memorial Honoree
Gary Moore
Throughout Gary Moore's life, he was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend to everyone he met. He will be remembered for his faith, optimism, humor and amazing strength. To know Gary was to love him. Gary was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June of 2005. He began his treatment with optimism and faith. Through his four years of treatment, he went through numerous chemotherapy treatments, radiation, unexpected surgeries, as well as a stem-cell transplant. He remained in remission for a year and a half after his transplant in 2006 and was adapting well to his "new normal." Unfortunately, his cancer came back and he began treatment again in April of 2007. He continued his battle with the hope of remission. Over the next two years he fought a courageous battle. In 2008 we were hopeful the cancer was under control. In January of 2009, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Gary Moore lost his battle with multiple myeloma on April 28, 2009 and not a day goes by that he is not missed.
Read Gary's Full Story Here!
