The Heart Behind Our Mission…
jc was diagnosed with stage 3b nonsmall cell lung cancer in 2001 and was told he would not live more than six months. He underwent chemotherapy and was put in a (then) clinical trial for 3D radiation. He was a fighter, a man of faith and had an amazing medical team. We were blessed to have him with us much longer as he lived cancer free until his cancer returned in autumn of 2015. He passed away only three short months after beginning chemotherapy treatment as radiation was not an option for him this time. jc was an extremely selfless and charitable man. He was very grateful to his medical team throughout his fifteen year relationship with these doctors.
The foundation was created to carry on his legacy of benevolence with two goals in mind:
jc had an unwavering belief in his doctors and for this reason we plan to support cancer research ambitions.
After sitting through chemotherapy with jc week after week and witnessing the hardships on patients and caregivers, we want to provide for other cancer patients and their families affected by treatment.
His Medical Team
jc's medical team have been pioneers in the advancement in cancer research.
Dr. Jeffrey Bradley, specializes in thoracic malignancies with a focus on stereotactic body radiation therapy and proton beam therapy. He is a former Radiation Oncologist and Professor at Washington University School of Medicine, played an instrumental role in the Proton Beam Therapy Center at Siteman Cancer Center and his work has set precedents for the use of proton therapy to treat cancer. He has been recognized for his contributions to Radiation Oncology. and currently serves as Vice Chair of Proton Therapy and Technolgy at Penn Medicine and Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Ramaswamy Govindan, leading oncologist, reseacher and professor at Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center where he continues to improve lung cancer treatment in his cellular genome research using next-generation sequencing to study how genes are altered in cancer. He was jc's rock. Not only did he provide outstanding medical care, but he gave him faith. Dr. Govindan has received accolades for his genome research and he is well published in his field of expertise. His cancer genome research led to the FDA approval of the drug, sotorasib, to attack mutation effects in a common form non-small cell lung cancer. He currently serves as Associate Director of Translational Research at Siteman Cancer Center and as associate chief of the Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Govidan also co-chairs The Cancer Genome Atlas Program and leads a national clinical trial, ALCHEMIST, Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial.
We are so grateful for being blessed with two phenomenal physicians treating jc during his fight. We want to help others find the medical care they need and deserve. We recognize there are many physicians nationwide, like the two amazing men who treated jc, who share the goal of making great strides in cancer research.
jc during chemo treatment
Learning about proton radiation.
Dr. Govindan came out to our first charity golf tournament.
“Be ready. Be seated. See what courage sounds like. See how brave it is to reveal yourself in this way. But above all, see what it is to still live, to profoundly influence the lives of others after you are gone, by your words.”
― Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air