In 2001, Marnie Rose, M.D., a first-year pediatric resident at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. Despite a courageous fight throughout treatment at MD Anderson, she died the following year. Since 2003, the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation and its annual Run for the Rose 5K have honored Marnie's memory, raising $4.75 million for brain cancer research and drug development at MD Anderson as well as pediatric health initiatives at Children's Memorial Hermann. Following her own recent diagnosis of breast cancer, Lanie Rose, Marnie's mother, reflects on MD Anderson, the Glioblastoma Moon Shot and her daughter's legacy.
Fall 2015 : 25 Years of Cheer
25 years of cheer
Since 1990, MD Anderson's Holiday Giving Program has brought smiles to countless families through seasonal cards that have generated more than $5.78 million. The annual program has provided funding for more than 200 patient assistance, community outreach, education and prevention programs that are truly Making Cancer History®.
Cards are designed by patients at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital. Photo by Adolfo Chavez III.
How it works
For a single donation, MD Anderson's Development Office personalizes and mails holiday cards to donors' friends, family and business associates. Holiday Giving Program supporters have the option to provide MD Anderson with a mailing list of the people they'd like to honor, an a card is sent to each honoree by MD Anderson. Or, MD Anderson will send the cards directly to the donor so that he or she may mail the cards with a personal greeting. Two new card designs are available for the 2015 holiday season. Each card was designed for the program by a patient at MD Anderson's Children's Cancer Hospital.
Meaningful memories
Nancy Glanville Jewell, of Houston, has supported the Holiday Giving Program for the past 24 years, practically since the program first started. She says the cards have become an integral part of her family's traditions.
"As a young family, we always shared traditional, tangible gifts with our friends," says Jewell. "As we grew older, we realized that what was most important to us was to share something that would benefit not just our friends, but their families as well. Supporting the Holiday Giving Program allows us to honor our friends with a donation to an incredible institution while sharing a bigger message and raising awareness of the work being done to stop this disease."
Time-tested tradition
Since 1991, Gayla and George Chapman, of Dallas, have used the Holiday Giving Program during the Christmas season to honor family and friends, and to support MD Anderson. "What I've always appreciated about MD Anderson is the love, the caring and the comfort that everyone has exhibited to me and others during my time there in addition to the extremely high level of medical competency," says Gayla.
"There are many charities that have similar kinds of holiday card programs, but none has the reputation of MD Anderson," says George. "When we send the cards, people know we have the utmost confidence in the top cancer center in the world. No one asks why we chose MD Anderson."
Changing Lives
Through funding provided by the Holiday Giving Program in 2014, MD Anderson's Children's Cancer Hospital was able to purchase two VGo robots, which patients have nicknamed Taylor and Travis. Patients in isolation or those too sick to venture out of their rooms control the robots to represent themselves at events, off-campus trips and their schools back home. A camera attached to the robot allows the children to video-conference in to the desired activity.
"Donors who support the Holiday Giving Program are really changing lives," says Wykesha Hayes, pediatric school coordinator at the Children's Cancer Hospital. "They're giving us an opportunity to keep our patients feeling connected and normal. Education is such an integral part of life, and these technologies are helping us maintain that normality. We're forever grateful."
More Stories From Promise
Moon Shots Program expands reach
After a rigorous scientific review, MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program is zeroing in on six additional areas of focus: b-cell lymphomas, colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, high-risk multiple myeloma, human papillomavirus-related cancers and pancreatic cancer.
Cancer-free for 50 years
John Tucker of Anderson, S.C. was 15 when he first came to MD Anderson in 1965. At that time, the institution had been in operation for 21 years, and teenage John could barely comprehend his diagnosis.
Getting to know Mel Klein
Mel Klein has been a member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors for 25 years and is currently serving his second year as chair. An investment banker, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, attorney and philanthropist, he is the founder of Melvyn N. Klein Interests and a respected community leader in Corpus Christi, Texas, with business interests in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities in the U.S. and internationally. From 1980 to 2005, he wrote the guest column "Feedback" for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, later compiled in the book "Our Time," proceeds of which benefit MD Anderson. In 1996, he was named to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Klein and his wife, Annette, are members of the Anderson Assembly, an organization honoring donors who've made lifetime commitments of $1 million or more to MD Anderson. They have two daughters, Jacqueline and Jenna.
iPromise
Cancer survivor Estela Avery is a San Antonio native, a former nurse, an avid fundraiser and executive director of the San Antonio River Foundation. She supports MD Anderson's orbital oncology/ophthalmic plastic surgery program in recognition of Bita Esmaeli, M.D., professor, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery. Here, she reflects on her cancer experience and the importance of giving.
Survivors Say
Rosemary Herron is a 14-year breast cancer survivor and longtime Pink Ribbon Volunteer at
MD Anderson's Nellie B. Connally Breast Center. She also volunteers at MD Anderson in Sugar Land. In 2012, she received the Painter Award for outstanding contributions to the Anderson Network support group, now known as myCancerConnection. Though her breast cancer returned two months later, she continued volunteering throughout treatment. Rosemary and her husband Don, recently contributed $25,000 to support a HER2 vaccine research program, Injecting Hope. The program is led by Elizabeth Mittendorf, M.D., associate professor, Breast Surgical Oncology.
A journey down the right path
Last May, Jerry Vilmont's Iowa City, Iowa doctors diagnosed him with stage IV bladder cancer and gave him less than six months to live.
Long-term loyalty
Thoughtful investigation and steady perseverance are the approaches MD Anderson's specialists use to unlock answers to cancer's mysteries. They're also the tactics behind Colin Chopin's history as a 30-year Annual Fund supporter.
Rogers Award honors esteemed educator
Michelle Barton receives 2015 Julie and Ben Rogers Award for Excellence in Education.
Seeking a cure
Catherine and Ben Ivy were married only five years before cancer uprooted their entire world.
Fishing for answers
When Jeff Reid found out his brother, Matt, had been diagnosed with appendiceal cancer, his initial thought was, "Why not just remove the appendix?" He learned it's not that simple.
Hot topics
Summer seminars spread prevention tips cross-country
Every handprint tells a story
Hyundai Hope on Wheels
Luncheon makes a lasting impact
Inaugural impact luncheon honors Tom Buchholz, M.D.
Biomarker tied to poor survival for colorectal cancer patients
The protein CSN6 has been correlated with poor survival among patients with colorectal cancer, according to an MD Anderson study published in the medical journal Cancer Cell.
Research breakthrough: immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer
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Jim Allison wins Lasker Award
Jim Allison, Ph.D., chair of Immunology at MD Anderson, has received the nation's highest honor for clinical medical research, the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.
MD Anderson president among top 100 influencers in health care
Ronald DePinho, M.D. has been named to Modern Healthcare's 2015 list of Top 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.
Less may be more
Patients who receive a shorter course of whole breast radiation therapy for early-stage disease experience less toxicity and improved quality of life compared with those who undergo longer treatment, MD Anderson researchers report in JAMA Oncology.
Superpowers against the sun
Five globetrotting, sun-blocking superheroes use their superpowers - shade, clothing, sunscreen, hats and sunglasses - to teach preschoolers about lifelong sun safety.
Welcome, Joxel Garcia, M.D.
As inaugural executive director of the Moon Shots Program's cancer prevention and control platform, Joxel Garcia, M.D., leads efforts to reduce the cancer burden, especially in the under served population.