A word from the president
Summer 2014 : Putting cancer research on the fast track
Putting cancer research on the fast track
Sid and Dawna Mauldin of Pampa, Texas, wanted to show their MD Anderson support.
Photo courtesy of Sid and Dawna Mauldin.
Sid and Dawna Mauldin, of Pampa, Texas, wanted to show their MD Anderson support. Since the couple happens to own a NASCAR Camping World Truck, what better way to do this than by emblazoning its logo on the hood?
The story of what brought them to the institution in the first place is not as cut and dried. In February 2013, Sid was diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer. The cancer had metastasized to his liver and lungs.
The Mauldins own a ranch and SWM International Inc., a company that manufactures parts for the oil and gas drilling industry, as well as NASCAR parts.
As a rancher and businessman, Sid initially was reluctant to talk about his disease with his NASCAR friends and business associates. But more than a year later, he speaks openly about his cancer and his treatment. In fact, he wants to tell everyone about his MD Anderson experience.
“I think MD Anderson is on to the cure, and I’m going to do everything I can to get us there,” he says.
Spreading the word
“One reason we wanted the logo on our hood is that we want everyone to know about MD Anderson,” Sid says.
Joe Nemechek and his son, John Hunter Nemechek, are the drivers of the Mauldins’ NASCAR Camping World Truck #8. Joe told the Pampa News in a recent article, that “having MD Anderson involved is a very kind gesture from Sid and Dawna. It’s amazing the technology involved and how they’re taking care of Sid. It is great to bring awareness to their facilities.”
In March of this year, the Mauldins committed $100,000 to support research led by Sid’s doctor, David Hong, M.D., associate professor in Investigational Cancer Therapeutics.
‘Feeling darned good’
Sid is responding well to hepatic infusion chemotherapy, and Hong hopes to find an appropriate immunotherapy trial for him soon. “Currently, metastatic cancer isn’t curable, but I’ll do my best to keep him alive as long as possible,” Hong says.
As for Sid, he believes the good wishes of all his NASCAR friends must be helping.
“I think the prayers from all over the U.S. may not have cured me, but they’ve got me feeling darned good,” he says.
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Jan Levit Silver, of Bellaire, Texas, is an executive vice president for Grocers Supply Co. Inc. Jan has been an MD Anderson patient and serves as an associate member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. Jan's late father, Milton Levit, was a BOV member, and her uncle, Max Levit, is a senior BOV member. Generous donations from the Levit family support the Joe and Dora Levit MRI Center and the Levit Family Learning Center at MD Anderson.
Survivors Say
Paula Schuetz, of Pearland, a Houston suburb, is the mother of three children (ages 24, 19 and 16). She enjoys photography, gardening and crafting. Her mantra as a caregiver, cancer patient and survivor: Never, never, never give up!
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