Early Fall 2008
Hello Friends,
It's early September, I'm traveling, pondering life, and updating a letter about my family that's been put on our website for the last few years talking about HEADRUSH. Five years is a long time. So long, in fact, I wasn't sure I'd still be here to write this- but I am, and I couldn't be happier about it!!!
This past year HEADRUSH granted the HEADRUSH Brain Tumor Professorship Award at the UW Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center to Dr. John Kuo. Dr. Kuo and his team are doing tremendous work in Cancer Stem Cell research and will find the cure to cancer. It was a dream come true to grant Dr. Kuo the award and know that HEADRUSH and all of its supporters are significantly improving the future of Brain Tumor research, treatment, and survivorship.
Now, a bit about what got us all here...
I was twenty-eight when my wife, Brandi, was pregnant with our first child and the biggest shock of our happy young lives sprang upon us - I had a cancerous brain tumor the size of an orange in my head that would soon change our lives forever.
During the winter of 2001, I was diagnosed with a level 2-3 Glioma Astrocytoma. As if Brandi and I didn't have enough to think about with our approaching baby, we were quickly immersed into the world of brain cancer, neuroscience, oncology, life with a disability, and how to adapt to our rapidly changing reality. We thought radiation, chemotherapy and MRIs were things other people had to think about - not us! We couldn't have been more mistaken.
My neurosurgeon removed most of my tumor. However, my case was unique in that I was twenty-eight at the time, very active, and had my whole life in front of me. Brandi and I drifted for three months of indecision after surgery while our doctors determined what would be the best form of treatment for us, and the remaining part of my tumor. Eventually, my doctor, Dr. Michael Prados at the University of California San Francisco put me on a Phase II chemotherapy clinical trial. After more than 35 MRIs, 18 months of chemo treatment, and three months of radiation, I'm living an extremely wonderful and fulfilling life with my family in Madison, Wisconsin.
I've been feeling quite healthy and we continue to monitor my situation with our doctor at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Dr. Minesh Mehta and his team, evaluating through MRIs, bloodwork, and check-ups every six months. Minesh's latest words ensured that "...tumor cells continue to die..." which is MUSIC TO OUR EARS. Let's get that brain tumor to shrivel into nothingness!
We are very thankful to have received the best medical care available, and are privileged with a remarkable support network of family, friends, and co-workers. Everyone's support, prayers, calls, cards, and positive thoughts have helped us with the healing process and move on in the best way we know how.
Now I'm thirty-five, and Brandi and I feel especially blessed with our wonderful family and network of friends. We have two adorable girls, Parnassus Rae Funk (a spunky first grader) and Beatrix Ann Funk (the pre-school-bottle-rocket). Everything happens for a reason in our opinion; you just have to figure out what that reason is and make the best of it. We are fortunate to be a family affected by a brain tumor that can look beyond "survival mode" and move on with life.
That's why we're taking advantage of our opportunity and giving back to the brain tumor and cancer communities that have helped us so much. Brandi and I are extremely excited to have created HEADRUSH... a non-profit organization whose mission is to significantly improve the future of brain tumor research, treatment, and survivorship through the HEADRUSH Brain Tumor Research Professorship at the UW Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center. The HEADRUSH Event Team organizes an annual event that increases awareness of Brain Tumors and their impact, while enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. The fifth annual HEADRUSH event will be held at Blue Mound State Park, in the town of Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, on Saturday, September 27th, 2008 and we'd love it if you could join us!
Knowing what I do, and experiencing what my family and I go through everyday, I understand what it means to have a brain tumor and be living with cancer. That's why we invite and encourage you to join us for this fantastic day of celebration. Thank you for your thoughts and support in advance. We look forward to seeing you!
Enjoy and Savor,
Chris Funk
Husband, Dad, Son, Brother, Friend, and Guy-Living-with-Brain-Cancer