About three years after her initial diagnosis, in 1994, her cancer reemerged in her lungs and had that tumor removed. Other bouts led to completely removing her pancreas, spleen, and gall bladder. Today, she enjoys her role as an ardent patient advocate. With 29 years of coping with pancreatic cancer beginning from initial diagnosis, long periods of treatment, and a recurrence, Kay can share her experiences of a very long journey. She is very inspirational and will help other patients with advice, encouragement, and instilling the gift of hope.

Michael came to the attention of the Magowitz Foundation through the staff members at HonorHealth Research Institute. He decided to participate in a holiday costume contest hosted by the Research Institute staff. On Dec. 24, he dressed up head to toe as the Grinch from the Dr. Seuss classic and won the contest. “This is a really tough thing I’m dealing with, but you’ve got two choices,” Michael said. “You can either crawl up into a ball, go to a corner and die or you can have a good attitude about it and fight.I don’t choose to crawl up into a ball anywhere.”

Dr. Perry C. Francis is a professor of counseling and the coordinator of the Counseling Training Clinic in the College of Education Clinical Suite. The clinic is a training facility for advanced level graduate students in the professional counseling program. It operates as a Community Mental Health facility for clients from the community, student body of EMU, and referrals from the county courts and local mental health centers. He also co-directs the COE Clinical Suite in the College of Education where he sees clients as a licensed professional counselor.

Dr. Francis earned his degree in counselor education at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). Before completing his degree, he was a Lutheran parish pastor and a campus pastor for 14 years.