In 1981, I had just finished my freshman year of high school. Summer had started with lots of swimming, biking, running, and family activities. I started to feel a cramp in my right calf muscle and discovered a very large lump. A series of doctor appointments and tests determined that I had Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare soft tissue cancer affecting only about 300 people a year in the United States, with roughly 60% of cases in children and adolescents. My cancer journey began with an above knee amputation and continued with two years of monthly inpatient chemotherapy over five days each month. Dr. Mark Goodman and Dr. H. Lee Dameshek were initially my doctors, then my friends, and forever my heroes.
Forty-five years later, I am loving life. I have a loving family and devoted friends. I proudly served as an elementary teacher for 35 years and was recognized with multiple awards and honors for something that I could not fathom myself doing anything else. I have traveled across the country and internationally. I love the beach, reading, country music, scrapbooking, flower arranging, singing (though I'm not good), cheering for my nieces and nephews and now great niece and nephew, driving, and shopping, to name just a few hobbies. And, I couldn't quite leave teaching behind when I retired in 2022, so I continue to tutor both privately and at Sylvan Learning Center.
Finding a cure is a very personal mission for me. Sarcoma is a rare cancer. It does not garner the same resources as some other cancers. Therefore, committed and dedicated champions of sarcoma research work diligently to raise awareness and money to fund groundbreaking studies and clinical trials to one day rid our world of this diagnosis. We are making positive strides every day. I am so happy that you are here and a part of Lora's Crew.
