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2010 Celebration of Life
On Saturday, May 1st, 2010, Legacy Brain Foundation celebrated its fifth birthday and the 5th Annual Celebration of Life event at the Warwick Melrose Hotel. Celebration of Life is truly that – an event dedicated to defying the odds, honoring the courage and extraordinary grace of survivors and those who love and support them.
This year’s keynote speaker knows about overcoming obstacles. Vince Poscente is an internationally known motivational speaker, a respected author, successful business executive, and, of all things, a speed skier. At 26 he decided to take up the sport and pursue it competitively. With a commitment to overcoming the odds and besting adversity, four years later, he was vying for an Olympic Gold Medal. His high-energy, funny, and warm presentation fit right into our Celebration of Life and all of the attendees will remember his presentation. After all, how many of our speakers jump on chairs!
2010 Jeannie Murphy Spirit Award Winner - Jackie Pennington
For the last several years my motto has been "My God is Amazing and He gives Amazing Grace." I don't know where I would be today without the amazing grace and love that has been poured into me by my Heavenly Father, my unbelievable family, and the faithful friends God has given me. July 2, 2010, marked three years since my husband Kerry left this world and his cancer-filled body behind. I miss him every day, but I love that he is cancer free and living where pain cannot touch him any longer.
It was during this incredible fight for his life that we met Dr. Virginia Stark-Vance. She was a godsend to us. I cannot thank her enough for her never-ending optimism, skill, motivation, and determination to journey with us. We trusted her completely and whatever she recommended or said to do, that is what we did. Her love and passion for her patients and their families is unsurpassed. It was because of this that I learned of The Legacy Brain Foundation. After my experience with Dr. Stark-Vance, I wanted desperately to be able to give back and be involved with people who shared her passion. That is why I volunteer with this great foundation.
When I was selected for the Jeannie Murphy Spirit Award, I was in shock. I had no idea that I would be the one considered, much less receive, this award. When Mary Lee was describing Jeannie and the characteristics of the award recipient, there were so many others who I thought would have been deserving. It meant a great deal to Mary Lee to encourage an award in honor of her daughter, and for the Board to recognize me as that type of person is an incredible honor. I'm just giving back what has been given to me. It's really that simple.
I've been loved and I want to love others in the same way. Kindness beyond words has been shown to me and I want to do that for someone else. This is what gets me through every day and I find it is the very smallest of things that make the biggest difference in a life.
2 Corinthians 12:9 states "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
So you see, my God is AMAZING and He gives me amazing grace, every day, and that is why I have to give to others.
Brain Tumor Inspires Something Sweet
After a devastating brain tumor diagnosis, a Plano woman is pursuing sweet dreams.
The commercial kitchen in Plano is a far cry from the corporate office where M.L. Dubay spent most of her career. But she said she evaluated her life and what she wanted to do with the rest of it after her brain tumor diagnosis in 2000.
"I really did enjoy the almost 20 years I spent in corporate, but there was just something gnawing at me saying, 'It's time for you to go do something different,'" said Dubay, founder of Toffee Treats.
A little more than a year ago, she left a comfortable job to volunteer with the Legacy Brain Foundation. She also started a company called Toffee Treats at the encouragement of people who had tasted her recipe which was handed down from her grandmother.
Doctor Goes Beyond the Call of Duty
After fifteen years as one of only three neuro oncologists in the metroplex, Dr. Virginia Stark-Vance grew tired of seeing finances stand in the way of the life saving treatments available to patients.
"Chemotherapy is expensive. Radiation is expensive. Surgery is expensive. It all is, so that's why we wanted to find some direct way to meet these needs," said Stark-Vance.
The Newsletter
The Legacy Brain Foundation publishes a newsletter twice per year in order to provide information about upcoming activities, grant recipients, and medical news.
This newsletter is an incredibly important part of our outreach program and provides a wealth of information to all those involved with the organization, individuals who would like to get involved or learn more about our mission, or businesses interested in sponsoring events or providing much needed donations.
The Legacy Brain Foundation
The Legacy Brain Foundation was founded by brain tumor patients, their family members, and their physicians. We saw a need in North Texas for an organization dedicated to raising awareness of brain and spinal cord (neurological) tumors as well as how the diagnosis of one of these tumors affects the patient and their family. Learn more about the Legacy Brain Foundation.
If you would like to get involved and help reach more families whose lives have been affected by a diagnosis, learn how you can help!
