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...Liam's Journey

7/23/2018

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In August of 2017 Liam and his brother were wrestling when he stated that he couldn't walk. We took him into the ER and were sent home with what we believed was torticollis ( a pulled neck muscle). After six weeks, and 4 more appointments to the pediatrician we knew there was something more than a pulled neck muscle and we brought him to the ER at St. Mary's in Rochester. We were kept over night and the following day an MRI and MRA showed that there was a tumor the size of an orange on his brain stem. They quickly sent him to surgery to have a drain placed in his brain to relieve the hydrocephalus. After the drain was placed we were admitted to the PICU, and were told that his tumor was an anaplastic ependymoma which is a cancerous brain tumor. A few days later Liam had surgery to remove the tumor. The tumor was completely removed! Praise God!

We continued with therapy and hospitalizations until we started 7 weeks of proton beam radiation therapy, followed by chemotherapy. We started chemo in January and ended the beginning of March, of that time we were home for 14 days, the rest we were in the hospital. He was on oxygen, a feeding tube, and many other therapies.
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We are now done with therapy and will continue to monitor him every three months doing MRIs to make sure that that cancer does not come back. The reoccurrence rate for this cancer is 75%. We are believing that God is going to heal him and show a miracle through this! Whatever the outcome is, we know that God is in control and has been faithful through this. We have been really blessed to realize how precious life is!

​This summer we plan to use some of the funds from Team Vogel to help create a lot of memories and to also prepare financially if this were to come back. We are truly blessed to be part of such a great community in Winona!
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God bless! 
The Liam Schroeder family
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The Olson Family ~ Shared by Brian Olson

3/16/2017

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Brian Olson, the husband of Jenny Olson, along with their two children, Elise and Ben, were fortunate to be the recipients of Team Vogel’s 2013’s extraordinary efforts in assisting local families who are afflicted with cancer.

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The following was written by Jenny Olson, shortly after her cancer diagnosis:
“On August 1, 2012, a tumor was found in the back of my neck to the left of my spine.  We were assured it was 98-99% benign, as big as a lemon and it would need to be removed.  Surgery was set for August 6 (CHS Class of '96, important date, it gives me chills) and it was successfully removed.  However, the pathology tests came back positive for cancer.  I have a rarer cancer called synovial sarcoma.  Doctors set up radiation treatments and they were going to start September 19.  But, September 6, I found a lump in my neck.  After a CT scan, our worst fears were confirmed: the lump in my neck was a lymph node filled with the cancer, as well as the site in the back of my neck. The tumor had grown back that fast and is as big as before surgery in the back of my neck, so we have a new treatment plan.  I will start chemotherapy on September 25; three cycles over a course of 9 weeks. Then I will have chemotherapy and radiation every day for 5-6 weeks. That should take us to the beginning of January where I will have three weeks off.  Then in the beginning of February, I will have extensive surgery to remove the cancer from both areas.  It will involve reconstruction and plastic surgery.  Of course, this schedule is if there are no setbacks or big bumps in the road.  Let's just say it has been a long month and half and the hardest is yet to come. Thank you for your love and support.  I don't know what we would do without our fantastic family and friends.”
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During the entire battle with cancer, Jenny remained optimistic and upbeat as she was determined to beat the horrible disease, even though the cancer was overtaking her body.  The one thing that kept us going through the entire time was the love and support of family and friends.  Many people stepped up and helped us through the toughest of times.  It was a rough stretch of times.  Once you would think she would catch a break, another setback would be taking place.  When people surround you with their care, you can feel it and ultimately become a better, stronger person and family.  Jenny felt that the entire time from her diagnosis in August of 2012 until the day she passed away on January 25, 2014.  
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Jenny Olson was a classmate of Joe Vogel at Cotter High School.   One of those people/groups that supported us was Team Vogel.  We were in awe of the tremendous generosity and support we received from Team Vogel.  They supported us not only financially, but the people involved within the organization brought awareness to others about our family’s struggles which brought support from various parts of the community.  We are forever indebted to all that Team Vogel and so many others have done for us.

At the time of this writing, it has been a little over three years since Jenny has passed.  I would classify them as “adjustment” years.  We have been figuring out how to adapt to this new way of living.  It has had its fair share of bumps and hurdles to jump over, but we have been able to also experience many joys.  I would like to think that I have been laying a foundation to help get the three of us to where we need to be.  We are not where I would like us to be yet, but I have grown content with the progress that has been made.  I am convinced that we are set up for great things to come.  There will
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hopefully be some welcome changes in all of our lives involving many different aspects.  Jenny would not want us to be sitting around and feeling sorry for ourselves.  She would want us to live each day to the fullest and make a difference in this world in a great way.  I would like to think we are trying to do so.
Jenny and Joe would want us to “pay it forward” as much as we can and to “don’t stop believing.”
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New Year... New Blog

1/15/2017

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The journey that has a person's or family's path cross with Team Vogel is unique and individual. 

So this year we thought we'd try sharing stories from those who have joined the journey that is Team Vogel...

We invite our recipients, their families, those who volunteer time and talents, to tell their stories, and how they came to be part of Team Vogel vs Cancer.  Please email teamvogelvscancer@gmail.com if you would like to share on a future blog.

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    Team Vogel Journeys

    Team Vogel vs Cancer is a group of people, connected in a fight against cancer. We are dedicated to supporting families in the Winona area, and local cancer research.

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