My name is Tammy Smith and I am writing to you regarding my husband, Keith Smith, who has been diagnosed with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer the end of March 2026.

Keith and I have lived in Winona all of our lives. We heard about Team Vogel vs Cancer from a cousin of mine, Gary Bambenek, who was helped by your team.

This is our story;
Keith was a healthy, active 76 year old male. His only health issue was chronic lower back pain, which was being addressed.

The end of February this year, Keith had lifted multiple 40 pound bags of water softener salt. He had experienced sharp pains across his chest, arm and back after the lifting incident. We scheduled an appointment with his primary physician Dr. Skemp at Mayo LaCrosse since this significantly impacted his daily activities. His doctor scheduled a CT scan and that day, called us with the news. Keith had 4 fractured ribs. That explained all the pain. The scan also detected a mass over the left-upper lung.

Two days later, he had a PET-Scan done. The following day, our nightmare started. Keith was diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The cancer had already spread to the bones. We were told his cancer is terminal, not curable, but treatable. He was given up to 6 months but could prolong his life with treatment. Keith agreed to treatment. His care team would now be Mayo Rochester. The next morning, we received a call from Dr. Breen at Mayo Rochester and he told us we needed to leave immediately for St. Mary's emergency room. Keith had 3 fast growing tumors in his back that were pushing in on his spinal cord. They were afraid he would become parallelized. This explained the recent unbearable back pain. Dr. Breen had is care team there waiting for our arrival. Keith had 4 MRI's, blood draws and several specialists examine him. Keith was fitted by a specialist for an Aspen horizon thoracic lumbar orthosis brace. This brace is designed to support the thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine. It limits movements, reduces pain and promotes proper alignment. Keith will likely be wearing this for a long time. Due to the severity of this issue, radiation was ordered. In between the emergency visit and radiation, Keith had an appointment for a biopsy. Sadly, the results came in that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and brain. Keith started radiation immediately. He had 5 radiation treatments on his back and 1 radiation treatment on his brain. Over the weekend Keith had difficulty breathing so we were back in the emergency room. He felt like he needed an oxygen tank. The ER doctor assured him his oxygen levels were good and that this was due to not receiving any care yet on the lung due to the severity of the back issue. The doctor informed us that this aggressive cancer has progressed to his whole left upper lung. Unfortunately, Keith couldn't start chemo as scheduled due to some kidney issues. We finally got the kidney function where it needed to be and chemo has started.

My family believes highly in the power of prayer. We pray that these treatments help Keith get his high pain levels under control, that his appetite and strength improves so he can have a well-deserved good quality of life.

Thank you for taking time to read our story.
​Keith & Tammy Smith.

 Jerry Wilma’s cancer journey started on Feb. 24, 2021, when he went to urgent care because his ankle was swollen. They discovered that Jerry had a blood clot and was taken by ambulance to Gundersen Hospital.
After many tests, it was determined that Jerry not only had a blood clot from his groin area to his ankle, but he also has Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in the blast phase, the most severe.

For 28 days, he had weekly chemo infusions at Gunderson Clinic in La Crosse and also needed blood and platelet transfusions depending on his daily labs. He had another bone marrow biopsy that showed the blast count was down but not enough.

Jerry went to the Madison Carbone Cancer Center at UW Madison, who said Jerry “might” be a candidate for an allogeneic transplant if they could get the blast counts down to around 0. Although Jerry’s three children were a 50% match, the doctors were set on finding an even better match.
For round two of chemo, Jerry was hospitalized to get the chemo infusions and be monitored 24/7 for any infections or fevers.

Soon after Jerry came home, they were notified by Madison that they found a donor that was about a 90% match. On July 8, 2021, Jerry received his stem cell transplant.

During his hospital stay, his blood counts were monitored throughout the day. He developed Graft vs Host Disease, was fighting fevers and had been given so many medications that they needed a spreadsheet to keep track of what he was taking.

After leaving the hospital, Jerry continued to go back to Madison every week for lab work, tests and doctor visits, and a bone marrow biopsy every three months. When a stem cell transplant is performed it not only wipes out some of the bad cells but also some of the good cells, so he had to start over with all of his childhood vaccinations.

The Wilmas knew Joe and Rachel Vogel and followed Joe’s journey with cancer, supporting Team Vogel events long before Jerry’s diagnosis. They were able to use the Team Vogel donation for gas, food and lodging for ongoing treatments, including travel to La Crosse and Madison. 

“I had heard of many people’s stories and how it helped them. I never dreamed that we would someday be those people, but I think that it gave me hope,” says Cheryl. “I think of how much Joe has helped so many people. I would tell people to please consider donating, there are so many families and individuals who have been helped. You never know when you might be that person.”

Jerry celebrated one year on July 8, 2022. The last bone marrow biopsy shows no evidence of the disease, but with Jerry’s type of leukemia, he will never be considered cancer free – just that the disease is not active right now.
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The Wilmas say they are thankful to God and their families and friends for all of the support they have given them. “We feel blessed to share our story to give others HOPE. We realize that life is not guaranteed for anyone. Any day our lives can change, and we have to have faith that God will help us through.”

 Written by Jody Berhow
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On May 5, 2020, Peter Berhow felt dizzy one day at work. He called his wife, Jody, for a ride to urgent care. Something was wrong. Once there, many blood tests were ordered and then the sudden realization that he immediately needed medical care with a cancer specialist. Following additional tests at Gunderson Medical Center in La Crosse, Peter was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at age 65. “You will need a STEM transplant,” said the specialist. “This is going to be life changing.”
 
At that moment, the process of cancer treatment began for Peter. So many tests, transfusions, drugs, chemotherapy treatments, insurance, etc. all wrapped inside, outside, twisted and knotted within a world pandemic and a frenzy to understand that as well. Once diagnosed and after many appointments, Peter and Jody chose to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for treatment and a stem cell transplant. They lived at the transplant house in Rochester for what was assumed to be 100 days for recovery, from November to March. Fortunately, because of the closeness to Winona, they were able to come home on New Year’s Eve due to concerns of the pandemic and being safer at home with just the two of them. The transplant was successful, and Peter continues today to be so well with his donor’s stem cells (bone marrow) doing exactly what they need to do.
 
Through the years, Peter and Jody have supported Team Vogel through its many fundraisers, and Jody, an elementary art teacher for Cotter Schools in Winona, helps organize yearly school fundraisers to raise money for Team Vogel as well. Joe Vogel is an alumnus of Cotter Schools and was once a student in Jody’s art room. 
 
During the entire process of Peter's illness, Jody reflected on family and the full circle of life. Imagine, Joe, a young boy in her art room for seven years as a K-6 grade student moving on to offering his art teacher perhaps the most profound precious gift to receive, in his passing, a check of funds given to Peter and herself from Team Vogel to alleviate the stress of navigating the truly awful, painful and long, strange trip that cancer can be. The funds were used to pay for the transplant house rent and medicines too costly to afford. 
 
“God bless Team Vogel, all the doctors, Mayo Clinic, Gundersen Medical, donors, the givers, those that we meet, and those that we know, enjoy and call friends,” said Jody. “The group hug of family is resoundingly too large to wrap your arms around. But because of them, there are moments to rejoice, to smile, to remember Joe and to truly ‘Believe!’
 
Today Peter remains cancer free! He still goes to Mayo appointments for check-ups but is living life as well as can be. From words Jody posted to Facebook friends, “Living closer to our own God and wiser than we used to be!”
 

​Christine Windsor
In 2014, Christine Windsor was diagnosed with breast cancer. Faced with numerous surgeries, ongoing treatment and expensive medications, she felt overwhelmed. As a single mother of a 13-year-old daughter and self-employed owner of a hair salon, Christine worried about how she would support herself and her daughter while battling cancer and traveling to and from Lacrosse and Rochester for treatment with no income coming in.
 
One of Christine’s clients nominated her to be a recipient of Team Vogel vs. Cancer funds, which goes directly to families to provide support for them during such a difficult time. Christine was able to use the funds she received toward her medical bills, medications, gas money to travel to her cancer treatments and food for her family.
 
“The Team Vogel donation impacted my life to provide food and gas for me and my daughter and provide basic living expenses at the time because I had no income,” said Christine. “It took a huge stress and weight off me not having to worry about those things.”
 
Wanting to pay it forward, Christine stepped up to become a Team Vogel vs. Cancer board member in 2015, organizing fundraising events and activities even while she was still going through treatment. Over the years, Christine coordinated numerous activities, including the Fall Frolic, Halloween Bash, Rollingstone parade participation, Pancake Breakfast and Joe’s Birthday Brew at Island City Brewing. 
 
Beyond the financial contribution, Christine said that Team Vogel vs. Cancer’s network of support between volunteers and families battling cancer is amazing. She loves connecting with the Team Vogel families, sharing her experiences and listening to them, so they know that they’re not alone.
 
“When we volunteer and donate, it’s such a blessing to see the wonderful impact it has on the lives of those struggling and fighting cancer,” Christine said. “Paying it forward is a blessing in itself.”

Today, Christine is five years cancer free. To celebrate this milestone, she is currently organizing a Chicken Q on Saturday, Oct. 15, at George’s Lounge to raise money for Team Vogel vs. Cancer. You can purchase tickets for $10 at Windsor Palace Salon and George’s Lounge. 

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.