WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon

Mike Thomas, Market Manager and Senior Vice President of Audacy Boston joins the show following his first WEEI/ NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon!

11 year old Teddy Cahalane joins the show along with his parents Caroline and Tim Teddy was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021 after experiencing fatigue, lack of energy, and weight loss. After his diagnosis, he had two years of treatment that included chemotherapy infusions, lumbar punctures and intrathecal chemo, and oral chemotherapy. He went into remission about five weeks after his diagnosis and inpatient treatment.  The thing that makes Dana-Farber special for Teddy and his family are the people, nurses, other children and families. They are especially grateful for Robin Griffey, a Jimmy Fund nurse who retired this fall after 30 years. Teddy will be entering sixth grade this fall. He spends lots of time with his brothers and cousins. He also loves sports, especially golf, lacrosse, and ice hockey (Boston Bruins). 

Director of Patient and Family Programs at The Jimmy Fund Clinic, Dana-Farber Lisa Scherber joins the show Lisa has worked in the Jimmy Fund Clinic for over 30 years.  Lisa and her team are responsible for the programs that help the patients and their families take minds off the treatment.  Events that Lisa and her team plan include Red Sox teen event (coming up next week) Summer Fest and Bereavement Cruise in October  Due to COVID, they had to pivot the programming and create new programs - ask her about their Zoom events.  They also plan programs for parents whose children are being treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic as well as for siblings of patients in treatment. 

Mike Mottola, and his sister Jenn join the show to discuss their experience with Dana Farber as well as their Lou Merloni fandom  Mike is a Lou Merloni fan and appeared on air with him in 2016 and 2017.  Mike was diagnosed in October 2014 after having severe back pain during a golf tournament. He began treatment at another hospital until February 2015. He was in remission but before long it was clear he was having some complications. By July his cancer was back and he started treatment at Dana-Farber, with a new chemotherapy regimen. By July 12 he was in a coma because of a bad reaction to the chemotherapy and when he woke up he could not move his right arm or left leg and as a result he couldn't walk.  Mike rehabbed and by the end of August was finally able to head home. He spent every couple weeks in the hospital for more chemotherapy and spent the time in between doing more physical therapy.  Early December, Mike was moving around and he began the stem cell transplant process and by early January was allowed to go home and spend the next few months recovering under his parents' watchful eye.  Mike loves to golf and played in the with longtime friend Daniel Koerner in the USGA's seventh U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. He also partakes in meditation and yoga as part of his holistic therapy.  His family includes his mom, Rosemary, his dad, Joe and sister Jenn. He is getting married in September to his fiancée, Kelsey Rose-Sinclair. 

Mike Ellis from Deep River Snacks will be their interview representative. He sent the following bio information…  I met with the CEO of Deep River when the company I worked for closed. I was deeply intrigued on the passion of Deep River and their commitment to support various charities.  Deep River has created unique flavors such as Sweet Maui Onion, Rosemary Olive Oil, Spicy Dill Pickle  Deep River is a proud supporter with the Doug Flutie foundation for autism, Feed the children, the American liver foundation, Chris Reeves foundation, Curable foundation  Deep River has grown sales over 35% in New England by developing untapped markets and accounts such as Shaw's & Big Y  Deep River's motto “Because we give a chip” is the driving force of our brand and giving back to our communities and neighbors.  I'm proud to still be involved in the continued growth and charitable aspects of our company. And were proud to be a sponsor of the Jimmy Fund.  During the month of August, Deep River Snacks is donating $125 for every Red Sox home run. Every time the Sox ‘Go Deep' in August, Deep River will donate $125 to the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon 

Celtics Owner Steve Pagliuca joins the show to discuss the off season, Brad Stevens stepping into the front office, Ime Udoka, the KD rumors, and more!

2 year old Quinn Flanagan joins the show with her parents Kerin and Dan, and brothers Seb and Charlie Quinn was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor in December 2021. Her dad, Dan, was putting on her diaper after a bath and noticed her belly button and abdomen were shifted to the left and harder to the touch.  Kerin is a nurse practitioner and instantly knew something was wrong. By the end of the week, following a CT scan, Quinn was diagnosed with cancer and scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor and her left kidney. She began chemotherapy immediately afterward, that ended in June.  Quinn's tumor had a genetic mutation, and they were able to enroll her in a research protocol that increased the intensity of treatment and countered the mutation's increased risk of relapse. Quinn's doctors are Dr. Lindsay Frazier and Dr. Helen Reed.  Quinn loves to paint and draw, something she looked forward to doing with Jenny and Amanda from Child Life every time she visited the Jimmy Fund Clinic.  She also loves putting on her tutu and going to gymnastics every Saturday morning. Her favorites are “jump jump” on the trampoline and doing summersaults on any flat surface she can find.  Quinn's big brother plays a lot of soccer and Quinn is following in his footsteps, always kicking the ball around the yard and often times trying to interrupt his soccer practice to join the team.  Quinn's parents are grateful for the compassion of the Jimmy Fund Clinic staff, who helped get them through the last six months. The staff makes the environment in the clinic a happy place for kids to be, remembering her name when she walks through the halls. 

14 year old Jarred Eagan joins the show along with his with parents, Charyn and Angelo, and sister, Gabrielle Jarred was diagnosed in October 2021 with ALL. Jarred presented signs of exhaustion and petechiae on his leg. He started out with a lot of cancer to treat, including a mediastinal tumor in his chest. He was reclassified from High Risk to Very High Risk only a few months after his diagnosis.  He is responding really well to the treatments and is expected to receive his last chemotherapy treatment at the end of November.  Jarred is going into his freshman year at Whitman Hanson High School. He is a very active kid who loves to fish and plays baseball, basketball, and football.  Over the last few months at Dana-Farber, his family has met many people and appreciate how it always feels like a family. 

Jamie Erdahl, Host of Good Morning Football on NFL Network joins the show to discuss The Jimmy Fund, Good Morning Football, and her best Nick Saban interview. 

Tonight's Anthem performer, 16 year old Kaylee Chambers joins the show along with her parents Kristina and Tim During the COVID lockdown in 2020, Kaylee started to get headaches and noticed weight loss. After many Zoom calls with doctors about the symptoms, she was brought in for a CT scan and a colonoscopy. It was confirmed it was adenocarcinoma of the colon that had metastasized to the liver, which is an adult cancer and rare in adolescents.  Kaylee's doctors at Dana-Farber are Dr. Jenny Mack and Dr. Nina Weichert-Leahey. Her treatment has included several different immunotherapies, two colon resection surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and ablations. She is currently in  immunotherapy treatment  Kaylee enjoys all things creative, such as singing, songwriting, making jewelry and stickers, keychains, drawing, and painting. She also spends her time baking and cooking, and with her best friend, Abby.  Her family feels fortunate to be going to Dana-Farber, especially as the Jimmy Fund Clinic team often make going there feel fun. Kaylee enjoys child life specialist, Kate Nixon. Kate helps get Kaylee right into a craft while waiting for appointments.  She is often then escorted to the treatment by the bubbly Philomena, with her awesome Irish accent. Kaylee's doctors are there for the family 24/7, even on weekends and vacations. And they are grateful to all the wonderful nurses, like Margarite, who really try to get to know the kids and make them feel comfortable.  The Jimmy Fund Clinic also plans activities and events outside of the hospital that give the kids something fun to look forward to. Kaylee and her family have been to Franklin Park Zoo and had family pictures taken at Fenway Park. Kaylee enjoys the zoom teen group FACES and has been invited to sing at events like the Make-A-Wish annual Evening of Wishes Gala, the Newport Gulls home opener, and a Woo Sox game.  Kaylee is singing the National Anthem before this evening's game. 

Sarah Montgomery (@Montysunflower on TikTok) joins the show along with her Doctor, Andy Lane join the show and get a tik tok dance with Christian! After feeling flu-like symptoms and not herself, Sarah went to a hematologist for blood work.  A bone marrow biopsy revealed BPDCN, which is a rare cancer. Sarah's father researched specialists and found Dr. Andrew Lane at Dana-Farber and scheduled an appointment within a week. Soon thereafter she began drug treatment, followed by chemotherapy and a transplant.  Sarah donated her bone marrow to her brother when he had aplastic anemia.  Sarah documented her cancer journey through TikTok, doing dances to keep her spirits up and connect with other people going through their cancer journeys.  Sarah is thankful for her family, Dana-Farber staff, and her donor all of whom have supported her and given her a second chance at life. She's amazed at the Dana-Farber staff, who treat patients amazingly and are passionate about what they do. She is awed by how they go above and beyond, and also provide great resources to her parents and family.  Sarah loves to workout, especially going on hikes, and thrift shopping.  She works as a behavior technician, working with children with special needs. She is currently working on getting her Masters in ABA therapy.  Dr. Andy Lane  Dr. Lane is an oncologist in the Leukemia Program and he also leads a research laboratory in the Department of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber. He is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  His research focuses on finding new ways to treat blood cancers, and his work led to the first FDA approved therapy for a rare leukemia called BPDCN, in 2019. 

Alex Cora joins the show to discuss The Jimmy Fund, the team's struggles this season, and why the team is hesitant to bring Triston Casas to the big leagues.

4 year old King Gaylor joins the show along with his parents Nasharis and Tim, and younger brother Kyro. King was diagnosed with ALL in January 2021. He had been sick in December, and was prescribed antibiotics. His mother insisted they weren't working and the doctor ordered a blood test. King was admitted to the hospital where he remained for 48 day, beginning his treatment journey.  King had to overcome challenges, including needing physical therapy to strengthen his legs after a medication made it difficult for him to walk, sometimes slip a bit and giving him high anxiety, but he came out of the experience stronger.  He currently goes to the Jimmy Fund Clinic once a week and will continue treatment through February 2023.  King loves to play instruments, sing, and dance. He likes soccer, but says baseball is the best sport. He also loves Sonic the Hedgehog.  Dana-Farber is special to King and his family because every staff member, nurse, and doctor has always made sure to take the best care of King. 

Cindy Smith joins the show along with her sister Susan, and Doctor James Cleary Cindy is with her twin sister Susan and they are both tremendous Red Sox fans.  Cindy was diagnosed in May 2015. She wasn't feeling well and was having stomach issues. Initially she was misdiagnosed with having food allergies. Further tests showed spots on her liver and neuroendocrine cancer was discovered.  The cancer was also causing heart issues.  Cindy chose to come to Dana-Farber at the urging of her twin sister who pointed out that her cancer is rare and she should go to a hospital that has a lot of experience treating something rare.  She had undergone three chemoembolizations, which is when three chemotherapy drugs are injected into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor in the liver.  This past year as her cancer advanced she started a new treatment that was not available when she was first diagnosed. She says it's a perfect example of what research can do and why going to a hospital like Dana-Farber can make all the difference.  Cindy was supposed to appear on the Radio-Telethon last year, but her health took a turn for the worse and she had to cancel her appearance the day before. She was truly heartbroken.  This year she is doing much better and Dr. Cleary said it is a high honor to be able to appear alongside her.  Cindy retired from her job at Bank Home Town this past year, which has been incredibly supportive of her. Bank Home Town made a $2,500 donation last year when she was supposed to appear on Radio-Telethon and they are making a donation again this year.  She is also an artist with a passion for painting and she used to own an art studio. Through art she has hosted fundraisers for Dr. Cleary every year, raising more than $16,000 to date and counting! Dr. Cleary has been able to attend some of her art shows.  Dr. James Cleary  Dr. Cleary is an oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers. In addition to treating patients with neuroendocrine cancer, he treats malignancies including pancreatic, colon, rectal, biliary, and liver.  He was awarded a Lustgarten Foundation/Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) grant in support of his work developing new therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Cleary has over 30 publications in such journals as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, The Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Discovery, and The Journal of Clinical Investigation. In addition to his research activities, he has won awards for both his clinical care at Dana-Farber and his teaching at Harvard Medical School. 

Sam Kennedy joins Gresh and Keefe to discuss the Jimmy Fund as well as the Red Sox plans for Bogaerts and Devers

Brock Holt joins Gresh and Keefe to discuss his role in the Jimmy Fund 

5 year old Celia Jan joins the show with her mom, Nicole. Celia was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia while living with her father in Pakistan in October 2020. She came to Boston to live with her mom and get treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Her treatment has included chemotherapy and she is slated to finish active treatment in spring of 2023.  In her spare time, she loves going to the beach, swimming, art, reading, playing with toys, watching movies, bike riding, hiking, and camping 

Cynthia Collin and Dr. Ben Schlechter join the show Cynthia was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in July 2017 when she was only 35. She had two young children at the time, her son was 8 and daughter was 6,  Given her age, cancer was the last thing she suspected. She wasn't feeling well, had stomach pain and was unexpectedly losing weight. She went to her doctor and kept following up with them because she knew something was off. Eventually after having some tests, she was shocked to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  She had a surgery known as a Whipple procedure and then was monitored to see if the disease came back. In November 2020 she found out the cancer came back and she underwent another surgery.  She has been in remission for the last year. Her kids are now ages 14 and 11.  Cynthia says that she feel lucky because early in her cancer journey she felt lucky because she had symptoms that she didn't ignore. Many people with pancreatic cancer don't experience symptoms at all.  She works as a regional manager at Atrius Health.  Dr. Ben Schlechter  He is a medical oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal cancer, anal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and neuroendocrine cancers, among others. He is a former intern, resident, chief resident and fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School.  In the past he was the Director of Inpatient Hematology and Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as the Assistant Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. His work at Dana-Farber focuses on providing excellent patient care while trying to advance the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer patients. 

Former Revolution Forward, and current CBS Sports Soccer Analyst Charlie Davie joins the show to discuss how cancer affected his playing career. 

Magnolia Contreras, Vice President of Community Health at Dana-Farber joins the show Magnolia joined Dana-Farber in 2007 and currently serves as the Vice President of Community Health.  In this role, she is charged with helping the Institute carry out its community benefits mission through the delivery of evidence-based cancer prevention, screening, and early detection programs.  She is committed to making Dana-Farber's care and research findings more accessible to everyone.  Magnolia and her team work with city and state health departments, community partners, and Boston-based coalitions to assess and monitor the needs of local residents with respect to cancer control.  They are on the front lines to support and collaborate on programs to eliminate disparities in breast, colon, and skin cancer; educate diverse populations about tobacco cessation, human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention and screening.  Aside from her work at Dana-Farber, Magnolia serves on the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Industrial Corporation of Lynn, advocating for low interest loans to small business owners including minority business owners.  Prior to joining Dana-Farber, Ms. Contreras was employed by AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts where she served in senior executive roles as the Director of External Affairs and Director of Public Policy and Community Relations. Additionally, she had a consulting services practice in non-profit management and political coaching and research. 

Ludmila Svoboda, Program Nurse, Cancer Care Equity Program at Dana-Farber joins the show.  One of Ludmila's responsibilities is to triage the patients as they come to the program for consultations. She obtains their health history and coordinates any referrals and care they may need.  Ludmila also does a lot of educational events in the community about cancer prevention, early diagnosis and screening.

Liz Rounseville, along with her Husband Robby, Son Owen, Daughter Lilly, and Doctor Beth Buchbinder join the show In March of 2018, Liz noticed a mole on her right leg near her knee that was itching and bothering her. Liz made an appointment with her dermatologist right away. As soon the dermatologist examined her, he told Liz that it was cancer but had to have it sent out for further testing.  When the test came back, Liz was diagnosed with melanoma and would need to go under surgery to have the cancer removed.  During her surgery, it was discovered that Liz's cancer had spread to my lymph nodes. Not long ago, a diagnosis of malignant melanoma carried with it a very short life expectancy.  Thanks in large part to development of new immunotherapy drugs, which enable the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, many people now diagnosed with the disease are living much longer with fewer complications.  Liz is one such patient who has benefited from immunotherapy and has also participated in clinical trials at Dana-Farber.  Her last treatment was April 26, 2021.  Liz works as a barista and lives in Rochester with her husband Robbie, her son Owen, 14, and daughter Lily, 12.  Her hobbies include puzzles and diamond paintings.  Dr. Elizabeth Buchbinder  Elizabeth Buchbinder, MD is a clinical oncologist at Dana-Farber specializing in the treatment of melanoma.  In addition to treating patients, she performs clinical and translational research to help further melanoma treatment. Her primary areas of research are in  immunotherapy and novel targeted therapy approaches. She has particular interest in rare forms of melanoma including mucosal melanoma and uveal melanoma.

Comedian Denis Leary joins Gresh and Keefe for the 20th annual WEEI/ NESN Jimmy Fund Radio Telethon. 

Inigo Vega ,10, with parents, Lyndell and Alfonso and Mary Ann Zimmerman, PNP, Pediatric Neuro Oncology Department, Dana-Farber  Inigo was diagnosed in September 2021. He had been sick, followed by trouble with his vision, so the ophthalmologist sent the family to the emergency room where an MRI showed a brain tumor. He was kept overnight due to very high intracranial pressure. His family was in shock and kept wondering how they had missed the signs.  The next day, Inigo had surgery to remove the tumor, but slipped into Posterior Fossa Syndrome, which happens to about 25% of patients who have surgery on a specific section of the brain and is a state of being fully conscious but unable to move your body. Inigo then had three more surgeries and began radiation therapy, followed by intensive physical and speech therapies.  After this, Inigo began in-patient chemotherapy, which he finished this past June and will begin maintenance chemotherapy at home in August.  Inigo enjoys riding this new three-wheeled bike, driving RC cars, drawing comics, writing stories, and making stop-motion animation videos. He is homeschooled and in the fourth grade.  The Vega family feels privileged to have Dana-Farber managing Inigo's care. Dr. Chi and her team were the first ones to explain to them what was happening to Inigo. They feel good knowing they have one of the best and most prestigious research institutions with the very best physicians guiding them through this journey of faith, hope, and love.  Being together as a family has made all the difference to them, as they were able to stay by each other's sides. Inigo's parents are inspired by him and want to share his story of tenacity. 

Deb Goldberg and Mark Bracken of Find Mass Money join the show to make a donation!

Mark Singer 58, anaplastic thyroid cancer, Barrington, RI   In the early stages of the pandemic, Mark knew something was wrong when he noticed a small lump on his neck. Soon after, he went to an ER for testing and received a diagnosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer, a very serious form of the disease which prior to 2017 had a one-year survival rate of 10% -20%.  After Googling “Best Cancer Hospitals in New England,” Dana-Farber moved to the top of his list for care. Mark started with a year of immunotherapy treatments with Nivolumab, also known as Opdivo, and Dupixent, which he still currently takes, for any side effects. Immunotherapy is a new cancer treatment that allows the body's own immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells.  Mark had a rapid and profound response and has shown no evidence of disease for over a year. In addition to immunotherapy, his care team was able to remove a cancerous tumor from his thyroid, several cancerous lymph nodes, and perform vocal-chord repaire surgery.  Today, Marks feels mostly back to his pre-cancer self. You can find him boating around Lake Winnipesaukee or riding on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He's supported by his wife, Mary, and their two children, Michael and Maggie. 

David Ortiz joins the show to discuss the Jimmy Fund, Rafael Devers' contract situation, and of course, food. 

Eric Ricci , 54, kidney cancer, Peabody, and Dr. Brad McGregor, Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber join the show What started as regular back pain, that could be explained as kidney-stones, soon evolved into extreme pain that called for medical attention. In December 2016, Eric was diagnosed with kidney cancer after a CAT scan identified a lump on his kidney and enlarged lymph nodes.  Shortly after his diagnosis, Eric endured a 9-hour long surgery and became involved with a clinical trial on the recommendation of his oncologist, Dr. Brad McGregor. From 2016 to January of this year, he received frequent immunotherapy treatments. Today, he receives treatment and scans every three weeks.  Eric is a School Resource Officer at eight schools in Peabody. He's joined by a Black English Lab comfort dog, named Ella, whose namesake is a 4th grade girl who passed away from brain cancer at South School.  Eric also enjoys visiting Lake Ossipee, participating in charity work at the police station, and running an annual Peabody baseball game. He's supported by his wife, Donna, and children, Erica, David, and Nicholas.  Eric describes Dana-Farber as a family-friendly environment, allowing him to feel comfortable during treatment. From doctors to employees at the front desk -- everyone knows your name. One infusion nurse, who is also an experienced makeup artist, grew close to the family and even did the make up for Eric's daughter's wedding. 

Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, President and CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School  Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research.  Dr. Glimcher speaks nationally and internationally on cancer, immunology, and translational medicine and has contributed more than 350 scholarly articles and papers to medical literature.  Aside from her research efforts, Dr. Glimcher is a staunch proponent of improved access to care, health policy, and medical education, while simultaneously serving as a pioneering mentor and role model for cancer research trainees and for all women in science.  She was the first female to be appointed as dean of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York and is the first female President and Chief Executive Officer of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. 

David Feldman joins Joe and Sean in the booth and talks about his diagnosis and what treatments he has gone through. David also talks about the research and advancements they still need to make when it comes to glioblastoma 

FREDERICK "FRED" KNIGHT, 28, JOINS JOE AND SEAN IN THE BOOTH TO TALK ABOUT HIS DIAGNOIS AND HOW HE CREDITS DANA-FARBER WITH SAVING HIS LIFE. 

Victoria "Tori" Rando, 33, lymphoma and Tanya Searle, 33, hodgkin's lymphoma join Joe and Sean in the booth and talk about how they met at the Jimmy Fund Clinic and the friendship that formed when they got treatment at the same time. 

Chris Vaughan,  Marketing  and Communications Manager of Cape Cod Lumber joins Joe and Sean in the booth 

Mut is joined by Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner to talk about the importance of the Jimmy Fund and the relationship between the Red Sox and the Jimmy Fund  

Anya had been complaining that her leg was sore, but her parents thought it was growing pains and it wasn't interfering with her daily life. After the family contracted COVID, the symptoms worsened and she started limping. They realized one leg looked substantially larger than the other and called Mayah's grandfather who was a pediatric cardiologist at Boston Children's Hospital. He knew it was osteosarcoma and they went to the emergency room right away, where the diagnosis was confirmed in January 2022. After the diagnosis, Anya had her first surgery and second surgeries to confirm the diagnosis and to place a central line in her chest. Anya and her mother, Jeni, cut their hair together in preparation for chemotherapy. Anya underwent six cycles of chemotherapy, each five weeks long. 

Mr. Donohue is one of the founders of Arbella and has been Chairman ofthe Board of Directors since the company's creation in 1988 and chairs the boards of each of the subsidiary companies. He is responsible for the strategic planning and corporate policy for all of the companies of the Arbella Insurance Group – a leader in the New England property/casualtyinsurance industry - as well as the strategic planning and giving initiatives for the Arbella Insurance Foundation.   Since its inception in 2005, the Foundation has donated more than $36.6 million to charities across New England.

Amy Cheung was originally diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in September 2015, at the age of 32. At that point, she was feeling the healthiest she had ever been and was training for a marathon. She happened to cough one day and in the process of clutching herself, felt a lump. Amy went to her primary doctor a few days later and from there, things moved quickly to a biopsy that confirmed cancer. She was treated then with chemotherapy, then surgery, and radiation and presumed to be cancer free. She continued with anti-hormone therapy to keep the cancer from coming back. In late 2019, Amy started experiencing some back pain that she chalked up to exercise. Then from Jan - April 2020, Amy started having regular, low-grade fevers. Finally, after feeling miserable for so long, she e-mailed her oncologist Dr. Hal Burstein and told him of her symptoms. Without delay, Dr. Burstein ordered scans for Amy, which unfortunately revealed extensive cancer metastases in her liver as well as metastases in her bones. Amy has undergone several types of treatments for her cancer including surgery, radiation, and targeted therapies. She is currently part of a clinical trial that involves a targeted therapy combined with an immunotherapy drug, which enables the body's own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Having grown up in the Boston area, Amy felt like she had always known about DanaFarber. In high school during the summers, she used to volunteer for the Jimmy Fund at movie theaters, fundraising from movie patrons.

Samara had been experiencing fevers and constipation for several weeks before being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in May 2021. She has overcome the most intensive part of the treatment and is in remission. She continues weekly chemotherapy, steroid therapy, and will be on antibiotics throughout the rest of her treatment. Her treatment will continue for another year. Her doctor is Angela Ferraco. She currently attends Commonwealth Children's Center for preschool. In the fall, she will be attending Park Street School for kindergarten. Samara loves playing with her kitchen set at home. She prepares "meals" for her family, dolls, and stuffed animals. She also enjoys building with Legos, doing arts and crafts, playing in sprinklers, and going to playgrounds. 

Hannah was diagnosed with Grade 2 Diffuse Astrocytoma in April 2017 after having a seizure while sleeping. She had her first surgery and then went back to school to finish her senior year of high school. She is currently in a trial for treatment that is going well. Her doctors are Dr. David Reardon and nurse practitioner Jenn Stefanik. Hannah likes the environment at Dana-Farber, as everyone is professional and polite, and she feels like they are always good to work with. She feels the important thing is that Dana-Farber is a great place to be treated, and even though it's always a long day when coming in, they have helped her so much. Hannah will be a senior at the University of Maine this year. She works part time at a hotel and works with Behavioral Health professionals in Maine, assisting in socializing and doing activities with young people. She enjoys exercising and spending time on social media.

Rosemary was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2011 when she was an Events Coordinator in the Communications department at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She underwent two years of treatment with many ups and downs. Five years after her treatment began, Rosemary had to receive a stem cell transplant to give her a new immune system and the chance of long-term survival. Her 100% match was a 20-year-old woman from Poland. Five years later, Rosemary still faces challenges from the transplant, but has maintained her faith, optimism, and upbeat outlook on life. She feels especially grateful to her husband, Jim, for all his support over the past 11 years. Rosemary feels Dr. Soiffer is one of the most kindhearted doctors and has unknowingly carried her through her ordeals with his actions, words, and dedication. She would not be here today if it were not for Dr. Soiffer, his incredible team, and the treatment at Dana-Farber. Rosemary appeared on WEEI in 2012.

Peter's grandfather, mother, aunt, and sister all lost their lives to multiple myeloma. Peter had tested his stem cell transplant compatibility for his sister, and it was discovered he had an abnormal protein in his blood. With checkups every threemonths, Peter was diagnosed in 2014. He started on a clinical trial, and fortunately reached remission after a stem cell transplant in 2015. His wife and family were with him throughout, providing love and support. Peter feels Dr. Ghobrial is passionate about her patients' care and ensuring they are getting the right treatment. Dana-Farber is special to him because he knows he is being treated by a doctor who is heavily engaged in research related to multiple myeloma and is on the leading edge of research. Peter loves playing ice hockey with his friends and reading, spending the summer at their camp fishing and kayaking. Peter is retired, but formerly worked in higher education fundraising. 

 Olivia was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma brain tumor, the size of a small egg, in the lower back part of her brain, close to the brain stem in February 2016. Her parents had noticed she was vomiting and had some minor imbalance while walking. Olivia had six months of chemotherapy that started in March 2016. During her treatment, she had a Broviac port, several blood transfusions, a lumbar puncture and bone marrow scan, and a stem cell treatment plan. She had five different chemotherapy medications during her 6-month treatment. Her treatment endedSeptember 2016, although she does have her regular brain and spine scans every six months. Her doctors are Dr. Susan Chi and Dr. Michelle Lee. She also had two surgeries in 2020 after finding a vascular lesion (small bleeding blood vessel) in the front left part of Olivia's brain. Olivia is going into the third grade. She plays soccer, does gymnastics, loves doing Ninja, and takes dance. Her family is grateful to Dana-Farber for the degree of patient and family care they provide. They feel no details are overlooked or taken for granted. They say, “Dana-Farber makes you feel as though you are the most important person thereand you become part of a group that you have a connection with forever.” Andrea ran the Boston Marathon in 2016 during Olivia's treatment and Jason runs an "Olivia Strong" night every season at a Bristol Community College soccer game, where he is a coach, to raise money for the Jimmy Fund.

Cael was diagnosed in 2021 with leukemia. After not feeling well, he was quickly admitted to the hospital where he was diagnosed with cancer. He has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic for the last year. When he grows up, he wants to be a doctor, so that he can take care of other children and families facing cancer. Cael also loves playing and watching sports, especially football, soccer, and baseball. Cael's baseball dreams became a reality when he participated on the field at this year's John Hancock Fenway Fantasy Day, where he had the special opportunity to play on the field at Fenway Park. He also loves to run and can run a whole

Pat Harrington and David Gill drop by to drop off a generous donation totaling over $60,000.

Today, 8/23 is his daughter, Oriana's birthday! OK was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a tumor in his right frontal lobe on January 27, 2018, two days before his son's, Oliver's, birthday. His wife, Maria, had encouraged him to go to the emergency room after noticing some irregular behavior, such as dropping things. Maria has a friend who works at Dana-Farber, and she arranged everything for him, including an appointment with Dr. Reardon. His treatment includes weekly blood draws and an infusion of a study to test a drug. OK likes sports and bicycling. He works as a central office technician with Verizon.

When Shelley was diagnosed with uterine endometrial stage 4 cancer in January 2020, she knew as soon as she heard the word cancer, she'd go to Dana-Farber. She began chemotherapy treatments a month after her diagnosis until the cancer began growing again in November 2020. A few months later, Shelley started on a clinical trial that she has been on for the past six months. Her scans have shown no convincing evidence of metastatic disease. Shelley recalls the quality of care received by friends and family for multiple myeloma at Dana-Farber and has experienced the same high level of care herself. Shelley has also been a chiropractor for 20 years in East Hampton, Massachusetts. She also loves being outdoors through gardening, paddle boarding, mountain biking, and hiking. Last October, she climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine and hiked 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to North Carolina in April. She maintains a positive outlook and does not let cancer stop her from living her life.

Erika Howes is a member of the fifth generation at family owned Howes Lubricator and is the V.P. of Media Marketing. The Hoews family like many others has experienced the struggles and heartbreak of having family members battle cancer. They have become great friends and allies of the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber over the years.

● Lisa has worked in the Jimmy Fund Clinic for over 30 years.● Lisa and her team are responsible for the programs that help take the patients and their families take minds off the treatment.● Events that Lisa and her team plan include Red Sox teen event (coming up next week) Summer Fest and Bereavement Cruise in October● Due to COVID, they had to pivot the programming and create new programs - ask her about their Zoom events.● They also plan programs for parents whose children are being treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic as well as for siblings of patients in treatment.

Michelle started experiencing numbness and weakness in her right hand that spread to her arm, then face and leg. After a brain biopsy, she was diagnosed with primary central nervous lymphoma. She underwent inpatient chemotherapy, which was ultimately ineffective at shrinking the tumor. Michelle researched and found CAR-T (a drug that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer) and a clinical trial at Dana-Farber, which she was accepted to and has since stabilized the disease. Michelle enjoys writing, reading, baking, and spending time with her nieces. She is now able to walk, hike, and bike again! She was previously a physical therapist specializing in outpatient orthopedics. Michelle feels Dana-Farber saved her life and that everyone she has encountered is unbelievably kind, compassionate, and encouraging. For her, Dana-Farber is a place of hope.

Shawn Thornton joins Gresh and Keefe to discuss his work with Dana Farber, the Florida Panthers, what he thinks of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci returning to the Bruins, and how Kodak Black helped people learn about the Florida Panthers. 

Steve was out golfing with a few of his friends on a cold December day on the Cape. During his round, he noticed a bump on his left side that he showed to his wife when he got home. He booked an appointment with his primary care doctor shortly thereafter, just before Christmas in 2016. After a few tests, Steve was completely floored to discover he had stage 4 breast cancer. He underwent a mastectomy shortly thereafter. He also came to Dana-Farber and to Dr. Erica Mayer for a second opinion. The subsequent treatment plan that Dr. Mayer sketched out for Steve just felt right to him and he decided to switch his care to Dana-Farber. Breast cancer in men is quite rare, only 1 out of 100 cases of breast cancer in the US are found in men. While he is still living with a serious illness Steve is doing great today and “like a million bucks.” He comes to Dana-Farber from Sandwich every three weeks for treatment. Steve travels a lot now with his wife visiting national parks and other spots he wishes he got to sooner.