What St. Baldrick’s means to our family . . .
Three years ago our whole family, Stephanie, Ben, Sean, Nate, and I all shaved our heads for St. Baldrick’s in support for our grandmother, Marge, who was at the time recently diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized to her brain and was given little time to live. Doctors initially thought she would be lucky to celebrate one more Christmas yet she celebrated 3 more Christmas, many family occasions and the birth of 2 more precious great grandsons. St. Baldrick’s made a big difference especially for our family and grandma who outlived all medial expectations and just recently passed this last year. We are thankful to the people who shaved their heads, ran races, promoted cancer fundraising, and donated to telethons many years ago! It was their dedication, selfless, unified focus and generosity that helped to develop cancer cures that led to more life to live for our precious family members!
This year we also lost two others that were very close to our family, both to brain cancer as well. John Cheever, one of the most inspiring and creative people I have ever known, passed one year ago. If you own a bicycle, a good chance John designed or built some aspect of that bike. John and his wife Janice are amazing people who lived for purities of life. John was an enjoyed restoring antique motorcycles, music, and fishing. He loved to spend his time with friends and family but cancer ended John’s life far too soon.
This year we also lost Gregg Selissen, brother of Jenny Selissen. The Selissens family is a precious part of ours. Gregg was a victim of childhood cancer who as a young teenager developed a brain tumor forcing Greg into a coma for nearly two months. Brain surgery then saved his life, but he lost his ability to build short term memory. But that didn’t stop Gregg. He decided he wanted to go to high school which was a task against all statistical odds; considering he couldn’t even remember where his classes were due to his memory loss. But Greg rebuilt his memory and finished high school inspiring anyone he encountered. Decades later the after effects of his surgery finally caught up with him and he passed away this past September on his 41st birthday.
Over the past three years, I have learned one thing, that love and support of family and friends does make a difference. St. Baldrick’s makes a difference; a difference that is beyond any measurement. It gives families hope and a unified cause that supports the medical research necessary to fight cancer. That same research extended the precious lives of Grandma, John, and Gregg. All three lived life to the fullest, smiled every day, and fought cancer to their last day.
This year the Selissen family (Jenny and Brandon and their two kids, Ian and Owen) are all shaving their heads in Green Bay, Wisconsin in honor of Gregg. My two boys, Ben and Sean, and I will be shaving our heads as well her in Downer Grove at our annual St. Baldrick’s Assembly. We do it for our family and more importantly for the next family that has to battle cancer; the next grandmother that has few days left; the next kid with a brain tumor unsure of what tomorrow looks like. We have lost members in our family this last year, but our family will keep fighting for the next. That is what St. Baldrick’s means to me and my family. It does make all the difference.
Grandma, John, and Gregg . . .
We love you and miss you.
And we will keep fighting!
The McGinnis Family
