On his 50th birthday, Steve Sears retired from his highly successful marketing career. One month later, he was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma.
After six months of grueling chemotherapy in Boston, Steve was in full remission. He moved to Kansas City and received post-treatment care at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. But at his six-month checkup, Steve was told the cancer was back. It was devastating news.
UNMC Gives Back 2019
From Sept. 30 through Oct. 11, UNMC employees are encouraged to participate in UNMC Gives Back. This effort asks UNMC faculty and staff members to consider a charitable gift to support those who make this university one of the nation’s best — our students and our colleagues. UNMC Gives Back will focus on two areas where we can make an immediate impact — student well-being and employee assistance.
When cancer, specifically lymphoma or leukemia, returns so quickly, a stem cell transplant is often the best course, and that’s what Steve’s doctor recommended. But a week before the transplant, Steve received a devastating call: His insurance was not affiliated with KU, and his treatment could not be authorized. It was a sinking feeling, but Steve was told a highly rated facility could take him: the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Stories like Steve’s are why we come to work every day: to educate and train the next generation of health care professionals and to provide breakthroughs for life here in Nebraska and beyond.
This fall, consider a charitable gift to support the people that make UNMC a world-class university. Your generosity can help us promote student and employee well-being, as well as provide emergency assistance for UNMC employees experiencing hardships.