Valerie McGill
February 7, 1948 - September 10, 2011
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| Katelyn and her parents, Valerie and Pat |
This is Valerie's story in Katelyn's words:
My mom was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) originally in 2004, when she had a swollen lymph node biopsied. She went through a resection of the tumor and radiation and was cancer free for 7 years.
My mom had multiple chronic medical issues
that caused her to have a lot of chronic pain.
But one day when my mom’s pain was beyond control she was admitted to
the hospital and during the workup that she received to find the source of all
of the pain a spot was found on her liver.
Further tests showed that she had a baseball size tumor on her liver
that was her ACC back again.
She went to
Mayo Clinic to have the tumor removed, but when they opened her up for surgery
they found small tumors all throughout her abdomen and they did not proceed
with the surgery. With surgery no longer
an option my mom began a palliative chemo regimen. She received her first round of chemo and six
days later was admitted to the ICU septic.
It was during her first day of admission that my mom called our family together and told us that she wanted to stop all treatments. Our family supported her decision and my mom was moved out of the ICU and onto the hospice floor. Six days later my mom passed away.
When training gets hard be thankful for the tremendous blessing that it is to be alive and healthy enough to achieve this incredible accomplishment. The ability to run and move freely is one taken for granted by most.
In honor of her birthday, February 7, and her favorite number, Valerie will represent Mile 7.
When training gets hard be thankful for the tremendous blessing that it is to be alive and healthy enough to achieve this incredible accomplishment. The ability to run and move freely is one taken for granted by most.
In honor of her birthday, February 7, and her favorite number, Valerie will represent Mile 7.
Make a donation in memory of Valerie and others we have lost, those still fighting, and those who may one day be spared this fight because of what we‘re doing.
Give to make yourself a part of this historical effort.
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