Stephen and His Family Need Our Help

Stephen and his family need our help 
 
For those of you who have worked alongside Stephen, you all know what a great guy he is.  Laid back, yet meticulous in his work, a dedicated colleague, with an infectious laugh.  Many of you have also seen Stephen in the role of devoted father when his sons, Sven and Thor, attend our Take Your Kids to Work Day event.  It is an understatement to say that the Ganade family is full of energy!
 
You may also know that, last year, Stephen received a troubling diagnosis.  After a persistent cough that lasted too long, his doctors diagnosed Stephen with Stage 4 lung cancer caused by a ROS1 gene mutation (despite never having smoked) which had spread throughout his body.  After receiving the diagnosis, Stephen soldiered on with wisdom, wit, and a sense of hope and purpose – he was confident he could beat this, all the while not caring about himself, but thinking about his wife, Anna, and his boys.  Stephen was eligible to enroll in a clinical trial specifically for the ROS1 gene at Memorial Sloane Kettering (MSK) and has been treated there ever since the diagnosis. All of his tumors have shrunk or resolved and he has received very promising feedback on the success of the treatment thus far.
 
If this is a surprise to you, it’s understandable.  Throughout his ordeal, Stephen has missed very little time at work and his sense of humor has never skipped a beat. He never complains and always shows a brave face.  He is an inspiration to many of us who work alongside him.
 
Most recently, Stephen has suffered a few setbacks.  First it was a tree that fell on his home during a storm that insurance is not willing to reimburse him for.  Then there was a fall in the subway that left him with a painful torn ligament that needs surgery.  And most recently, a routine scan at MSK showed something at the base of Stephen’s head.  After testing, Stephen received a diagnosis of Leptomeningeal disease, a condition that is only treated by a few facilities in the tri-state area.  Stephen is now enrolled in a trial for treatment of this disease as a metastasis (which is usually not treated) and will receive proton radiation for his brain and spine with the goal to eliminate all the cancer cells in that area.  His doctors are confident that the treatment will be successful and they are committed to keeping him feeling strong and healthy.  This treatment needs to begin promptly and it’s usually not covered by insurance, so Stephen has little choice but to move forward and pay out-of-pocket. 
 
Stephen and his family can use our help.  His treatment is set to begin very soon and he will be out of the office during treatment to rest and recover.  During this time, we will be keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.  In addition, please try to support the Ganade family:  a donation, an offer to help or even a kind word.  Stephen has been here for us, so let us be there for him.  It’s important to know that Stephen isn’t asking for help – this cause is brought about by his colleagues and friends who love and respect him very much.
 
Please assist us in spreading the word by sending this out to anyone you think may wish to help.