Pancreatic cancer entered my life when my brother, Ryan Graham, was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago at age 32. I never knew how serious pancreatic cancer was until that day. Thankfully, he was able to have the Whipple procedure in February 2007.. He then went through very aggressive treatments of chemo and radiation.
Also during this time he was going through a divorce. He pushed through it all and remained a fighter. Planning my own wedding for that September my hope was that my brother would be well enough to attend my wedding. I am glad to say that he was well enough to attend and that I was even able to share a special dance with him to the song Stand by Me. My husband and I chose a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as wedding favors and we also have raised $3,000 the past three years by participating in the Framingham Police Dept. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network 5K road race. This year was the third year we participated and we plan to continue every year. I am very happy to say that my brother Ryan has recently got engaged and has set a wedding date in March 2010 and also just bought a new home. He has been cancer free for 2 years. We couldn’t be happier for him.