Recipient Stories
Sue
Sue was diagnosed in January 2010. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation until September that same year. Sue’s family wanted to celebrate the end of her treatment with a trip to Orange Beach in Alabama, and the Foundation helped make their wish come true.
“The Foundation’s help made us not have to think about where the money was coming from when we wanted to do something on vacation.” Sue’s family was a perfect first recipient because, like Sue, Megan loved going to the beach and sitting in the sand with her family and friends.
Sue formed a team for the Foundation’s second annual kickball tournament this year, and her team is looking forward to participating in next year’s tournament.
Mary Katherine
Mary Katherine was diagnosed in March 2010. She is the mother of six children, whom she home schools. The Foundation helped Mary Katherine’s family with some of their bills.
One week before Christmas, the Foundation gave Mary Katherine a weekend get-away for her whole family. They stayed in a hotel, enjoyed all their meals out, went to a 3D movie, and swam together in the hotel’s pool. Mary Katherine’s youngest son’s enthusiastic comment about the weekend was, “Thank you for letting us spend the night in the hotel. I liked the TVs and the elevator!”
Tiffany
Tiffany was diagnosed in May 2011, shortly after giving birth to twin boys. She also has a five-year-old daughter Claire. The Foundation has been able to help her family with lots of sunshine, including a year-long pass to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and restaurant gift cards.
Tiffany wrote the following excerpt on her Caringbridge page, “I want to make everyone aware of an awesome local foundation, the Megan S. Ott Foundation, that has been a great resource to our family, especially with providing fun things for Claire to do. In addition, it has been a way for me to talk to others who understand what I’m going through. As I have said before, one of the things breast cancer has shown me is human compassion. We have received so much incredible support from everyone, and the Megan S. Ott Foundation is no exception.”
Jennifer
Jennifer was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in March 2011. Her treatment included a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. Jennifer is positive for the BRAC2 gene, and she has an aunt with breast cancer. Jennifer is afraid for her two daughters, ages 16- and 8-years-old, because they are at higher risk for hereditary breast cancer.
The Foundation was able to help Jennifer’s family by making mortgage payments and providing a gift card for groceries. When learning of the Foundation’s help, Jennifer’s comment was: “Wow! That is awesome news! It brought tears of joy to my eyes. This has lifted such a big burden off my shoulders. All I can say is thank you, and I’m so appreciative.”
Theresa
Theresa found out she had stage 3 breast cancer in October 2010. She had several rounds of chemotherapy and a double mastectomy with all her lymph nodes removed two days before Christmas. She then had more chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Theresa wanted to take her 16-year-old son and five-year-old daughter away for a weekend of fun and relaxation at a waterpark near Cincinnati. In April 2011, the Foundation was able to provide money for gas, food, and hotel expenses, as well as money to cover the family’s Great Wolf Lodge entrance fees.
In May when Theresa had reconstructive surgery, the Foundation helped Theresa pay her rent since she was unable to work for a few weeks.
Jill
In late 2010, while on a getaway vacation with her husband, Jill found a lump in her breast. A few weeks later she learned that she had stage 3 breast cancer and was BRCA1 positive. Upon learning the news, the young mother of two daughters was prepared to “fight and be relentless.”
Jill has had chemotherapy, surgery and radiation and will be facing more surgery in the future. Like Megan, Jill attended Noblesville High School and has a young family, making her a natural recipient of the Foundation. During Jill’s treatment, the Foundation has provided “sunshine” to her family, and today Jill is doing well.
Jill and her two sisters now are volunteers for the Foundation. They are great ambassadors.
Nancy
Just a few days after my diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, I was surprised by a beautiful basket from the Megan S Ott Foundation. I was at the point where I knew I had cancer, but that was about all… I had no idea what was ahead of me, what path of treatment I was going to take, not sure of much of anything. ?I had been divorced for a couple years and living alone for the first time in my life and now was facing cancer, it was a very scary time?. The basket was a bright spot, it was happy, it was a piece of sunshine! When I pulled the handmade blanket out, my 3 year old granddaughter took it and covered us both up with it… I instantly felt comfort, secure and loved.
After my surgery, I had direct radiation – twice a day for 5 days. I was sure I’d be fine, drive myself to Methodist at 9 am and again at 3 pm, maybe run a few errands in between – wow, was I wrong! It was a very long 5 days, but every one of those days I had a visit from my ambassador, Lyndsay Sheridan. And each day she brought me something special, something fun, something to brighten my day. The Megan S Ott Foundation gave me something to look forward to each one of those days, it was a positive each day. ? Being on my own, I also struggled financially during my treatment and the Megan S Ott Foundation awarded me financial assistance to help me pay bills.
I married Steve last year, we have 5 grandchildren and I am thrilled to be “without evidence of cancer”. I am so thankful for the happiness and smiles that the Megan S Ott Foundation brought into my life during a very dark time in my life!