Welcome to our team fundraising site. I'd like to assemble a team to raise money to support Ovarian Cancer Research. As you know, my sister Debbie passed away on 2/23/25 after a long battle against Ovarian Cancer. Her beloved, capable, and committed doctor, Kevin Elias continues his charge to find an early detection test for the diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer!
Debbie was initially diagnosed with cancer on November 11, 2020. We first met doctor Elias the Friday after Thanksgiving that year. Dr. Elias set Deb's surgery for the following December 14th. I dropped Debbie off for surgery at 6:30 a.m. on the 14th. This was the height of COVID and family members were heavily restricted from the hosptial.
The night before surgery we stayed one block over from Brigham and Women's Hospital to make the early morning trip across the street for surgery. It was one of the longest night of our lives. I literally didn't think she was going to live through that night. I called the nursing line over and over to tell them her new symptoms and issues. Turns out, that was the beginning of probably hundreds of nights I didn't think she'd live through. But Kelley Strong, that lady showed us all what it meant to "Get Busy Living!" She suffered so much more than she ever talked about that night and the next 1,532 days that she battled this insideious disease. She lived another 4 years, 2 months and 9 days after surgery.
Dr. Elias called me around 2:30 a.m., some 20 hours after I dropped her off. because he had just gotten out of surgery. He worked to get as much of that cancer out of her body for as long as he could. The reality at 2:30 am on December 15, 2020, is that we were just too late. Dr. Elias is incredibly smart, incredibly dedicated, talented, amazing, and a true miracle worker. However, what Debbie really needed was for her cancer to be detected ealier. She was already stage four. The cancer had already spread too far, he didn't say it, but I felt it, it was already a death sentence.
Doctor Elias and Doctor Elizabeth Stover, as well as a group of cutting edge researcher doing trial work, would find a way to extend Debbie's life. They would give her more time. They would give her good months, even one good year, before the cancer would take her down. The reality for Debbie and so many women, is we need early detection to beat this disease. Dr. Elias continues to work hard to try and make that a reality.
All the money we raise will go towards critically important ovarian cancer research led by Dr. Kevin Elias, who specializes in gynecologic oncology research and oversees the MiDe Study Dr. Elias and his team of researchers have identified a groundbreaking new process to detect ovarian cancer at its earliest stages. The initial results of Dr. Elias’ research are incredibly promising!
Let's band together. Use Debbie's energy and her life to try and help fund this promising research!! Let's get an early detection test for this brutal killer. Let's keep other children from losing their mother. I'd love to see as many Kelley Strong shirts as possible in September at this race. If you have the means, please donate to fund this research. With love, "Mean" Kelley Strong Sister - Patty
