A cancer diagnosis brings on waves of fear, hopelessness and desperation. Millions of questions race through a patient’s head.
Is it terminal? Is it operable? Will surgery or chemotherapy be needed? Has it spread?
Regardless of the type of cancer, patients find themselves putting on a brave face when battling fatigue, nausea and an unimaginable case of the nerves while enduring treatment.
Friends and loved ones will rally around a cancer patient, providing meals for the family, cleaning the house, holding benefits and offering up prayers.
Dr. Marie Schambach found a beautiful, kindhearted way to lift her mom Michele Schambach’s spirits. Michele has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is receiving treatment from Dr. Gene Barnett at Cleveland Clinic’s Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center.
Michele traveled from her home country of Guatemala to the United States for treatment of a stage 3 oligodendroglioma and was bummed about her blood counts not showing signs of improvement during follow-up care, which could hamper her treatment schedule.
She was far from home and feeling despondent, too.
Oligodendroglioma is a primary central nervous system tumor that begins in either the brain or spinal cord, according to Cancer.gov. Being classified as Grade III means it’s malignant and also fast-growing.
This type of tumor most often targets patients between ages 35 and 44, but can occur at any age.
The pair had never seen snow before, so while it was gently falling in Cleveland, Marie had a brilliant idea. She carefully crafted a giant message in the freshly fallen snow just for her mom outside the clinic. It read:
“Mom, be brave.”
Marie also drew a cancer ribbon to hit home her show of support. The Cleveland Clinic snapped a photo and shared it on its Twitter account where it quickly went viral.
“A beautiful message was left at our main campus today. To the person who wrote it, you’ve touched our hearts.”
It eventually came out that Marie had crafted the message for her mom. The family couldn’t believe how many people commented on Marie’s special gesture and expressed gratitude for everyone’s kind words, like Tim Lop.
“That is awesome! I’m a 20-year patient at Taussig and the clinic! ‘Keep fighting no matter what!'”
John Zehentbauer proclaimed, “What an awesome message!”
“My wife and the mother of our three children was up there last weekend for breast cancer surgery! What an awesome place and great message!”
Deb Yates commended the Cleveland Clinic for sharing this sweet story.
“A beautiful gesture and sure to brighten anyone’s spirits even during these difficult times. Thank you, Cleveland Clinic, for sharing this! It could certainly cross many name boundaries and lift others up as well!!!”
Marie also was appreciative of everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.
“Thankful for all support messages and prayers. Hopefully, this will be the best medicine!!!”
She also noted that her mom was “in the best hands in the world at Cleveland clinic in Ohio!” What a unique way to bless her mom with a beautiful gesture!
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