Like most of us, Condoleezza Rice, Ph.D., has been touched by cancer.
For Dr. Rice, who was in Omaha last week to receive the Ambassador of Hope Award from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, it was her mother, Angelina.
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Tom O’Connor |
When she learned of the diagnosis, she said, “It felt like a ton of bricks had landed on me.”
I could relate. I lost a sister to leukemia before I was born and my dad to lung cancer 18 years ago.
I will never forget the call from my parents telling me about my dad’s diagnosis. I heard the word “cancer,” and my mind went totally blank. I found myself almost gasping for air.
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way. If my 3-year-old sister were diagnosed with leukemia today, chances are good that she would beat it. There are more than 12 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today.
Angelina Rice lived another 15 years after her mastectomy. She got to see her daughter graduate from high school, earn multiple college degrees including a Ph.D., and become a professor at Stanford University.
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Condoleezza Rice, Ph.D., talks with UNMC cancer researchers in the Durham Research Center II last week during her visit to the medical center. Dr. Rice lost her mother to breast cancer. |
This year’s theme for the Ambassador of Hope Gala was “Imagine.”
When I see that word, I can’t help but think of the great John Lennon song by that same name.
Beating cancer is not easy. It takes all hands on deck. Physicians and scientists must take their game to whole new level. Families must hunker down.
“It takes the best minds to take on the hardest problems,” Dr. Rice said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, it’s where you’re going that matters.
“I’ve watched many times what seems impossible one day become inevitable the next. (I believe) There will be a day without cancer.”
Just imagine.