My Story is about my mom, Marge Kraynak

The Discovery

My mom was having bad stomach pains when she would eat. She went to the emergency room for tests in Feb of 2005 and passed away 2 months later on April 20, 2005

This is My Story

When my mom was diagnosed in 2005, I had no clue what a pancreas was. Since her untimely death, I became involved as a volunteer with PanCAN for the past 14 yrs and even though the process has been slow going from a 5% survival rate to 10%, that still seems unreal in today’s world of modern technology. Seeing the hopelessness in my mother’s eyes when she was told she had this deadly cancer is something that no loved one should have to endure. She was my rock in life and to this day, I miss her more than I could even begin to try and describe here.

My story is about Lina, my mother.

This event took place from 08 Aug 2019 to 10 Feb 2020

The Discovery

Pancreatic cancer was discovered due to rapid weight loss not attributable to other causes. The other symptoms that led us to deepen were nausea and fatigue. On 8 August my mom performed an abdominal ultrasound and a CT scan that confirmed a pancreatic mass localized to the tail body of the pancreas, locally advanced. In September, tumor markers and biopsy confirmed stage four pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosis.

This is My Story

Mine is the story of a daughter who lost her most important person. But, also, is the story of a brave woman who fought to the last.
My mother was a woman who at the time she knew was being convicted of cancer fought for herself and for the patients like her. During the illness we supported each other, her strength helped me not to fall.  Her courage still accompanies us today, although she is no longer with us. One day i asked her how I could live without her, and she said “you can do anything because you’re my daughter”. In conclusion I think we must continue to fight pancreatic cancer for the patients of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The Impact of Time

For the period of the illness the time was not enough, for the cure, the medical checks, to look after my mom, make her food, help her dress up.It was a fight against time. When we came to the end, time became more precious. If i think of Mom’s last month I would have wanted, with all my strength, to stop time. Time is really a gift, because she and i had little time to talk to each other, to live there, to be mother and daughter and make so many experiences that we thought life gave us. So if you are aware that time is short, try to take advantage od every second.

My Story is about Massimo Canonica and his adventure “Road to Mont Blanc”

This event took place from 01 Jul 2019 to 21 Jul 2019

The Discovery

In the fall of 2017 Massimo experienced digestive problems, unexpected weight loss, fatigue and back pain. In December 2017 a CT scan reveled the presence of tumor on his pancreas.

This is My Story

For Massimo the concept of time is very important. During these past years he focused on accomplishing important projects with his son. You can find them travelling, biking, flying in a small plane, skiing, climbing, surrounded by the astonishing nature.

Massimo “listened to his body” and the early detection allowed him to go through surgery first and adjuvant therapy later. He is still under treatment and his attitude to life is making everything possible for him.

The Impact of Time

Massimo reached out to our Foundation in 2019, after he went through surgery that removed part of his pancreas. He was looking for advices for a second opinion, since he was receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. I was amazed about the knowledge he had about the disease, but most importantly I was impressed about the way he was facing the disease. Massimo is a very active person, he does a lot of sport (gym, bicycle, skiing, hiking, climbing), he follows a proper diet, he has psychological support, he spoke with many pancreatic cancer specialists in Italy and abroad. By following his path, we became very good friends! In July 2019, Massimo and his friends decided to climb the Mont Blanc (Italian and French side, in 5 different steps) to create awareness about pancreatic cancer.

On July 21st, Massimo and his crew reached the Refuge du Goà»ter at 3815 meters, completing successfully his challenging dream.

My Story is about My husband

This event took place from 07 Oct 2004 to 07 Oct 2005

The Discovery

Ron was diagnosed with Head and Neck cancer in 2004. After he completed radiation, he was given a clean bill of health. However, the side effects of treatment seemed to linger: nausea, vomiting and fatigue. When he became jaundiced, we started to have more tests done and he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Fall of 2004.

This is My Story

My husband Ron was 59 years old when he died from pancreatic cancer. Ron had always lived his life to its fullest and it was from his example that I learned to savor every moment. Following his diagnosis, I was in awe of how hard he struggled through a grueling 12 months of pain, nausea and the debilitating indignities of this brutal disease. Had he been lucky enough to have his cancer detected early, we believe he would have had more time with us. By the time he was diagnosed and went in for a Whipple procedure, the surgeon was unable to help him, as the cancer had already spread to his liver. Still, we savored each day together.

Ron insisted on traveling in between chemo appointments and spending every minute possible with family. It all culminated in our last family trip to his beloved “Lake Winnie” in New Hampshire. It was there that we gently lifted him into the last boat he would ever own, which he aptly named “More Time.” While we cruised gently through the waters that brought him peace we shared an unspoken sense of sadness at the moments that would never be, the grandchildren he would never meet. I will always be grateful to him for setting such a memorable example for our family. He taught me and our children that time is the biggest gift of all. Not a day should be taken for granted.

It is our duty to our loved ones, for those who have lost their voices, to fight as hard as them, for better survival rates and a cure…for it is always about time.

The Impact of Time

A few years after Ron’s death, I started the Ron Foley Foundation to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. Our goal is to give others the precious time that we didn’t have.

My Story is about My mother

This event took place from 26 Mar 2013 to 03 Aug 2014

The Discovery

In March 2013, my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In hindsight, we believe she was exhibiting symptoms for 12 to 18 months prior to diagnosis. In the leadup to her diagnosis, her sugars were fluctuating and she lost her appetite. She was also having stomach pains and back pains. As she was insulin resistant, she was already under the care of an endocrinologist, who sent her to a gastroenterologist for further testing.
Originally, mum was believed to be a candidate for surgery. But upon further investigation, doctors found that the tumour was wrapped around the portal vein. Chemotherapy was recommended in the hopes that the tumour would shrink.
Mum ended up not being able to have the whipple. In total, she had 13 rounds of chemotherapy, 10 intensive days of radiation, several attempts to insert a stent to fix a blocked bile duct and multiple drains of excess fluid from her abdomen.

This is My Story

After mum passed away, my family and I created #PurpleOurWorld – a social media movement dedicated to raising awareness of pancreatic cancer. We are so proud to work alongside our pancreatic cancer community in Australia – Garvan Institute of Medical Research, GI Cancer Institute, Pancare Foundation and Pankind – and to be an inaugural member of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition. We have made friends for life (only those who fully understand the devastation of pancreatic cancer can truly empathise with what we’ve been through) and we honestly feel like we are making a difference.

The Impact of Time

Five months after my mum was diagnosed, my now-husband proposed to me. It was a beautiful time for us as a family, but throughout the wedding planning process, there was a very real possibility that my mum wouldn’t make it to walk me down the aisle. In fact, at one stage, there was talk about bringing forward the wedding. But mum continued her treatment and continued to live her best life, as much as she could. She organised my engagement party, and came with me to every appointment with my dress-maker, the decorator and the caterers. She sat at the dining table, lovingly dictating what songs the band was allowed to play and what they weren’t. She even managed to come to choose my bridesmaids dresses with me and the girls. In between these appointments, we went wig shopping, I drove her to the hospital to get her chemo bag removed, I spent time with her in the emergency department when she experienced symptoms of jaundice. It was a time of true juxtapositions.

I’ll never forget, when she did show symptoms of jaundice and we rushed her to the emergency room, my dad turned to me and said “this is usually the first sign of pancreatic cancer”. By that stage, mum had been receiving treatment for approximately six months.

Knowing that it would take a couple of months for her to regain her strength following her treatment, mum took a break in early 2014 so she would feel strong on my wedding day. And on my wedding day, she not only walked me down the aisle, but she made her speech and spent the majority of the night boogy-ing on the dance floor. Of course, there were moments of pacing the foyer in pain, but she made it through. And I will forever be thankful that the treatment she had gave us those moments together. As I said during my speech at my wedding, she absolutely lit up the room and was the most beautiful person there – I was the bride, I was allowed to say that.

Following my wedding, my mum went downhill. By July, we were being told there was nothing further doctors could do. On 2 August, my mum’s breathing started to slow. Over the course of the weekend, our immediate family never left her side, and on 3 August at around 2pm, my mum passed away, holding the hands of my dad, my sister and I. There were about 30 other family members in the room with us.