We have collectively been through a lot these past few years.  It is time to come out of hibernation.  There is no better way for us to honor Melissa than to be together in person.  Melissa's greatest gift was her desire to bring family and friends together.  It was also the source of her greatest  joy.

It's really that simple.

Lauren, Rachel and I hope you can join us on May 7th in Hinsdale.

Thank you in advance to all who can be with us. We look forward to being with you. To those of you who are unable to join us in person please know you will be in our hearts and minds as well. You are equally apart of the Melissa's world and ours.  

Why the Team Name of "Wild Zebras"?

According to medical folklore, when medical students are in training they are ofen told "If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras."  The guidance is not wrong but when accepted and ingrained from years of rote behavior it can be problematic.  Zebras do exist.  That is why the saying references zebras instead of unicorns.  So, from the time of our first walk in 2010 we have walked together as the Wild Zebras.  Our team name is a remider to ourselves and the world that we should consider all possibilities, not just the most probable. 

Melissa passed away from neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer.  In the cancer world, neuroendocrine tumors are the zebras. Represented by this analogy because of their rarity, neuroendocrine tumors make up just 2% of nationally treated cancers.  Neuroendocrine tumors are difficult to detect, often remaining undiagnosed for quite some time. This was Melissa's experience.  She knew something was wrong with her body for well over six months and possibly longer. She spent months going from one diagnostic medical test to the next before we discovered her diagnosis. Had it not been for her persistence we likely would have discovered the problem even later than we did.