This year has been a roller-coaster for the Dobson family. Our oldest,
Archer, continues to flourish, and we joyfully welcomed our beautiful
baby girl, Corinne in late May. However, following Corinne's birth, we
were confronted with the harrowing news that Stephanie has stage 3
colorectal cancer. In the past three-plus months since receiving this
diagnosis, we've been overwhelmed by the immense love, support, and
compassion from our friends, family, and extended community. We're
so incredibly fortunate to live in one of the best places in the world for dealing
with such a diagnosis, and we're profoundly grateful for the exceptional
team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). Thus far, Steph's prognosis is
great, all things considered.
Without going too deep into the cancer weeds, because of a rare genetic
abnormality called Lynch Syndrome, Stephanie is receiving a pioneering treatment approach, grounded in the latest advancements in immunotherapy. This method is significantly less invasive than traditional treatments, and early
clinical trials have shown remarkable results in the very specific type
of cancer that Steph has. The world's leading cancer experts,
specializing in Stephanie's specific cancer type, and this specific
novel course of care are based at DFCI. Their groundbreaking research is
not just enhancing Stephanie's treatment and prospective outcome but
also ensuring ongoing surveillance and care to maintain her health in
the future. Looking beyond the immediate challenge right in front of us,
Steph and I are also super encouraged by the research that DFCI is
doing that might be relevant for her and for our own kids someday, as Lynch is hereditary.
Now, onto my personal challenge.
Running the Boston Marathon has been a dream of mine since I first cheered on the runners in 2014. Watching each race since then, I've been filled
with a mix of admiration, envy and deep respect. This year, I am
incredibly honored to run the 128th Boston Marathon as part of the
Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. It's both incredibly humbling and
inspiring to raise funds that contribute directly to the vitality of the
shining beacon of light in our family, ensuring it continues to glow
brightly well into the future.
