Member Stories

Gholamali Amirfarhad

Life Raft aids GIST dads worldwide

LRG helps patients in countries where Glivec awaits official approval

Sile Bao

Growing up with GIST

A 15-year-old is a fighter determined to make the most out of her life

Mark Becker

'Treatment, trials and trails, oh my' but life must go on

Becker shares his experience going from clinical trial to clinical trial

Pam Broadus

Laughter helps sisters battle the GIST dragon

Broadus found it important to focus on the present rather than the past

Michael Byrne

Don’t beat cancer — outrun it

After a 10½-year battle with GIST, there is little Michael Byrne can’t do

Donnie Chadrick

Recalling my five-year battle with the beast

Chadrick says to "Never give up! Be in charge of your own health care."

Josalin Dunn

The youngest Life Rafter shares her advice about coping with cancer

"If you’re having a really bad day and you found out you have cancer, dance anyway!"

Andrea Fuller

Cancer boring?

Andrea Fuller knows just what will get the juices flowing

Chandell Fuqua

More than a survivor

"He doesn’t want to be the great athlete who has cancer. He just wants to be a great athlete."

Janice Gabriel

Magic Leaves

Gabriel has a beautiful vase that contains magic leaves and knows that each one represents love and wishes from her son for his mom to survive cancer.

Rachel Gilbert

A letter from Rachel Gilbert

"Cancer is a very big part of me but I’m not going to let it hold me back. My dream is to be a famous singer which I'll try my best to achieve."

Peter Greenwood

Illustrating gives Greenwood comfort through his GIST battle

For Peter Greenwood, a successful freelance illustrator, GIST is a burden and a tool.

Rebecca Haines

Fifty-one weeks from diagnosis to remission

Gleevec, surgery, family, friends, and prayer key to a new lease on life

Becky Harper

Once a teacher, always a teacher

GIST prevented her from going back to the classroom, but she goes on

Jim Kaletta

A Happy Ending

"My journey with Gleevec is like I have won the lottery!"

Bernie Kaplan

Back from the brink

When Gleevec fails and options narrow, stress brings on depression

Katharine Kimball

Facing GIST one surgery at a time

After multiple surgeries, Kimball is still hopeful

Laura Kukucka

Laura sees pot o' gold, even when no one else can

"I let people think I’m just a non-drinking square, rather than explaining all the reasons why I don’t/can’t drink alcohol."

Arnold Kwart

When the patient is a doctor

Dr. Arnold Kwart learns what life is like on the other side of the desk

Diana and Kelly Lanza

Fight GIST and follow your dream

Mother is proud of the accomplishments of her daughter

Judi Lifton

Comapssionate use process not so compassionate

Lifton must fight to bring compassionate-use of AMN107 to her partner, Lee.

Estelle Lecointe

From the "Elysée" to "Le Monde", Lecointe can do it all

Lecointe is the face of GIST in France

Patrick Maguire

Dancing With NED

Maguire shares how Gleevec is a crucial tool or weapon to use against GIST

Gail Mansfield

Mansfields look to the future despite worries

Gail shares how lucky she and her husband are for Tim’s restored health.

Meghan Marre

Diagnosed before 21

Meghan is enjoying relatively good health and Gleevec is working

Ellen Mayer

Painting transformed Mayer’s pain into healing

Ellen continues to fight for that peace of mind she gets when not burdened by thoughts of GIST

Jim Mills

Walking the GIST Trail again

“Trail therapy” helps Mills along his GIST journey

Nan Mustard

Experiencing GIST trials

Mustard shares her GIST journey

Hollie Ontrop

A stitch in time: life with GIST can still exist

Ontrop discusses what it feels like when "time stops"

Darlene Rigg

From the healthiest woman in Indiana to GIST and back again

Reflecting on how a human head-sized tumor went unnoticed...with humor.

Tempest Sanborn

Friends help give strength and courage

"My road with GIST has been a learning experience and I have met a lot of friends"

Bob Spiegel

Learning about trust with your physician

"After talking with the LRG, I am forming new questions"

April Calloway Stephens

First pediatric member to have a baby

Stephens stops Gleevec and hopes while a baby grows inside

Marek Szczesny

Life Raft aids GIST dads worldwide

LRG helps patients in countries where Glivec awaits official approval

Marcel Szyszkowski

Thriving on life’s lemons

Daughter learns from her father’s response to his cancer diagnosis

Rachel Tate

Finding a silver-lining when living with cancer

Rachel has no complaints; her art, family and friends have made her life whole

Paula Vettel

Searching the internet for more information, and finding the LRG

"I still plan for the future, but I have also learned to live for today"

Carolina Williams

Will you run for my daughter?

Paul and Vicky meet by chance; Paul is training for a marathon. A day later, he decides to run for her daughter