Tag:

Cancer

Maryland's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé Maryland's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé
Maryland's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé Joan Vassos is off the market. The 61-year-old school administrator, widow, and proud grandmother from Rockville, MD got engaged on the thrilling season finale of "The Golden Bachelorette," which aired Wednesday evening, Nov. 13. Joan lost her husband to cancer after 32 years of marriage. Joan, who made history as ABC's first-ever senior Bachelorette, captured hearts across the nation with her warmth, wisdom, and willingness to take a second chance on love.  Audiences watched her journey unfold, and in a moment that fans won’t soon forget, she said “yes” to her final rose pick in a he…
Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election
Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election Days after being re-elected, longtime Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly announced that he has been diagnosed with esophagus cancer.  The 74-year-old Democrat issued a statement on Thursday morning to his constituents advising that he has "joined the ranks of millions of Americans" while describing what steps he plans to take moving forward. Connolly has been in office since 2009, with Tuesday's win over Republican Mike Van Meter representing the beginning of his ninth term. "It was a surprise because, except for some intermittent abdominal aches and pains, I had no symptoms," he wrote. "I'…
Legacy Of Guidance Counselor, 45, Lives On Outside Loudoun County School Legacy Of Guidance Counselor, 45, Lives On Outside Loudoun County School
Legacy Of Guidance Counselor, 45, Lives On Outside Loudoun County School Students and coworkers impacted by Damien White are making sure his memory stays alive. The 45-year-old Belmont Ridge Middle School guidance counselor died on Dec. 13, 2023, after a cancer battle. White dedicated 18 years to his job within the Loudoun County school system, and on Monday morning, April 22, a birch tree was planted in his honor at Belmont Ridge. This morning, it was an honor to be part of the tree dedication ceremony in memory of Damien White. He was the head... Posted by Linda Deans, Ph.D. - LCPS Broad Run School Board Representative on Monday, April 22, 2024 "The …
High School Athlete Raquel 'Rocky' Elardo, Of Loudoun County, Dies High School Athlete Raquel 'Rocky' Elardo, Of Loudoun County, Dies
High School Athlete Raquel 'Rocky' Elardo, Of Loudoun County, Dies The death of a Loudoun County high school athlete is sending shock and sadness through the community. Heritage High School grad and Leesburg resident Raquel "Rocky" Elardo, died on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, surrounded by her family, her obituary on the Loudoun Funeral Chapel & Crematory website shows. She was 18 years old. Rocky was diagnosed with cancer in 2019, after a collarbone injury suffered during a basketball game wasn't healing, according to a GoFundMe launched for the Elardos. As it turns out, a tumor was pressing on the bone. Despite her diagnosis, Rocky showed up to nearly eve…
Maryland Mother With Weeks To Live Keeping Focus On Family Maryland Mother With Weeks To Live Keeping Focus On Family
Maryland Mother With Weeks To Live Keeping Focus On Family This is not how Kourtni Smith planned to celebrate her 34th birthday. A community is rallying behind a beloved mother of five in Maryland who is looking to spend her last months on Earth working to support her family in any way she can. Tens of thousands of dollars have already been raised on behalf of Smith's family after she was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma and underwent eight rounds of Chemotherapy and 15 radiation sessions, all of which proved fruitless as she fell more ill and decided to call it quits.  "This is a fundraiser I never dreamed I would have to create," Smith …
Fredericksburg School Counselor Jennifer Liston Dies: 'Burst Of Positive Energy' Fredericksburg School Counselor Jennifer Liston Dies: 'Burst Of Positive Energy'
Fredericksburg School Counselor Jennifer Liston Dies: 'Burst Of Positive Energy' Jennifer Liston, a Fredericksburg school counselor, wife, and mother, died after a cancer battle on Tuesday, Oct. 31, her obituary says. She was 52 years old. In addition to being a devoted Marine wife to her husband of 28 years, Mark, Jen was a loving mother to their son, Zachary, currently serving in the US Army in Texas. Jen was raised in Rhode Island and recently reentered the workforce after earning her master's in school counseling, at Parkside Elementary School in Fredericksburg, her obit says. She was remembered in her obituary as a "burst of positive energy that was infectiou…
William Harris Of Arlington, 24, Was 'Bright Light, Beautiful Soul' William Harris Of Arlington, 24, Was 'Bright Light, Beautiful Soul'
William Harris Of Arlington, 24, Was 'Bright Light, Beautiful Soul' The community has enveloped the Arlington family of 24-year-old William Harris. Will died on Friday, Sept. 8, after a two-year battle with cancer, and was being remembered as an animal lover with a kind heart, according to his obituary. More than $2,700 had been raised for his family on a GoFundMe campaign as of Tuesday, Sept. 19. "His beautiful smile was like a burst of sunshine, only showing when he was truly happy," campaign founder Danielle Harris writes. "His devoted love for his family and friends was strong and steadfast." Will graduated from Wakefield High School and became a "cur…
Lacey Blount Dies After 'Short But Valiant' Cancer Battle, 38 Lacey Blount Dies After 'Short But Valiant' Cancer Battle, 38
Lacey Blount Dies After 'Short But Valiant' Cancer Battle, 38 Emma Lacey Blount died after a short but valiant cancer battle on Friday, Aug. 18, her obituary says. She was 38 years old. A Partlow resident, Lacey worked as the office manager of Blount Customs homes and as a bus driver for the county's schools. Locals may remember her for her many years of work at the 2400 Diner. "Lacey loved and lived a simple country life that filled her bucket," her obituary reads. Condolences poured in on Facebook. Yesterday God gained a beautiful Angel. Lacey. She was one of my beautiful brides. She’s also the daughter to a very... Posted by Mermaid Lake Pho…
VA Pro Soccer Player Who Lost Mom To Cancer Sees Support From Teammates, Fans VA Pro Soccer Player Who Lost Mom To Cancer Sees Support From Teammates, Fans
VA Pro Soccer Player Who Lost Mom To Cancer Sees Support From Teammates, Fans Kalil ElMedkhar might be grieving the loss of his mom to cancer, but he's got a whole team of support. The 23-year-old Loudoun United FC midfielder, who was raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, lost his mom, 65-year-old Helena Schroyer, after a cancer battle on June 27, as reported by Delaware Online. In addition to a GoFundMe campaign for the American Cancer Society, launched in Helena's memory by supporters of Loudoun United, proceeds from bids on the team's match against Sacramento Republic on Aug. 19 will go toward fighting cancer. A Delaware resident with roots in Philadelphia, Helena…
Cancer-Causing Chemical Found In More Shampoo Products, Independent Laboratory's Study Reveals Cancer-Causing Chemical Found In More Shampoo Products, Independent Laboratory's Study Reveals
Cancer-Causing Chemical Found In More Shampoo Products, Independent Laboratory's Study Reveals An independent laboratory is reporting that it has found a cancer-causing chemical in more batches of shampoo products.  Many brands of dry shampoo products -- including some Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, and TRESemmé products -- had already been recalled by manufacturer Unilever containing the cancer-causing chemical benzene in an announcement made on Tuesday, Oct. 18. On Tuesday, Nov. 1, the independent laboratory Valisure, based in New Haven, CT, reported finding a high level of benzene in more batches of dry shampoo. It said that high levels of benzene were found in 70 per…
Virginia Beach Fire Captain Battles Cancer Virginia Beach Fire Captain Battles Cancer
Virginia Beach Fire Captain Battles Cancer Support is surging for a Virginia Beach fire captain battling cancer. Matt Chiaverotti, affectionately known as "Chevy," was 43 years old when he was diagnosed with  Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC), metastatic carcinoma — rare form of cancer — and is undergoing treatment in Houston, TX, according to a GoFundMe launched for his family. With more than 20 years of firefighting experience, Chiaverotti is a search team manager with FEMA Virginia Task Force 2. He has responded to thousands of calls across Virginia Beach, and in April 2012, spent several hours searching for victims of an…
Young Virginia Mom Dies Leaving Husband, Children Behind Young Virginia Mom Dies Leaving Husband, Children Behind
Young Virginia Mom Dies Leaving Husband, Children Behind Mary Teller was a lively spirit, whose light was extinguished far too soon, those who knew her say. The 26-year-old mom of two from Great Falls died after battling stage four lymphoma for 7 months, according to a GoFundMe page started for her family.  Both people who knew and loved Teller and complete strangers are donating money to support the loved ones she leaves behind.  Teller lived in Great Falls with her 28-year-old husband, Jack, her 3-year-old daughter, Sienna, and her 9-month-old son, Grady, according to John Santorum, a close family friend.  Many of those who did have the priv…
Support Pours In For Popular UPS Driver In Maryland, Wife Both Battling Cancer Support Pours In For Popular UPS Driver In Maryland, Wife Both Battling Cancer
Support Pours In For Popular UPS Driver In Maryland, Wife Both Battling Cancer A popular UPS driver with routes in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, is seeking the public’s assistance as he and his wife both wage a battle against cancer. UPS employee Jason Ellis, 47, and his wife Shauna, 43, who have been married for 14 years and share two teenage children in Fort Washington, Maryland, now share something more ominous: a cancer diagnosis. In May 2021, Shauna was diagnosed with breast cancer and later went through a double mastectomy and multiple reconstruction surgeries in the past year, according to her husband. While his wife was recovering from the second surg…
Virginia Tech Med School Student Battles Cancer With Help From Friend Virginia Tech Med School Student Battles Cancer With Help From Friend
Virginia Tech Med School Student Battles Cancer With Help From Friend Hirad Khoshravesh might not have biological family in the United States, but it's clear his peers consider him as such. The Virginia Tech Ph.D. student has a reoccurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is a cancer in the back of the nose, that has spread throughout his body, his friend Shiva Ghasemi said.  Hirad KhoshraveshKhoshravesh's GoFundMe and Facebook Pages Ghasemi is urging those who have met Khoshravesh and those who just want to help, to donate to his GoFundMe to alleviate upcoming medical expenses.  Khoshravesh currently has very few acquaintances in Blacksburg where he …
Cancer Causing Weed Killer Found In Most Americans' Urine, Study Says Cancer Causing Weed Killer Found In Most Americans' Urine, Study Says
Cancer Causing Weed Killer Found In Most Americans' Urine, Study Says Monsanto, a weed killer known for causing cancer, was discovered in the urine of most Americans, according a multi-agency government study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected urine samples from participants ages six and up and found glyphosate in 1,885 of 2,310 samples, according to the study results. The chemical is the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer, which is made by Monsanto, a company which has battled thousands of lawsuits over it's cancer causing properties.  Monsanto was purchased by B…
Community Rallies For Virginia Mom, ER Doc Fighting Cancer Community Rallies For Virginia Mom, ER Doc Fighting Cancer
Community Rallies For Virginia Mom, ER Doc Fighting Cancer On July 6, Virginia physician Bonnie Yen received a diagnosis that would change her life: Abdominal carcinomatosis.  Her colleagues from Holy Cross Hospital/Trinity Health are asking for the community’s help to support Yen in the tough times ahead. “Not only is she a talented Emergency Medicine physician, dedicated wife and Mom, but she is a stellar, lively and devoted friend," reads a GoFundMe page launched for the Falls Church-area family. "In the last decade, she has contributed unforgettable tenacity to the emergency department while effortlessly tackling various challen…
Community Rallies Around Fairfax County Mom Diagnosed With Rare Cancer Community Rallies Around Fairfax County Mom Diagnosed With Rare Cancer
Community Rallies Around Fairfax County Mom Diagnosed With Rare Cancer Family and friends of an Annandale mom are making sure she isn't facing her cancer diagnosis alone. They've started a GoFundMe to help her win the fight of her life.  Doctors diagnosed Catherine Ipsan with a rare and aggressive cancer earlier this year. Since then, the mom of a 5-year-old son splits her time between Annandale and New York City for treatments, according to a GoFundMe her sister set up to pay for the medical bills and travel expenses. The fundraiser hopes to raise $25,000. They've raised more than $21,000 so far from 132 donors.  That amount of travel has put a…
Support Surges For Leesburg 4-Year-Old Fighting Cancer Support Surges For Leesburg 4-Year-Old Fighting Cancer
Support Surges For Leesburg 4-Year-Old Fighting Cancer Friends and family of Olivia "Ollie" Leith hope to raise $20,000 to help the 4-year-old Leesburg girl and her family battle cancer.  Doctors diagnosed Ollie on May 1, according to a GoFundMe page created to help raise the money.  The campaign says the money will go to help the family cover their expenses so they can focus on Ollie's treatment.  So far, the group has raised more than $10,000 from more than 100 donors.  Click here to donate. 
Support Surges For Maryland Mom Mourning Loss Of High School Sweetheart Support Surges For Maryland Mom Mourning Loss Of High School Sweetheart
Support Surges For Maryland Mom Mourning Loss Of High School Sweetheart Support is on the rise for a heartbroken mother from Maryland who is grieving the loss of her high school sweetheart. Michael Gregg Dougherty, 39, died Wednesday, March 9 after battling cancer for more than a year and a half, his obituary says. A native of Bethesda, Michael graduted from Norwood School in 1995 before attending St. Albans School, The College of William and Mary, and Columbia University's Fu School of Engineering, where he earned a master’s degree in computer science and network systems in 2006, his memorial says. Michael previously worked at Columbia's IT department and lat…