Bryan Health is saluting cancer survivors and raising money for support programs by placing ribbons on survivor trees outside the entrances of both of its hospitals in Lincoln.
Cancer survivors or their loved ones can purchase a ribbon and place it on one of the two trees. Ribbons feature the survivor’s name and are part of a colorful display outside each hospital entrance through June 12. The display will provide hope to hospital visitors and help other survivors by raising funds for cancer support programs, both today and at the future April Sampson Cancer Center in South Lincoln.
Sandi Larson of Lincoln says her journey with brain cancer began in the fall of 2021. “I was having issues with balance when I was walking and our primary care physician recommended we come into an ER and have it evaluated,” Larson says.
Doctors discovered a malignant tumor the size of a lime in her brain. Two weeks after the tumor was found Larson underwent brain surgery at Bryan West Campus. Doctors successfully removed the mass. Tests later revealed her brain was not the area where her cancer originated. Her official diagnosis was adenocarcinoma with an undetected source. She spent three weeks in the hospital after surgery and was given about three months to live upon.
Larson is now cancer free and her recovery is nothing short of remarkable. She receives quarterly scans, which have shown no recurrence of cancer. Larson’s family honored her on Friday with a ribbon on the survivor tree to celebrate beating brain cancer. Sunday is National; Cancer Survivors Day and it will have very special meaning for Larson.
“I wish my fellow survivors well and each day we get to live is a gift.” For more information and to purchase a ribbon for the survivor tree click here.
(Photo: Brad Colee, Bryan Health )