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“A breast cancer diagnosis begins much like a jigsaw puzzle to be worked through. It’s an overwhelming mess of scattered pieces that make no clear sense, poured out of the box into a crumbling pile of confusion. But slowly with persistence, focus, determination, a positive attitude and working through the challenges day by day and piece by piece, they in time both become whole and beautiful again.” – Thonet LaBadie On Feb. 13, 2015, Thonet’s life as she knew it took a drastic turn. In just one moment, everything shifted. The happy and healthy wife, mother of 17-year-old twins, former teacher and immunization specialist was about to face the fight for her life. That fateful day nearly a decade ago was when she received the unsettling news: she had breast cancer, and it had metastasized to her lymph nodes.   Though she was faced with a daunting diagnosis, Thonet’s positive spirit and zest for life never wavered. Never did she think, “why me?” Nor did she think, “I’m not strong enough.” Her thought process was quite the opposite – “I am going to ride this rollercoaster until it stops, and I walk away cancer free.”  With her loving family and friends rallying behind her, as well as her expert Cancer Care teams at Renown Health and Cancer Care Specialists (formerly known as Reno Oncology Consultants), Thonet knew that her journey would not be traveled alone, and she was determined to defeat cancer once and for all. She promised her daughter Jourdyn she would stay strong and not give up the fight. The Unexpected Discovery Thonet did everything she believed was right in her preventative healthcare journey. She lived an active lifestyle, she filled her life with love and happiness, she did not have any genetic markers for breast cancer and never missed a preventive check-up. Someone like her shouldn’t develop such a debilitating disease, right?  As it turns out, she was told by professionals that with this disease, it’s become more often not about who develops breast cancer – but when.   Breast cancer makes up for about 30% of cancer diagnoses in women across the U.S. So, when Thonet felt a lump in her breast in Nov. 2014, she knew she had better play it safe than sorry. She took her concerns to her doctors, who ran all the necessary tests.  The unfortunate result: invasive ductal carcinoma (stage 2B), the most common form of breast cancer.  Though Thonet was terrified, she was also tenacious. She was ready to Fight the Good Fight right then and there.  Thonet chose to undergo a bilateral mastectomy. So that’s precisely what she did in April 2015 at Renown Regional Medical Center.  Thonet was ready to put breast cancer behind her, but unfortunately, the trek was just beginning. During her mastectomy, her care team tested her lymph nodes. Four were removed.  What came next was her most valiant fight of all: chemotherapy coupled with radiation, as well as more reconstructive breast surgeries along the way. Courageous Connections With 36 radiation treatments, 8 rounds of chemotherapy, 6 surgeries and 1 brave spirit, Thonet's healthcare journey has been nothing short of vigorous. Fortunately, she had an expert oncology team on her side every step of the way.  And it goes even further – Thonet’s college acquaintance Dr. Jennifer Sutton, an oncology physician at the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute (formerly the Renown Institute for Cancer), was her radiation oncologist. She felt comfort knowing that a significant aspect of her care was in the hands of a trusted physician and a team of loving nurses, cancer care navigators and radiation therapists, whom she calls the “Renown Radiation Rockstars.”  Thonet felt an immense connection not only to her warm and welcoming care team but also the other oncology patients she met along the journey. Patients facing cancer often receive radiation treatments several times a week, so Thonet had a chance to make close relationships with the other patients who were on a similar path as she was.  Throughout her treatment process, Thonet participated in cancer support groups, which she believes are vital for anyone diagnosed with the disease.  “Had it not been for my diagnosis, I would have never met all the amazing people I did at Renown and beyond,” she recalls. “At the end of my treatments, I knew I was going to miss them.”  The love and support of Thonet’s care team, fellow patients, family, friends and community helped her remain positive throughout the entire process, always focusing on the positive – even during the most physically and emotionally tolling parts of treatment. Crossing the Finish Line Every day brought a new obstacle to overcome, whether it was a treatment, a side effect or an emotional response to the intense journey. Thonet’s motto throughout it all was “day by day, one foot in front of the other, from start to finish.”  In Dec. 2016, Thonet finally made it to that finish line. With the completion of chemotherapy and radiation behind her, she walked out the front doors of the Pennington Cancer Institute, threw her fist in the air in excitement and finally got to revel in the fact that she had her health back. She had survived.  Inspired by her journey and her breast cancer “sisters” she met while in treatment, Thonet wanted to give the same level of care and attention she received back to her fellow community members battling cancer. She proudly serves as a breast cancer “angel,” offering comfort and support to those who need it most. Thonet is also looking forward to the completion of the Pennington Cancer Institute’s Conrad Breast Center, currently under construction at Renown South Meadows Medical Center, noting how important it is for breast cancer patients to have expanded access to crucial cancer care in south Reno.  Today, at nine years cancer-free, Thonet is thoroughly enjoying her life. She loves traveling, spending time with family and seeing her now-adult son and daughter thrive in their own lives. She also recently underwent hip replacement surgery and is proud to be back on her tandem bike with her loving husband of 33 years, Mike, who she credits for his never-ending support in sickness and in health.  “No looking back – only forward to healthy living. Onward!” Thonet exclaims.  And for anyone out there going through cancer treatments, Thonet has some words of wisdom to take to heart:  “Cancer chose the wrong person when it tried to tackle us. Stay strong and fight on, day by day. On even the most difficult, darkest day, remember that you are stronger than you know.”

Read More About The Pieces of the Puzzle: Thonet LaBadie’s Breast Cancer Journey

Lifetimes of Service in Medicine Margo and Jim Veazey are no strangers to hospitals and medicine. They are impressive duo with notable professional achievements and seem to always have service to their communities and country as their true north.   Margo was a nurse and nurse administrator for her entire career, which spanned just under 50 years, including 25 years in nursing leadership at the Connecticut VA Healthcare System. Her predecessors at the VA had only stayed a year or two prior to her, but Margo found a place where she could make a positive impact and stayed for a quarter-century.  During her time at the VA, she helped secure a much sought after $40 million grant to establish a VA Nursing Academy including funding for five new faculty members. The groundbreaking program to educate and train more nurses shares some strong similarities with Renown’s recently established Gerald “Jerry” Smith Academic Practice Partnership. Jim has had his own esteemed medical career of over four decades as an infectious disease doctor, serving in academic, clinical and research roles on the east coast. He retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after 29 years of combined Federal Service in 2012. Among his self-stated greatest achievements was working on the eradication of Smallpox in India (coincidentally, Renown was founded in 1862 during a Smallpox outbreak).  A Near Death Experience Rarely had the Veazeys been on the receiving end of trauma care, but that all changed in 2017 after their move to Reno, when Margo was admitted to the Renown Regional Emergency Room with a volvulus, an obstruction caused by twisting of the intestine and a very serious medical emergency. The symptoms that led her to the ER were severe and extremely uncomfortable: fever, severe abdominal pain, overly active bowel sounds, and vomiting blood.   Margo recalls: “the last thing I remember was hearing someone say my pulse was down to 20. I thought I was dying and then I blacked out. I woke up two days later in the ICU [Intensive Care Unit] as they told me to breathe out when they were removing my ventilator tube.” Jim, on the other hand, remembers it all, including the long hours waiting for Margo to wake up.  Margo’s near-death experience left quite an impression on both of them and, while traumatic, it also created deep feelings of gratitude for the care Margo received from her doctors and nurses at Renown during that time.  Reno Becomes Home Margo and Jim spent most of their lives on the east coast. They met at Dartmouth when Jim was a wide-eyed intern in the ICU, and Margo was working in the ICU as a nurse. They were married a year later and recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary! You don’t have to spend much time with them to see their adoration for each other, even after all these years. In the midst of their busy careers, the Veazey’s raised a son and daughter, who now each have children of their own. Being closer to those grandchildren became a priority after Jim and Margo retired, which prompted their move to Reno in 2016.  Having access to good healthcare was on their radar when deciding where to move, and they were not sure what they would find when they arrived in Reno. Fortunately, a neighbor they met early on introduced them to Renown and the Renown South Meadows Medical Center emergency room as an option for emergency care. It was not long after that, when Margo made a visit to the Renown South Meadows ER for diverticulitis. They’ve been coming to Renown ever since for her care. Expressing Their Gratitude Margo’s visit to the South Meadows ER in 2016 and her near-death experience in 2017 were among the first in a series of unfortunate and mostly unrelated health incidents she has faced since moving to Reno. Over the past eight years she has come to Renown for eleven major health issues including six surgeries.  Her medical conditions have ranged from breast cancer to the need for a knee replacement to atrial fibrillation, and Renown has been a one-stop shop to meet her these urgent health care needs. Based on the trust she has in Renown providers, Margo counts on Renown for her preventative care too. Thanks to his long federal service, Jim receives his care at the VA.   The consistency in the high-quality, compassionate care she receives—Margo and Jim will both tell you repeatedly how much they love Renown physicians and how great the nurses are—is why they keep coming back. When asked if they recall any specific doctors or nurses, Margo responded, “we’ve been to the emergency room so many times and I’ve had so many procedures that it would take a long time to list all their names, and I received wonderful care from all of them. My brother, who was a Rhode Scholar, emergency room doctor in Florida, and a lawyer was incredibly complimentary of the care I received when he was here during one of my ER visits.”    The exceptional care is also what prompted them to include a gift to Renown Health Foundation in their estate plan. Although the Veazeys have always been charitable and support many organizations near and dear to them with annual gifts (including Renown Children’s Hospital), their legacy gift to Renown was the first time they included a charity in their estate plan.

Read More About Why I Give: Margo and Jim’s Story

“In sickness and in health” are words we often hear when celebrating the momentous occasion of marriage with our friends, families and loved ones. For James Breckenridge, these words were the foundation of the love and commitment he and his wife Carolyn showed to each other during their 30 years of marriage. In health, James and Carolyn shared a love of traveling. Hopping in their van, driving across the continental United States and enjoying the views along the way will be a memory James cherishes forever. Unfortunately, their excursions would be cut short when Carolyn fell ill, rerouting to their local hospital, Renown Health. Carolyn has spent more time at the hospital than the average person – including recovering from COVID-19 at Renown South Meadows Medical Center. However, hospital admittance for Carolyn meant the same for James, providing support to his wife during her stay. Following more than 40 years of exceptional experiences with Renown and their most recent discharge from the hospital, James wrote a letter recognizing the efforts of the team members and healthcare providers who not only cared for Carolyn but also James. To Whom It May Concern James began his letter by applauding two Renown Regional nurses they got to know well during their recent visit. Tiffany and Ashley went the extra mile to care for Carolyn attentively. From simple tasks like gathering requested supplies to answering James’ questions in detail, they helped provide a comfortable environment for the couple. To these nurses, these tasks may have felt like another day at work. Still, James’ letter commends them for their acts of service, reminding us that every interaction we have with a patient can be a memorable one. Tiffany and Ashley weren’t the only team members who received recognition in James’ testimonial. He also took a moment to recognize the various nurses, certified nursing assistants, therapists and doctors they encountered during their care journey. All provided the excellent and helpful experience we aim for at Renown. Healing Memories James first brought Carolyn to Renown Regional Medical Center, formerly known as Washoe Medical Center, in 1980, but it was 1996 when things changed for him. Carolyn was admitted to the hospital for a procedure they originally anticipated would come with a difficult prognosis. To their surprise, doctors found the opposite. It was in that joyous moment that James’ perspective of hospitals shifted, now viewing them for what they truly are – a place people go to get better. “Every time I walk around Renown Hospital, I remember all the times Carolyn was healed there,” James wrote in the latter half of his letter. Healing Isn't Just for the Patient James took advantage of the many support resources accessible to family members during their time at Renown. These donor-funded hospital initiatives are a valuable mental health resource in difficult circumstances. Whether it was an afternoon stroll with his wife through Fianna’s Healing Garden or quiet time alone in the Spiritual Center, James never hesitated to turn to these resources in his time of need. “Although I know the Tahoe Tower is the modern, state-of-the-art part of Renown, I prefer the Sierra Tower because that is where most of my memories are.” Even a simple daily walk to the on-campus Starbucks was a notable part of his day – grabbing a cup of coffee for himself and often a treat for Carolyn. An Inspiration in Healthcare When asked to describe Renown in one word, James chose “inspirational.” His collective experiences with Renown, James said, “helped him to be a better healthcare advocate” when his wife received care at other hospitals. As a healthcare leader, we challenge ourselves to go above and beyond for the health of our entire community. Collaborating with our patients and their families is at the center of everything we do at Renown. Positive reviews mean the absolute world to us, and something about this handwritten letter feels even more special. We could not be more appreciative to James for sharing how our vision to inspire better health in our community was reflected in his 40 years of experience with Renown. We were saddened to hear of Carolyn’s passing during a recent meeting to thank James for his letter. We take solace hearing James’ beautiful memories of his wife and knowing that Renown Health was there in times of sickness and health. We offer our sincere condolences to James, Carolyn’s children and their family members.

Read More About 40 Years of Exceptional Care