2021 Honored Angel: MEganMost of us can recall a time when we happened upon a story or a “force of nature” so powerful and inspiring that we had to pause to fully digest and comprehend what we just witnessed.
For many of us, the life story of Megan is one of those times. At the core of her story is an unrelenting battle with ovarian cancer that ultimately took her life in 2018 at the young age of 23. The bigger lesson for all is how she never, ever gave up. She battled fiercely, and always lived fully, seemingly with a non-stop smile on her face. |
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There are so many adjectives needed to accurately capture the “whole Megan.” For starters, she was inspirational, strong, passionate, bold, relentless, fun, giving and charismatic. She simply would not allow a life-threatening illness to steal her happiness or dull her natural caring for others.
At age 15, Megan was diagnosed with a life-threatening ovarian tumor called Sertoli Leydig. She and her family traveled to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to have the tumor removed, followed by several rounds of chemotherapy.
Despite health setbacks, Megan graduated from high school, traveled, and then graduated from Binghamton University in 2017 with a triple major in French, Linguistics, and International Studies. She did all this while being actively involved in a variety of campus musical, theater, and religious activities that were so important to her. Her future plans included teaching in Honduras with a Catholic outreach organization.
A month after graduating from college, she was diagnosed with another more aggressive cancerous tumor followed by another surgery and more chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy. Five months later, Megan had to repeat the whole process again, but somehow she still applied for graduate school while lying in her hospital bed. She even did her admittance interview via Skype.
Through it all, Megan had an optimism and enthusiasm for life that was inspiring to many including her family.
“She was always filled with joy and an optimistic spirit,” said her mom, Molly. “She had a lot of faith, courage and determination to live each day to the fullest.”
Sadly, Megan passed away on November 14, 2018, with her parents and boyfriend, Adam, at her side.
After Megan’s death, her family formed the Live Like Megan Foundation (www.livelikemegan.org), providing scholarships and funding to deserving organizations and individuals in her hometown of Binghamton, N.Y.
“Megan was a very special person who made an impression on all who had the pleasure of meeting her, even if for only a brief moment,” their website states. “She loved theater, travel, languages and teaching. She was fearless in trying new things. She had an enthusiasm for living and a smile that could brighten your day in an instant. She shared her light and energy freely with the world; with her friends, her family and with strangers.”
Anyone connected to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic – participants, sponsors, spectators, organizers, workers – and our mission has endlessly given their time, treasure, or talents in supporting our cause. So too has Megan as her family has graciously allowed Megan’s medical records, tissue samples and tumor samples to be part of the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry and the ongoing research led by Dr. Kris Ann Schultz - the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair of Cancer and Blood Disorders Research.
“I know Megan would want to do everything in her power to help others have better diagnosis and treatment options in the future,” said Molly.
“What an honor to learn from Megan, her amazing family and all that both have endured,” Dr. Schulz said. “Thanks to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, her legacy includes improving outcomes for future children, teenagers and young women.”
At age 15, Megan was diagnosed with a life-threatening ovarian tumor called Sertoli Leydig. She and her family traveled to Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to have the tumor removed, followed by several rounds of chemotherapy.
Despite health setbacks, Megan graduated from high school, traveled, and then graduated from Binghamton University in 2017 with a triple major in French, Linguistics, and International Studies. She did all this while being actively involved in a variety of campus musical, theater, and religious activities that were so important to her. Her future plans included teaching in Honduras with a Catholic outreach organization.
A month after graduating from college, she was diagnosed with another more aggressive cancerous tumor followed by another surgery and more chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy. Five months later, Megan had to repeat the whole process again, but somehow she still applied for graduate school while lying in her hospital bed. She even did her admittance interview via Skype.
Through it all, Megan had an optimism and enthusiasm for life that was inspiring to many including her family.
“She was always filled with joy and an optimistic spirit,” said her mom, Molly. “She had a lot of faith, courage and determination to live each day to the fullest.”
Sadly, Megan passed away on November 14, 2018, with her parents and boyfriend, Adam, at her side.
After Megan’s death, her family formed the Live Like Megan Foundation (www.livelikemegan.org), providing scholarships and funding to deserving organizations and individuals in her hometown of Binghamton, N.Y.
“Megan was a very special person who made an impression on all who had the pleasure of meeting her, even if for only a brief moment,” their website states. “She loved theater, travel, languages and teaching. She was fearless in trying new things. She had an enthusiasm for living and a smile that could brighten your day in an instant. She shared her light and energy freely with the world; with her friends, her family and with strangers.”
Anyone connected to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic – participants, sponsors, spectators, organizers, workers – and our mission has endlessly given their time, treasure, or talents in supporting our cause. So too has Megan as her family has graciously allowed Megan’s medical records, tissue samples and tumor samples to be part of the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor Registry and the ongoing research led by Dr. Kris Ann Schultz - the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic Endowed Chair of Cancer and Blood Disorders Research.
“I know Megan would want to do everything in her power to help others have better diagnosis and treatment options in the future,” said Molly.
“What an honor to learn from Megan, her amazing family and all that both have endured,” Dr. Schulz said. “Thanks to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, her legacy includes improving outcomes for future children, teenagers and young women.”
“What an honor to learn from Megan, her amazing family and all that both have endured. Thanks to the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, her legacy includes improving outcomes for future children, teenagers and young women.”
- Dr. Kris Ann Schultz About Megan
On behalf of future patients who will benefit from Megan’s incredible gift, we thank her parents, Roy and Molly, and her siblings Greg, Roy Jr., and Olivia. We are so grateful for your willingness to share Megan’s “never ever give up” attitude with the Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic in 2021. In return, we promise to never stop funding critical research initiatives which will lead to new and more effective treatments and therapies.
Like all of our honored angels and patients, Megan is a gift to us and we will continue moving forward in their honor and memory. Thank you for sharing Megan’s story and reminding us to “Live Like Megan.”
Like all of our honored angels and patients, Megan is a gift to us and we will continue moving forward in their honor and memory. Thank you for sharing Megan’s story and reminding us to “Live Like Megan.”