TRIBUTES FIRST QTR 11_Layout 1 - Barnes-Jewish Hospital

continued from the front cover
When Rhoda passed away earlier this year, her family requested that gifts in her
memory be given to �e Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s M. Ann Brown
Cardiology Research Fund, which provides support to Keith Mankowitz, MD. Dr.
Mankowitz researches hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition
that Nancy and her son Glenn share. Nancy’s daughter Lauren died from HCM in
2005.
At the time of Lauren’s death, Nancy moved her own care to Barnes-Jewish
Hospital, and specifically to Dr. Mankowitz. Also around that time, Herbert and
Rhoda moved to St. Louis from Arizona to have the best possible medical care
close to home.
“�e first few times we were treated at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish
West County Hospital, we knew we wanted to continue there because of the
wonderful care and consideration we were shown,” Herbert says.
After Nancy’s deep appreciation for her HCM care, Herbert’s treatment for dialysis
and anemia and Rhoda’s care for broken vertebrae, the Sheingold family came to
an understanding.
“Our family members who live out of town all say, ‘If I get sick, I’m coming to
St. Louis for treatment!’” Herbert says.
Herbert laughs, noting that after five years of living in St. Louis he can find the
St. Louis Art Museum, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Barnes-Jewish West County
Hospital. And that is enough for him.
Living Intentionally and Finding a Cure
for Kidney Cancer
Steve Steffan focused on the things he could control in life and let go of the
things he could not. �is outlook brought him through good and bad times. It
also helps his family persevere in his absence.
“People listened to Steve because he spoke and lived with intention,” his wife
Sharon says.
For example, one day he heard that there was no bus driver willing to cover the
route to school for girls in residence at a local children’s home. So that day, Steve
decided to become a part-time bus driver.
“For him it was simple. �e girls needed a place to live and they needed a way
to get to school. He could drive, and so he took the route,” Sharon says. “He was
happy to get them safely to school each day.”
The Steffans at a family wedding.
“When Steve was going through treatment, the doctors
knew enough to know that they do not yet know enough.
They are chomping at the bit to get in there and find a cure.
Supporting this research is pulling our family together and
keeping Steve’s spirit alive.”
–Sharon Steffan
www.GivingBarnesJewish.org
Rhoda and her granddaughter Lauren at Rhoda and Herbert's 60th anniversary party.
To give to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s M. Ann Brown
Cardiology Research Fund (#6446), please use the envelope included
or visit www.GivingBarnesJewish.org. If you have questions, please
contact David Sandler (314) 362-3499 or dhs1634@bjc.org.
When Steve was diagnosed with kidney cancer in June 2010, his focus on what he
could control did not waiver. Although he lived a few hours outside of St. Louis,
he chose to receive his care from the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-
Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Steve knew that
Siteman, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer
Center within a 240-mile radius of St. Louis, would give him the best possible care.
“I remember the call we got from the team at Siteman,” Sharon says. “We were
relieved that they were ready to help us immediately.”
�e Siteman team listened to Steve’s individual needs and was trained to treat his
specific disease. “�ey made us feel like we were all in this together,” Sharon says.
Devastatingly, Steve’s cancer had spread to his lungs before his diagnosis, and his
battle lasted just seven months. During that time, he developed a close bond with
his medical oncologist, Steven Sorscher, MD.
“Dr. Sorscher really gave it his all,” Sharon says. “When Steve died, Dr. Sorscher
called to check on me and the kids, Shayna, Elyse and Samuel. He talked about
Steve and how he missed their visits.”
Sharon memorialized her husband by creating �e Steve Steffan Fund for Kidney
Cancer Research at �e Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. �e fund, created
in honor of Dr. Sorscher, supports decoding of the kidney cancer genome, which
will help the Siteman team study how cancer changes specific cells. With this
information, they can tailor their treatment most effectively to each patient’s cancer.
“When Steve was going through treatment, the doctors knew enough to know that
they do not yet know enough. �ey are chomping at the bit to get in there and
find a cure,” Sharon says. “Supporting this research is pulling our family together
and keeping Steve’s spirit alive.”
Gifts made to the fund in memory of Steve by community members came with
handwritten notes to Sharon–some remembering him as a youngster, the oldest
brother of eight kids and an altar boy.
“I wasn’t in his life then, so it was fun to hear,” Sharon says. “It means so much to
have everyone doing what they can to help. Every penny can make a difference in
finding a cure for kidney cancer.”
To give to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Steve Steffan Fund
for Kidney Cancer Research (#7436), please use the envelope included or
visit www.GivingBarnesJewish.org. If you have questions, please contact
David Sandler at (314) 362-3499 or dhs1634@bjc.org.