Cancer Star Survivor of the Year
Toni Eggemeyer
Nominated by daughter, Amy Eggemeyer
Survivor, receptionist, caregiver, loving mother, wife, sister and friend--Toni wears many hats. She lost her mother to cancer, battled her way through Stage IV base of the tongue cancer and now is a caregiver to her husband, Andy, in his fight against Stage IV colon cancer. She not only endured chemotherapy and radiation, she had to make dramatic lifestyle changes due to surgeries and a feeding tube.
Now, caring for my father, she has shown me what marriage is about and the meaning of the vow “in sickness and in health”. Her love, faith, friendship, courage, strength and her spirit provide us with a foundation that we can only hope to achieve for ourselves. We are all grateful that God has blessed us with her. She is truly our angel sent from above.
Star Cancer Advocate of the Year was created in honor of SIH Breast Health Patient Navigator Donna Crow. Donna was nominated by her colleagues and the many women she has inspired and encouraged over the years.
Many may not be aware of the countless achievements she has made for herself, others, the community and her tireless crusade against breast cancer. She started with SIH as a staff nurse in the ICU at MHC in 1987. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1999 and underwent 2 surgeries followed by chemotherapy and radiation. When she looked for support, she could not find what she needed as a young woman faced with a disease that could kill her. Rather than accepting the lack of local resources she reached outward to others in 2000 and started a support group for women in her situation at her home. This evolved into Saturday lunch meetings and the "Women With Hope" support group was born. She became a Reach to Recovery Volunteer and a trained “I Can Cope Facilitator” with the American Cancer Society. She then became a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Team Leader for Southern Illinois, a role in which she provides advocacy and lobbies in Washington on an annual basis. She has been a member of Y-ME of Illinois since 2001 and currently holds the position of advocacy chair of the greater Illinois.
Therefore, with personal experience and outstanding community outreach activities, it is no wonder why she was the perfect fit for the Breast Health Patient Navigator position created in 2006. Since then, she has directly assisted over 250 women with breast cancer. To date, She has taught over 500 women the importance of monthly self breast exams, conducted over 47 community outreach events and assisted with establishing a "Women With Hope" support group fund.
Star Youth Cancer Survivor of the Year
Matthew Williams – Age 10
Nominated by: Jeanne Williams (Mother)
Matthew was diagnosed July 14, 2006, with a grade 3 brain tumor. He had surgery on July 17th, at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. This was followed by 33 radiation treatments. Following his treatments, Matthew has been interested in helping others. He participated in the SEMO Dance-A-Thon for Children’s Miracle Network, Relay For Life and a WDDD fundraiser for the Make-A Wish Foundation. He helped his teacher organize a class project to collect coloring books and crayons for the hospital. He delivered the gifts during his 6 month check-up in April. He inspires all who knows him.