Tony Laudadio is a giver. He’s also a connector of people, resources, and communities. Tony is a husband and father to three little girls, a brain tumor and renal cell carcinoma survivor, and to fellow cancer survivors and their families, Tony is hope. Tony’s journey began in July 2013 when he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma at 29 years …
MIKE DOWNEY: FIGHTING CANCER FOR THE RIDE OF HIS LIFE
On a cliffside in Sol y Mar, El Salvador, sits a newly acquired property with Mike Downey’s name on it. Turquoise waters and world-class surf spots lured Mike to Central America years ago, and finding this beachside enclave on El Salvador’s west coast was a real gem. “It’s a hike to get down to the beach, but you can’t beat …
LINDA MONEY: FOR THE LOVE OF FAMILY
For Linda Money, family and faith are everything. Being a wife to a loving husband and mother to two daughters and a son are roles she doesn’t take lightly, but playing Mimi to four grandsons is where Linda really shines. When she was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer, her thoughts immediately shifted to them – how would cancer treatment …
SEAN CROWLEY: LIVING FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST
Sean Crowley doesn’t remember many details about the night his life changed. As a husband and father of three, he spent most of his time working as an attorney, coaching his kids’ sports teams, and enjoying the outdoors with his family. Born and raised in Austin, he was an active, happy, and healthy adult enjoying his late 30s until one …
KAREN CLEMENTS: FROM ADVERSITY COMES STRENGTH
If there’s one thing people say about Karen Clements, it’s that her smile can light up a room. Words like grace, joy, and composure resound upon the mention of her name; but there’s one descriptor that sticks out: resilient. “Karen is such a bright spot in my clinic. Despite the fact that her breast cancer story was complicated with many …
PAM COOPER: FINDING REFUGE AMID THE FIGHT
There’s a bench in Pam Cooper’s backyard with a view as far as the eye can see. It’s a quiet place where she often goes to close her eyes and feel the wind brush against her cheeks. Other times, after a long day, she and her husband sit there to watch the sun get smaller as daylight fades. As an …
EVERETT SANDERSON: FIGHTING FOR A LIFE WELL LIVED
Most mornings when the weather’s nice, you’ll find Everett and Darla Sanderson on their back porch with a cup of coffee enjoying a lake view and each other’s company. They don’t take these mornings for granted. The opportunity to soak in the natural beauty that blankets East Texas almost wasn’t theirs a few short years ago. In 2016, Everett was …
MAUREEN TOMLINSON: CONQUERING FEAR AND CANCER AMID COVID-19
If COVID-19 has taught Maureen Tomlinson of Austin anything, it’s that fear is not a friend. Fear takes you to deep, dark corners of your mind. It dares to keep you up at night and aggressively interrupts your thoughts on a perfectly fine day. Fear conjures the worst-case scenario. Maureen will tell you the only thing to do with fear …
DANNY BOX: EVEN CANCER CAN’T CONQUER A SERVANT’S HEART
Encouraging others through life’s most difficult and devastating moments isn’t just a part of Danny Box’s role as a pastor – it’s in his DNA. So when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, members of his congregation swarmed to be by the Box family’s side, wrap them in love, and lift them up in prayer. It’s a special kind of …
CHANTAL RICE: FIGHTING CANCER ON HER TERMS
As managing editor for Austin Woman magazine, Chantal Rice finds it difficult to slow down. On any given day, she can be found in her North Austin office providing editorial oversight for a magazine dedicated to dishing out thought-provoking stories that inspire and support women. “During the 10 years or so I’ve been with the company, we’ve done so many stories about …