2020-May-07

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Bridge to a Cure: The Fight Against Cancer

BY TINA SWALLOW · DIRECTOR OF SERVICES SALES FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE · UNITED STATES

In the past few months, our world has changed beyond what we could possibly imagine.

During the COVID-19 crisis, however, one thing remains the same: In the U.S. alone, nearly 5,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every day — that’s one person every three minutes.

I understand how scary such news can be. In 2009, my son was diagnosed with cancer.

Right now, in addition to a grueling battle against cancer, patients are not only more vulnerable to the virus, but face delays in treatment as hospitals reach maximum capacity.

Why I Fight Cancer

Tina and Beau at Ronald McDonald House during his treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

The most terrifying words I’ve ever heard: “Your son has tumors in his back, ribs, and both lungs.”

My husband and I had just learned that our 12-year-old son, Beau, had Stage IV Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare and lethal bone cancer. After seven grueling rounds of chemotherapy, Beau’s cancer morphed and started growing again. We reached an all-time low when we learned that Beau’s odds of survival were under 10 percent.

Ewing’s Sarcoma transformed me from working mom to Cancer Warrior mom. Every decision, doctor’s appointment, and test result felt like Beau’s life was hanging in the balance, because it was.

We gave our little warrior everything we could to endure the chemotherapy, nausea, dehydration, weight loss, fever, pain, fear, isolation, and disruption of everything that was already hard for a sixth grader. We also had to find ways to show love, strength, and compassion and explain the unexplainable to our younger children.

Anyone who has fought cancer knows that it remains with you forever.

Cancer sucks. Cancer touches everyone. Cancer doesn’t discriminate against race, creed, or national origin. Cancer truly unites us in our frailty, but it also reminds of things we should not forget. During Beau’s battle, I was reunited with my love of humanity.

For the love, prayers, and support, we are eternally grateful, forever in debt, and filled with the need to pay it forward.

Friends Don’t Let Friends Fight Cancer Alone

I’m thrilled to say that after multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, Beau is living his best life.

He’s finishing his Master’s degree in Data Science at American University with no evidence of disease. When Beau’s cancer relapsed during treatment, I dug deep into my network to find anyone that could give me hope.

With the help of a Cisco doctor at one of Cisco’s non-campus facilities, I was able to connect with the oncology team that saved Beau’s life. But we watched so many children lose their battles. These deaths were not always in the initial fight, but often in subsequent battles as cancer survivors are at risk for secondary blood cancers. So the fight continues.

No one wants to fight cancer, but if you find yourself in this unenviable position, you absolutely want Cisco in your corner. The outpouring of support from across Cisco was truly inspiring.

Beau with his classmates, thanks to Cisco TelePresence.

Beau’s chemo treatments compromised his immune system and prevented him from attending school. Cisco to the rescue with TelePresence, which in 2010 was a big deal.

Engineers from Cisco and the partner community showed up with big smiles and huge hearts. They connected our living room and Beau’s school so that he could have some normalcy in his life and continue his studies.

The heart of Cisco brought tremendous joy to our family during our darkest hours. Highlights include calls from several Boston Red Sox players as well as former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The power of those Cisco connections was amazing.

Fundraising to Eliminate Cancer

Unfortunately, not everyone with cancer has the same support. Which is why Beau and I want to pay it forward and help other families. We want to find a cure.

One of the ways I am doing this is stepping up to the challenge of being the 2020 Leukemia Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year — with this comes a huge fundraising commitment.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. What I love about LLS are the contributions for better drugs and treatments for all types of cancer. For the past 29 years, LLS has held a Man & Woman of the Year fundraising challenge in the metro Washington, D.C. area.

My dream is to live in a world with no cancer, where no life is cut short by this dreadful disease.

Be the Bridge to a Cure

Look out for this image of Tina on Social Media and share to help spread the campaign.

Carl De Groote, VP of Federal Sales, was the 2018 National Man of the Year winner. He is rooting for Tina's Bridge to a Cure campaign which he says epitomizes the spirit of community and supports the mission of the LLS to fight and cure cancer.

May 7, 2020, is Opening Day of our 10-week Fundraising Challenge. I’m calling on you to help us meet our fundraising goal of $1 million by donating or joining our team.

You can help meet our goal and make a donation now. If you are a Cisco employee, you can donate through Bright Funds, and Cisco will match your donation.

I’ve never seen Beau cry for himself during his battles, but he cried when his cancer-fighting peers lost theirs. This must end, and we must win! No one brings it like we do. #WeAreCisco

I know the power of Cisco, and I need your help to be the bridge to fund a cure. I have a lofty $1 million goal set to make the biggest impact.

Let’s bring the immense power of the Cisco community together to be the bridge to a cure.