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Tom and Rosemarie Mitchell |
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“You feel like you are his
only patient.” Tom and Rosemarie Mitchell think
of themselves as family when it comes to the University
of Chicago Medical Center and their doctor, Fabrizio Michelassi,
MD, Chief of Chicago's Section of General Surgery.
Rosemarie believes that her purpose
in life is to help others; when she was diagnosed
with colon cancer six years ago, she learned how much
others care for her. As soon as they got the news,
Tom began researching the best doctors and hospitals.
The University of Chicago Medical Center immediately rose
to the top of their list. Five months after her surgery,
she was able to dance at her daughter's wedding.
When Rosemarie needed a second
follow-up surgery, the Mitchells turned again to the
University of Chicago. She says that colon cancer
has shown her that, “Every day is a gift. I
am happy to be alive.”
In November 2003, Tom and Rosemarie
contributed $250,000 to support the recruitment of
a research scientist who would study gene therapy.
Along with immunologists Mark McKee, MD, and Michael
Nishimura, MD, the new recruit will help develop better
immunologic treatments for cancer and their program
will serve as a training ground for other laboratory
scientists.
In addition, Tom and Rosemarie
have encouraged others to give. As Rosemarie puts
it, “We feel like members of the University
of Chicago family. It’s easy to volunteer when
you feel like family — we simply
share our experience with others.”
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