Memorial fund fulfills a final wish in a life well lived

Many people reach a certain age or stage in life when they begin to think about a bucket list. That was not the case for Marsha Buchok, who died in May from breast cancer at age 64. Instead of a bucket list, Marsha had what she called “a bucket full of living.”

New gene sequencer will change the course of cancer treatment

New DNA sequencing technology at Virginia Piper Cancer Institute® will help cancer specialists provide more targeted therapies for patients. Cancer experts believe that using genetic information to match each patient with the therapies that work best for him or her will lead to significant advances in cancer treatment. The technology purchase was made possible by The Piper Family Fund. 

Improving cardiovascular care, one download at at time

Mark Ebeling, RN, is the person behind a popular mobile app that is helping care providers have 24/7 access to the latest protocols and guidelines on treating heart attacks and other cardiovascular emergencies. The mobile app was made possible through a $10,000 Clinical Innovation Grant from the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation. Ebeling believed the app would be a convenient way to get the latest heart attack treatment protocols and guidelines to the network of regional hospitals and providers who work closely with the Minneapolis Heart Institute® to care for their cardiovascular patients. Within a few months of its release in October 2016, it had already exceeded all expectations. 

When serious illness takes over a life, LifeCourse™ offers hope

In the two years since Michael Bischoff was diagnosed with brain cancer, there have been times of overwhelming worry and stress. One he recalls vividly is when he was told that the tumor had returned after his initial phase of treatment. Since then, he’s been introduced to LifeCourse, an innovative approach to late life care. It has made a difference in how he lives day to day and how he thinks about his medical care.

Through scholarships, a nurse’s dedication lives on

Scott Becker lost his wife, Jane, to cancer decades ago, just as she was starting her career as a nurse at Abbott Northwestern. In the difficult months following her death, Becker made a decision that helps others advance in the profession that Jane loved. He established the Jane Wachtler Becker fund through the Abbott Northwestern Hospital Foundation to provide scholarship funds for nurses to continue their education.