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Heidi Bernau Wagler Hometown: Crawfordsville, Iowa |
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An important part of Kay Bernau's legacy is easing the suffering of other women as they fight breast cancer. Kay felt so strongly about the positive treatment she received at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC) that after she died of the disease in 2003, her family decided to use the memorial gifts to establish a special patient-care fund. Today, the Kay Bernau Fund for Breast Cancer Compassionate Patient Care is helping patients get through treatment that can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Kay's daughter, Heidi Bernau Wagler, joined the HCCC's advocacy board after her mother's death, assisting the volunteer group in focusing on advocacy, fund raising, and public relations for the center. "The Holden Center really goes above and beyond in the way they treat people," says Heidi. "The physicians and staff got to know my mother so well -- they really care personally about every patient." The center's extraordinary treatment came even closer to home for Heidi when she herself developed breast cancer in 2005 and was successfully treated at the Holden Center. "When I found the lump, I went straight to my mother's doctor. He took so much time with me, I felt as though he would have been willing to answer my questions all afternoon." Within a week, Heidi had a diagnosis and started treatment. Thankfully, the disease was discovered early, and her prognosis is excellent -- good news for her husband and three children. The experience made the Bernau family feel even more strongly that creating a fund at the center -- giving back in gratitude for their exceptional experience at the HCCC -- was the right thing to do. "The staff members were so sensitive to my mother's and my needs. They'd often give us little gifts or show personal gestures of kindness," she says. "The fund we created provides special care for women who might not be able to afford 'extras' -- for example, women in chemotherapy often find that their fingers get numb. The fund might pay for a manicure or pedicure -- or in some way provide assistance and comfort." Supported by generous contributions large and small, the Holden Center is one of only 39 "National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Centers" nationwide, a title that recognizes a comprehensive approach encompassing the areas of cancer care, research, and education. "Because I serve on the HCCC advocacy board, I know how crucial private support is to the center," says Heidi. "Whether a gift is supporting the little things that help a patient feel better, or research that may one day lead to a cure for breast cancer, every gift makes an important difference." She adds, "It means a lot that we could honor my mother's memory -- and her caring nature -- in this way."
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