Julia Walsh and Ken Wegner: Ovarian cancer research

When family and friends think of Sophia Sukys Walsh, they often remember her love of dancing, especially Lithuanian folk dancing. "She never missed an opportunity to dance, she was so full of life," recalls her daughter, Julia Walsh Wegner.  

Diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2001, Ms. Walsh underwent treatment at Loyola. "Physicians gave her only a 20 percent chance of living five years, but she survived five years, two months, and three weeks," says Mrs. Wegner. "She put a tremendous amount of faith in the Lord and her doctors and she always remained hopeful and positive."  

In remembrance of Ms. Walsh's zest for life, Mrs. Wegner and her husband, Ken Wegner, established the Sophia Sukys Walsh Endowment Fund. Interest from the endowment fund is used for research investigating the causes of ovarian cancer as well as new treatments.  

The Wegners met with Ronald Potkul, MD, director, Division of Gynecological Oncology, to learn about his research in ovarian cancer. Dr. Potkul is investigating whether women's own immune systems can be triggered to prevent cancer cells from returning after chemotherapy.  

"Basically, the problem people have with cancers is that the cancer cells learn to hide from immune systems and even break them down," Dr. Potkul explains. "Ovarian cancer is an especially frustrating cancer because there are almost always a few cancer cells that lie dormant after treatment, but then build back up."  

Loyola University Health System researchers are investigating a medication that they believe will prevent the immune system from breaking down. They also are creating vaccines out of patient's cancerous tumors. These vaccines will be given to the patients when their chemotherapy is finished to help the body fight off any remaining cancer cells.  

Mrs. Wegner explained that she has special interest in Dr. Potkul's research because her mother had been in remission, but the cancer returned and spread. "My mother responded well to chemotherapy, but one tough little cancer cell remained and began to grow," Mrs. Wegner said. "We're hoping that by assisting Dr. Potkul and other cancer researchers with their work, the endowment will enable women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the future to dance a little longer than my mom."  

The Wegners initially started the fund with a $50,000 gift. Last Christmas, Chuck Walsh, Mrs. Wegner's father, donated $60,000 in his four grandchildren's names. One of the grandchildren, Spencer Wegner, requested that guests to his 13th birthday party make donations to the fund instead of giving him presents. He raised $1,580 from his friends and classmates. 

"Please make sure this money goes to cancer research in honor of my grandma and think of my grandma today as she is a hero who never stopped fighting," Spencer wrote in a letter that accompanied his donation. "I pray for you all every day to come closer to finding a cure for cancer."