SUMMER 2019
Keeping the
Old West
Alive
Stockyards legend faced the fight of
her life with the support of a cancer
nurse navigator
Cancer survivor Ava Pearson-Hansford
and Nurse Navigator Kristy Hiser, RN
eople from all around the world
While being a gunfighter might be an
Inside this issue
come to Fort Worth to see one intimidating profession for some, being of the most popular attractions diagnosed with head and neck cancer was Departments
in the Stockyards — the Legends of Texas just as frightening for Ava. “Cancer is scary,” gunfighters. One might be surprised to says Ava, the 72-year-old stepmother know that the Fort Worth Stockyards has of four and grandmother of six, “and it’s 2
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only one female gunfighter, and her name very hard not knowing what to expect.” is Ava Pearson-Hansford. In addition to Her surgeon told her about the navigator faith, family, and friends, Ava’s calling is to services at the Joan Katz Cancer Resource keep the Old West alive while providing a Center at Baylor Scott & White All Saints safe, fun, and realistic Wild West shootout Medical Center – Fort Worth.
—Ava Pearson-Hansford
From the Chair
Focus On: Philanthropy
Dr. Jeffrey J.
Wu
Kristy Hiser, a general 5
cancer nurse navigator News, Projects & Campaigns
This is when an “angel
“We need navigators like Kristy to
help treat our emotional needs as
well. They are just as important as
the doctors. She made everything
so much easier.”
From the President
of God,” as Ava calls her,
walked into her life. Enter
at the Joan Katz Cancer
Resource Center, who called
Ava to help her through
the “new normal” of her
cancer diagnosis. Due to the
generosity of our donors,
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Women’s Health Council
Beyond the Bag
da Vinci Xi Robot
Philanthropy in Action
Child Life Services Program
experience for tourists visiting Fort the Center has expanded its services, which Worth. Most recently, she faced a were originally available only to patients with Upcoming Events
much bigger fight when she received breast and gynecological cancers, to serve a cancer diagnosis. individuals with all types of cancer. 7
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