July 2008

Brain tumor survivor offers hope to others

John and Molly Kus generously support
the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center

A brush with mortality radically changed the way John and Molly Kus view the world and cherish the blessings they have.

“This experience changed our lives completely, and we have a far greater appreciation of things,” John said. “We have a different way of thinking and don’t take anything for granted anymore.”

John and Molly Kus help their daughter, Romy, with a puzzle during some family time at their home. Molly, 29, had brain cancer surgery a year ago to remove a large temporal mass. As a sign of their support and appreciation of the cutting-edge research being done at the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center, John and Molly have pledged $10,000 to the Marquette General Foundation.

That’s because a year ago in March, Molly had a life-threatening scare.
Not feeling “quite right,” she visited a family physician at Marquette General Hospital. After undergoing an MRI, Molly was referred to Dr. Richard Rovin, a neurosurgeon on staff at Marquette General Hospital.

The news wasn’t good.

Despite having no family history of brain cancer, Molly was diagnosed with a large temporal mass (glioma), a form of brain cancer. Dr. Rovin told John and Molly that it needed to be removed immediately.

“We were completed devastated,” said John, a nurse anesthetist at Marquette General. “When we left Dr. Rovin’s office, we knew our journey began.”

“I knew something was wrong,” Molly, 29, said. “I didn’t have a lot of time to dwell on it. Everything happened so quickly.”

The next day, Dr. Rovin and the highly trained MGH surgical team successfully removed the growth during a six-hour operation. The surgery was followed by six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy.

“It was very emotional,” John recalled “Molly lost her hair during radiation, so Molly and I, along with our 2-year-old daughter, Romy, all wore skull caps around the house. From there, Molly got better and better.”

“Honestly,” Molly recalls, “I never had that period of anger or self pity. If I did that, the cancer would have taken a hold of me. I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

Friends and family, John said, went above and beyond during this turbulent time. They sent dinners to their home. They offered to watch their daughter. They provided care packets and gift certificates to their favorite restaurants.

In May of 2007, scores of supporters rode for Team Kus in the “Hope Starts Here Cycling Challenge,” a fundraiser organized by Dr. Rovin to help raise money for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center.

Molly completed the five-mile event, and this year, rode in the 35-mile event.
Molly, a kindergarten teacher in Negaunee, is now in remission. Yet, the experience has changed the Kus’s life forever. John and Molly — Lake Linden natives and high school sweethearts — recently pledged $10,000 to the Marquette General Foundation, with the money earmarked to the UMBTC.

“It still seems so unreal,” John said. “This taught us to enjoy the blessings in our life. We want to do our part and help other families. My message is this … John and Molly Kus really believe in the brain tumor center. There is hope, and we want to help support it in any way we can.”

Added Molly: “This experience has given me a different outlook on life … how fragile life is and how it can change instantly. I want others to know there is hope.”

Those interested in making a gift to the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center are encouraged to contact the Marquette General Foundation at 225-6914 or toll-free at 1-866-906-6914. For more information on the UMBTC, visit its website at www.hopestartshere.org.