Chef Eric LeVine thought he was done with cancer, that he had long buried that part of his life under years of chemotherapy treatments and dinner services. But there cancer was again – taunting him in front of television cameras, over a basket of mussels, pears and frozen waffles.
A few weeks before, LeVine, 41, had ended seven years of remission with a shattering diagnosis: He had cancer, for the fifth time. And not just any cancer – an advanced form called Richter's syndrome. Doctors said his chances were slim, and sent him for aggressive chemotherapy and radiation that made his muscles spasm and his body ache.
One night last August, he drove into the city for chemotherapy. The next morning, he headed to a television studio to be a contestant on the Food Network show "Chopped."
LeVine was drained and nauseated and thought about canceling, but desperately wanted to prove that "you can have a life-threatening illness … and still push, and still have fun." So he struggled to pull himself together for the show's notoriously bizarre ingredient challenges.
LeVine, the new executive chef of the Montammy Golf Club in Alpine, will be honored Thursday by the American Cancer Society at a fund-raiser in Manhattan.
The chef is no stranger to awards, but this one brings a new kind of validation to someone who established his career while battling both cancer and his own attitude.
"I became selfish and self-absorbed and it didn't need to be that way. I did a lot of damage to people," the charismatic chef says. "In my mind, I used to think, It's about me. And then I came to the realization a couple of years ago that I have an ability that can help others."
Raised by a single mother in Brooklyn, LeVine began peeling onions and potatoes for a local caterer when he was 11 and quickly learned that he felt most at home in the kitchen. Later, he would start his own catering company and cook in France, Italy and Japan, even before graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 1990. Then followed high-profile jobs at Aramark and the Marriott Marquis.
He was 31, with a catering company and two young children, when he began tiring easily and noticed a nagging numbness in his leg. He had chondrosarcoma, a bone cancer.
That launched a four-year cycle of diagnosis, treatment and remission – only to be followed by another diagnosis. After he beat chondrosarcoma, he was quickly diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Then, acute myelogenous leukemia.
LeVine took his usual determination right into the hospital. "I've always thought I would beat whatever came my way," LeVine says. "That's the upbringing that I had — to fight. Even the chefs I worked for [taught that] you never give up, you never give less than the best you can give."
Read the rest of Chef Eric's inspiring story here .
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Master Chef Turns His Skills to Cooking for Cancer Patients
By CHRISTINE FISHER
Philadelphia Daily News
JACK SHOOP has owned several top-rated restaurants and is one of just 61 chefs in the United States who've been certified as master chefs by the American Culinary Federation. When the opportunity for a major career change arose, however, Shoop let his mom be his guide.
Less than two years ago, Shoop, a Harley-riding Kensington native, traded in his Florida restaurant gigs to become the executive chef for Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Eastern Regional Medical Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Shoop stresses the clinical and spiritual importance of food in the meals he prepares daily for about 800 cancer patients, their families and CTCA employees.
Shoop's decision to make such a significant career switch was due in large part to his mother's passing. "Even though my mother didn't die of cancer, I just felt like she was telling me to do it," Shoop recalled recently.
Hurricane Katrina played a part, too.
In 2005, the hurricane hit Shoop's restaurant in Destin, Fla. - the fourth such storm to strike the business. At the same time, his father passed away. The coinciding events prompted Shoop to return to Philadelphia to help his newly widowed mother.
She died unexpectedly a few months later.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, Shoop began working at Viking Cooking School in Bryn Mawr. That led to him doing a cooking demonstration for CTCA leaders as a part of a team-building workshop they attended. CEO John McNeil approached Shoop after the event and asked him to join CTCA.
Working in a hospital, he sometimes finds himself thinking of his mother's passing, and it's brought him to tears. "I never cried in my restaurant. Here I've cried about a thousand times," he said. But the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world outweighs any emotional strain from his job.
Shoop sees his work as a way to "redirect passion for the culinary arts to better the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers."
Certainly the job brings special challenges. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 40 percent of cancer-related deaths are due to malnutrition. Cancer and its treatments can affect a patient's ability to taste and smell and lead to nausea, trouble absorbing nutrients, anorexia and fatigue.
At Eastern Regional Medical Center, Shoop and a team of oncologists, naturopathic doctors, nutritionists, mind-body specialists and therapists use a whole-person approach to ensure optimal nutrition for their patients. This approach is based on the idea that cancer does not affect one part of the body but rather the body as a whole - as well as all aspects of patients' lives.
CTCA's philosophy of all-inclusive care centralized under one roof is the result of another man's love for his mother: Founder Richard J. Stephenson started CTCA in Illinois after seeing the unsatisfactory care his own mother received when she battled cancer. CTCA also has facilities in Illinois, Oklahoma, Arizona and Washington state.
The objectives of what CTCA calls its "Mother Standard of Care" are to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and to treat patients as they would their own loved ones.
Not surprisingly, Shoop enthusiastically embraced that approach. "Every single person can make a difference," he said, adding that he extends that philosophy to how he treats his 52-person staff as well.
Read the entire story here.
Philadelphia Daily News
JACK SHOOP has owned several top-rated restaurants and is one of just 61 chefs in the United States who've been certified as master chefs by the American Culinary Federation. When the opportunity for a major career change arose, however, Shoop let his mom be his guide.
Less than two years ago, Shoop, a Harley-riding Kensington native, traded in his Florida restaurant gigs to become the executive chef for Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Eastern Regional Medical Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Shoop stresses the clinical and spiritual importance of food in the meals he prepares daily for about 800 cancer patients, their families and CTCA employees.
Shoop's decision to make such a significant career switch was due in large part to his mother's passing. "Even though my mother didn't die of cancer, I just felt like she was telling me to do it," Shoop recalled recently.
Hurricane Katrina played a part, too.
In 2005, the hurricane hit Shoop's restaurant in Destin, Fla. - the fourth such storm to strike the business. At the same time, his father passed away. The coinciding events prompted Shoop to return to Philadelphia to help his newly widowed mother.
She died unexpectedly a few months later.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, Shoop began working at Viking Cooking School in Bryn Mawr. That led to him doing a cooking demonstration for CTCA leaders as a part of a team-building workshop they attended. CEO John McNeil approached Shoop after the event and asked him to join CTCA.
Working in a hospital, he sometimes finds himself thinking of his mother's passing, and it's brought him to tears. "I never cried in my restaurant. Here I've cried about a thousand times," he said. But the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world outweighs any emotional strain from his job.
Shoop sees his work as a way to "redirect passion for the culinary arts to better the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers."
Certainly the job brings special challenges. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 40 percent of cancer-related deaths are due to malnutrition. Cancer and its treatments can affect a patient's ability to taste and smell and lead to nausea, trouble absorbing nutrients, anorexia and fatigue.
At Eastern Regional Medical Center, Shoop and a team of oncologists, naturopathic doctors, nutritionists, mind-body specialists and therapists use a whole-person approach to ensure optimal nutrition for their patients. This approach is based on the idea that cancer does not affect one part of the body but rather the body as a whole - as well as all aspects of patients' lives.
CTCA's philosophy of all-inclusive care centralized under one roof is the result of another man's love for his mother: Founder Richard J. Stephenson started CTCA in Illinois after seeing the unsatisfactory care his own mother received when she battled cancer. CTCA also has facilities in Illinois, Oklahoma, Arizona and Washington state.
The objectives of what CTCA calls its "Mother Standard of Care" are to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and to treat patients as they would their own loved ones.
Not surprisingly, Shoop enthusiastically embraced that approach. "Every single person can make a difference," he said, adding that he extends that philosophy to how he treats his 52-person staff as well.
Read the entire story here.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A Gift For a Teacher
LITTLETON - "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy." This line is from one of the most famous newspaper editorials ever written, and it was inspired by a child.
Children have the ability to inspire the best in all of us. The students at Normandy Elementary School in Littleton have taken their love for a teacher to a new level, inspiring their parents, educators and members of the community.
Two students who happen to be sisters, started "The True Gift Fund" to help fourth grade teacher Jewely Del Duca.
Del Duca is fighting stage 4 colon cancer. She is 35 years old.
While undergoing chemotherapy she has remained in the classroom. Del Duca says her students keep her mind off cancer and provide her with encouragement and support.
This experience has provided students many other important lessons too. Del Duca is hoping to qualify for HIPEC treatment (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) which involves a surgical procedure where a heated form of chemotherapy is delivered to the abdominal cavity.
Three times, Del Duca's insurance company denied her request for the expensive treatment.
Her story appeared on 9NEWS and CNN and the insurance company reconsidered.
Unfortunately, Del Duca is still waiting for consensus from doctors to get the treatment. In the meantime, her family and friends are raising money to cover the medical costs.
Del Duca's battle has had a significant impact on Jenna and Jocie Bradford. Jenna, who is in the sixth grade, remembers Mrs. Del Duca as her favorite teacher. Jocie is in Del Duca's class this year.
When Jenna started to think about Christmas this year she came up with an idea.
"I thought it would be better to instead of getting Christmas presents this year, that we donate all the money to Mrs. Del Duca," said Jenna.
In addition, she decided to ask every student at Normandy to consider giving up one gift and donate to the fund.
Jocie liked the idea too, although she was a wee bit concerned about giving up every present.
"I thought it was a good idea, but then I was like, there's going to be no presents. Then I started thinking of Santa and my grandma and grandpa and I knew that they would get me presents. And I was OK with that, because my room is just a cluttered mess," she said.
Del Duca was astounded by the children's selflessness. To give up Christmas presents is a big deal.
"To give it up for another human being is such a mark of empathy," added Del Duca.
The students have a Christmas tree just outside the front office with a message about the True Gift Fund. Everyone who donates is given a frog ornament, because Mrs. Del Duca collects stuffed frogs.
So far, the fund is up to $6,000, with a goal of $25,000.
Del Duca says she cried the first time she saw the tree. It reminded her how important the students are in her fight to survive.
"It definitely boosts my energy to so this. The fight, I know I'm not in it by myself, I know that my friends and family want me to fight and they're fighting with me," she said.
You can help too. You can contribute by writing a check to The Jewely Del Duca Fund at any Bellco Credit Union.
(Copyright KUSA*TV. All rights reserved.)
Children have the ability to inspire the best in all of us. The students at Normandy Elementary School in Littleton have taken their love for a teacher to a new level, inspiring their parents, educators and members of the community.
Two students who happen to be sisters, started "The True Gift Fund" to help fourth grade teacher Jewely Del Duca.
Del Duca is fighting stage 4 colon cancer. She is 35 years old.
While undergoing chemotherapy she has remained in the classroom. Del Duca says her students keep her mind off cancer and provide her with encouragement and support.
This experience has provided students many other important lessons too. Del Duca is hoping to qualify for HIPEC treatment (Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy) which involves a surgical procedure where a heated form of chemotherapy is delivered to the abdominal cavity.
Three times, Del Duca's insurance company denied her request for the expensive treatment.
Her story appeared on 9NEWS and CNN and the insurance company reconsidered.
Unfortunately, Del Duca is still waiting for consensus from doctors to get the treatment. In the meantime, her family and friends are raising money to cover the medical costs.
Del Duca's battle has had a significant impact on Jenna and Jocie Bradford. Jenna, who is in the sixth grade, remembers Mrs. Del Duca as her favorite teacher. Jocie is in Del Duca's class this year.
When Jenna started to think about Christmas this year she came up with an idea.
"I thought it would be better to instead of getting Christmas presents this year, that we donate all the money to Mrs. Del Duca," said Jenna.
In addition, she decided to ask every student at Normandy to consider giving up one gift and donate to the fund.
Jocie liked the idea too, although she was a wee bit concerned about giving up every present.
"I thought it was a good idea, but then I was like, there's going to be no presents. Then I started thinking of Santa and my grandma and grandpa and I knew that they would get me presents. And I was OK with that, because my room is just a cluttered mess," she said.
Del Duca was astounded by the children's selflessness. To give up Christmas presents is a big deal.
"To give it up for another human being is such a mark of empathy," added Del Duca.
The students have a Christmas tree just outside the front office with a message about the True Gift Fund. Everyone who donates is given a frog ornament, because Mrs. Del Duca collects stuffed frogs.
So far, the fund is up to $6,000, with a goal of $25,000.
Del Duca says she cried the first time she saw the tree. It reminded her how important the students are in her fight to survive.
"It definitely boosts my energy to so this. The fight, I know I'm not in it by myself, I know that my friends and family want me to fight and they're fighting with me," she said.
You can help too. You can contribute by writing a check to The Jewely Del Duca Fund at any Bellco Credit Union.
(Copyright KUSA*TV. All rights reserved.)
Friday, March 7, 2008
Happy St. Baldrick's Day
The Indianapolis Jaycees are sponsoring a benefit concert to raise money for pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick's Day Foundation.
100% of all donations will go to the St. Baldricks Day Foundation.
The St. Baldrick's Day Concert sponsored by the Indianapolis Jaycees will be held on Monday, March 24th at Indianapolis Fireman's Union Hall at 748 Massachusetts Avenue from 7pm until 10pm.
The evening will include Algren, a great band from the Chicagoland area, ComedySportz as the Master of Ceremonies, and the infamous head shaving ceremony.
The head shaving ceremony is an act of solidarity supporting children with cancer. St. Baldricks Day is an event to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Algren can be heard online at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/algrenmusic.
In order to make this event a success, we need your support. The event is open and free to the public, but donations are welcomed. This is a 21 and over event.
For more information please call Traci or Michael at 490-9285 or e-mail msargent14@gmail.com .
100% of all donations will go to the St. Baldricks Day Foundation.
The St. Baldrick's Day Concert sponsored by the Indianapolis Jaycees will be held on Monday, March 24th at Indianapolis Fireman's Union Hall at 748 Massachusetts Avenue from 7pm until 10pm.
The evening will include Algren, a great band from the Chicagoland area, ComedySportz as the Master of Ceremonies, and the infamous head shaving ceremony.
The head shaving ceremony is an act of solidarity supporting children with cancer. St. Baldricks Day is an event to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
Algren can be heard online at http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/algrenmusic.
In order to make this event a success, we need your support. The event is open and free to the public, but donations are welcomed. This is a 21 and over event.
For more information please call Traci or Michael at 490-9285 or e-mail msargent14@gmail.com .
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