Summer Love | CAUSETEAM

Story

We call it “the shift.” For most of this spring, Summer hadn’t felt like herself. She contributed this feeling to the combination of the stress of college finals, triathlon training, and allergies. After weeks of medicine that didn’t help with the symptoms, an oncologist diagnosed her with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It was surreal. The moment that happened, everything shifted in Summer’s life. Instead of talking about upcoming triathlons and summer trips, we are talking about chemotherapy and treatment options. 

 

Summer is a collegiate athlete at Central College where she is majoring in pre-med. She just finished her sophomore year. For the summer months, she works at MVHS where she is part of the Strength and Speed Camp each morning from 5:30-10:30 and then heads to coaching softball practices/games after that. She impacts multiple student-athletes in Mount Vernon and Pella, where she coaches volleyball. She also works uptown at The Local and dog sits for multiple families in her free time. She does it all. She now has the choice of treating this cancer diagnosis as adversity or an opportunity to impact those around her with positivity and faith.

 

Summer’s world may have shifted, but her faith has not. As her uncle, Tim, stated, “She is one of the most disciplined and toughest competitors. She has been an overcomer all her life. She has built an awesome support team by the way she has lived her life – from family, friends, teammates, and communities that love her. She will not walk this alone. She is a Child of God and loved by the King of Heaven and Earth. Nothing can separate her from the love of Christ. Not even cancer.” In HIM, she will rise.

 

Summer will meet with the oncology team this week to determine if the cancer is stage 2 or if it has shifted into her bone marrow, which would confirm stage 4. Her family will travel to the Mayo Clinic on July 5 for a second opinion and go from there. Chemo treatments are scheduled to start on July 7 and last for as long as needed. This diagnosis may have changed what this summer and the upcoming school year will look like, but we know Summer will continue to bless others in all she does. The verse on her support shirt is one she holds dear to her heart. Help us support Summer and her family…they will not be fighting this battle alone.

 

40% of all product purchases (these custom tees and/or any of our CAUSETEAM branded merch) will be donated to the Brand family to help with medical bills they are sure to face. 100% of all cash donations will go to the family as well. (Minus the standard credit card fees.)

Also, if you would willing to bless the Brand family with a meal, please use this link to sign up for a date: https://mealtrain.com/mmn0d3

Thanks so much for your support.