If you have an inspirational story about Moffitt Cancer Center, please share it with us.
Just email to Marsha Droste at: marshadroste@moffittpinellaspartners.com.
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A Personal Story
by Lawrence and Vevie Dimmitt
by Lawrence and Vevie Dimmitt
Lawrence H. Dimmitt III is dealer principal at Dimmitt Chevrolet
in Clearwater and a major donor to the Moffitt Foundation. He and
his wife, Genevieve “Vevie” Dimmitt, talked about his experiences
as a prostate-cancer survivor and his relationship with Moffitt.
Lawrence H. Dimmitt III: About 15 years ago, I thought I was in
prime physical condition. I was a competitive runner, doing two
marathons per year. I had a physical exam and a PSA [blood test for
prostate cancer], and the score was abnormally high. Dad had prostate
cancer and had surgery at age 75, and my mother and her two sisters
died of breast cancer. My doctor sent me to a urologist in Clearwater
and he [did all the tests]. Finally, they said, ‘You’ve got it.’ One always
hopes they’ll remove it surgically and the story will be over, but at Johns
Hopkins they told me it had entered my lymph system.
I came home and, thinking maybe there was some other way out of this,
went to a friend of mine, who was also fighting this battle. He took us
over to Moffitt, to the radiation [therapy unit]. We wound up going to the
University of Michigan for hormonal therapy.
in Clearwater and a major donor to the Moffitt Foundation. He and
his wife, Genevieve “Vevie” Dimmitt, talked about his experiences
as a prostate-cancer survivor and his relationship with Moffitt.
Lawrence H. Dimmitt III: About 15 years ago, I thought I was in
prime physical condition. I was a competitive runner, doing two
marathons per year. I had a physical exam and a PSA [blood test for
prostate cancer], and the score was abnormally high. Dad had prostate
cancer and had surgery at age 75, and my mother and her two sisters
died of breast cancer. My doctor sent me to a urologist in Clearwater
and he [did all the tests]. Finally, they said, ‘You’ve got it.’ One always
hopes they’ll remove it surgically and the story will be over, but at Johns
Hopkins they told me it had entered my lymph system.
I came home and, thinking maybe there was some other way out of this,
went to a friend of mine, who was also fighting this battle. He took us
over to Moffitt, to the radiation [therapy unit]. We wound up going to the
University of Michigan for hormonal therapy.
| Steering Committee Members Scott Andringa Brian Aungst Rob Bauer Ernestine Bean Beverly Billiris Bruce Bokor Joe Burdette * Kimberly Cass * Suzy Circle * Aaron Cohn Gary Conners William Crown Jodie Cunningham Ed & Marsha Droste * Holly Duncan Ron & Ann Duncan Jackie Edgington * Fred Fisher Doug Graska Lucy Grinnell Bob “Gator” Handley * Lindsay Hardee Mary Harvey * Bill Maher Judy Mitchell Pam Muma Bob Passwaters * Ron Petrini Leah Ramker * Kim Roberts David Ruppel Leslie Schipani- Anderson * Karen Seel Julie Shannon * Covington Sharp Gary Skinner Laverne Smith Richard Spayde Susan Stern Bill Swisher * Dan Walker * MPP Executive Committee Become a member Contact Pinellas Partners today! Our Mission |
Vevie Dimmitt: When this happened, the prostate cancer program at Moffitt had not
yet picked up steam. But that has changed. Now, we’re very interested in the fact that
Moffitt has gathered all these [experts] and is becoming the top of the cutting edge in
research, gathering information, and all the different approaches to therapy. In our span
of fighting the disease, there have been many, many changes. And Moffitt is keeping up
with the changes.
Lawrence: That’s the kind of reputation I hope to help Moffitt achieve: If someone
discovers they have prostate cancer, the first thing that pops up in their mind is Moffitt.
They’ve got one doctor who does robotic surgery, or if you want to go on hormonal
therapy instead, they’ve got a fellow who studied at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
And so on.
The history of my support for Moffitt is directly related to Ed [Droste Jr., chairman of
the Moffitt Foundation Board of Directors]. Our mutual interest is developing Moffitt as
a prostate-cancer powerhouse in the Southeast. Ed has a dear friend who is fighting the
same battle as I am. He and I kind of pushed each other [in giving to the Moffitt
Foundation], and I thought, ‘If he can, I can.’ ”
yet picked up steam. But that has changed. Now, we’re very interested in the fact that
Moffitt has gathered all these [experts] and is becoming the top of the cutting edge in
research, gathering information, and all the different approaches to therapy. In our span
of fighting the disease, there have been many, many changes. And Moffitt is keeping up
with the changes.
Lawrence: That’s the kind of reputation I hope to help Moffitt achieve: If someone
discovers they have prostate cancer, the first thing that pops up in their mind is Moffitt.
They’ve got one doctor who does robotic surgery, or if you want to go on hormonal
therapy instead, they’ve got a fellow who studied at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
And so on.
The history of my support for Moffitt is directly related to Ed [Droste Jr., chairman of
the Moffitt Foundation Board of Directors]. Our mutual interest is developing Moffitt as
a prostate-cancer powerhouse in the Southeast. Ed has a dear friend who is fighting the
same battle as I am. He and I kind of pushed each other [in giving to the Moffitt
Foundation], and I thought, ‘If he can, I can.’ ”
Vevie: I believe Ed and Marsha Droste are the ones who showed the passion to support Moffitt, through their enthusiasm and
through the wonderful program [the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration in late 2008] that invited specialists from all over
the world to be open to all the different approaches in all the major cancer centers, and not just be hoarding their own ideas.
That was very impressive and a great learning opportunity. Lawrence and I had friends and family members who had been to
Moffitt for other cancers and had amazing results.
So we already knew what a fine place it was and had been thinking about gravitating there in our support. But we live here [in
Pinellas County] and are loyal to our own place. So it is exciting that Moffitt is partnering with Morton Plant. Your outreach is
wonderful. It really does work for our whole community, not just for Tampa. We’re blessed to have it and its connection with
the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.
One important thing we didn’t know when this all began and that we want people to be aware of: If you have a history in your
family of either prostate cancer or breast cancer, you should be checked early. You shouldn’t wait until you’re 50.
through the wonderful program [the Advanced Prostate Cancer Collaboration in late 2008] that invited specialists from all over
the world to be open to all the different approaches in all the major cancer centers, and not just be hoarding their own ideas.
That was very impressive and a great learning opportunity. Lawrence and I had friends and family members who had been to
Moffitt for other cancers and had amazing results.
So we already knew what a fine place it was and had been thinking about gravitating there in our support. But we live here [in
Pinellas County] and are loyal to our own place. So it is exciting that Moffitt is partnering with Morton Plant. Your outreach is
wonderful. It really does work for our whole community, not just for Tampa. We’re blessed to have it and its connection with
the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.
One important thing we didn’t know when this all began and that we want people to be aware of: If you have a history in your
family of either prostate cancer or breast cancer, you should be checked early. You shouldn’t wait until you’re 50.
| Lawrence Dimmitt |