Each year, the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute invites past and current patients to submit unique designs for a t-shirt. This annual program was created as a way to honor cancer patients while raising funds for the Transformative Cancer Care Fund. This year, Faith April Stuck put her incredible talents to work, paying forward the gift of hope.
“I've had a journey that has brought me to Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute,” April said. “Back in 2024, I was experiencing some symptoms, including pelvic pain and bleeding. I went to my doctor and they did an ultrasound, where they saw some abnormalities.” April then had a biopsy. “I had a lot of prayer, hoping they wouldn’t find anything, but the pathology indicated that I had endometrial adenocarcinoma grade B.”
April’s first thoughts were, understandably, those of fear. “I was all alone when I read the results, and I thought, what do I do? Do I make my affairs? I have cancer.”
But April wouldn’t have to navigate her journey alone any longer. “The next day, the doctor called me. I came in. He told me he was going to send me to the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute, where there was an excellent doctor, Bogna Brzezinska, MD.”
Within a matter of a couple weeks, April saw Dr. Brzezinska and the Oncology: Gynecologic Care Team. “She described the innovative actions that needed to be taken,” April said. “And I remember her saying, ‘April, we gotta get this sucker out of you.’”
On September 16, 2024, April had a laparoscopic hysterectomy. During the procedure, Dr. Brzesinska discovered April also had uterine cancer. Based on recommendations from the Tumor Board, April underwent brachial therapy, which involved three sessions. She did not need any chemotherapy or radiation. April moved into surveillance, seeing the team every three months for checkups.
A design is born
Each year, the Parkview Health Foundation partners with the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute to host a T-shirt contest. Once a design is selected, the shirts are available for purchase, with proceeds going to The Transformative Cancer Care Fund. The fund helps patients during their cancer treatment journey.
“I noticed that there were incredible shirts that the staff and people were wearing,” April said. “And in my heart, I was like, I want to help bring hope to other people.” She began sketching, which is a talent April has had for many years. “I thought about how the sun rises. And about a new day. The design I made was a sun rising up and on the top it says hope and then the bottom part of it says courageous. Where the rays are coming out, there's like little ribbons to depict different types of cancers. But on the top is a larger ribbon representing all cancers, which is a light purple, which also means royalty, victorious and overcoming.”
“A cancer diagnosis changes all aspects of your life,” Dr. Brzezinska said. “It changes how you feel, it changes how you act, and it changes how well you're able to take care of yourself or others in your family. In addition to the support and care that we provide here, it's really important to have other people that understand what you're going through. Having patients supporting other patients is just crucial to that because it makes them feel like they’re not alone.”
April knows that her journey isn’t over. It’s one month, one checkup at a time, but she’s optimistic. For herself and others. “And if you're thinking well, she must have a lot of faith, I’ll tell you it tests a lot of that hope,” April said. “I had to hang on to that. I had to hang on every day, and I want to encourage other people to have courageous hope so they can be more than a survivor. They can be an overcomer.”
Get your shirt
The 2025 PFCI T-shirt is now available for purchase online and at the Parkview Regional Medical Center and Parkview Hospital Randallia gift shops. T-shirts are available starting at $20 plus sales tax.
When purchasing the T-shirt, you can also choose to donate to the Parkview Health Foundation’s Transformative Cancer Care Fund (TCCF), which helps patients by providing wigs and beanies, nutritional supplements, gas cards, Community Harvest Food Bank vouchers and more.
