Stories Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Gray Matters Foundation

Lanette’s Story

“Let us tell you about Lanette, the Founder and President of the Gray Matters Foundation. We are her friends and supporters.” Lanette Veres was born in and grew up in Arizona, where the GrayMatters Foundation is based. After graduating from Maryvale High School she began her career in the banking industry. She married and became…

19 Years Ago Brain Surgery Began

It was the morning of 9-2-98 Micheal drove me to Barrow and we checked in to pre-op. Some things you never forget. My dad had given me a shirt that said don’t forget your dad loves you and it had his photo on the front so I made sure I was wearing that so he…

Brain Buddie Survivor Story: John Van Wagner

My name is John Van Wagner and May 30th 1995 after an 8.5 hour surgery I was told I had a menigioma brain tumor. It was benign but it wrapped around my facial nerve and left my face almost completly paralyzed. I had to endure reconstructive surgery and thankfully was able to regain some movement…

Lanette is a 2017 Hon Kachina Award Recipient

Congratulations to The Gray Matters Foundation’s own Lanette Veres a 2017 Hon Kachina Award Recipient! Presented in Phoenix, Arizona annually since 1977, the Hon – or healing – Kachina Volunteer Awards program is designed to honor people making significant volunteer contributions to the healthcare field and to increase public awareness about volunteerism. Out of 100 applicants, it is…

The Night Before My First Brain Surgery – 18 Years Ago

18 yrs ago tonight I would await my first brain surgery to take place bright and early in the morning. Micheal and I stayed at Hilton Suites near the hospital to make sure we were set for success in the morning. That evening I sat writing notes & cards for all my friends & family…

What We Do Wednesday

#whatwedowednesday Part of our mission is to encourage those battling brain tumors. One way we do this is after surgery Lanette personally delivers a blanket. If you don’t live locally we put together a personalized box of goodies to create a smile and send your way. Look at a donation we received to help with…

Grandma, the neurosurgeon, a tree and me…a story of deep-rooted friendship and love

I’m so pleased to be given the opportunity to share this story in the International Brain Tumour Alliance’s annual magazine, “Brain Tumour.” I got the chance to share this story about my neurosurgeon after sharing it in conversation. Grandma, the neurosurgeon, a tree and me … a story of deep-rooted friendship and love By Lanette Veres…

Thankful Thursday

THANKFUL THURSDAY: I can’t thank @E Joyce Rend Webb enough. She was the brain buddie who requested I be featured in the Card Maker Magazine back in 2011. The really cool part of this story was she’d been making and donating cards to the foundation in memory of her dear friend who had passed from a brain tumor…

When you listen do you hear?

This IF ONLY FOR ONE took place Friday Jan. 29 2016. I had a pretty busy morning starting with a meeting at BNI . I always try to maximize my time when at the hospital, today wasn’t any different. I was able to visit #babycarsonsdaddy, great news he is moved back to a regular room…

My Medical "IF ONLY FOR ONE"

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW: My true brain tumor journey started in 1992 when my grandma was diagnosed and in 9 wks died. My grandma was my first IFONLYFORONE. More about that on my website under my story. This BLOG is about my MEDICALIFONLYFORONE. It never occurred to me to count the one who…