Every cancer journey brings surprise twists and turns — even unexpected blessings. The greatest gift amid David Stone’s six-year battle with colon cancer was getting to know the oncology nurses of the WVU Cancer Institute.
“Those nurses were and are amazing,” his wife, Janet, said. “In every session Dave had, they put us at ease. The way we were treated, we felt like family. They laughed with us. They cried with us. We appreciated them so much each time, and we looked forward to seeing them. Who looks forward to going to a chemotherapy infusion? But we did.”
The Morgantown couple was inspired to give back to the nursing staff regardless of the outcome. Following Dave’s passing in August 2023, Janet Stone is showing her gratitude with a $50,000 gift to support oncology nurses at the WVU Cancer Institute in her husband’s memory.
The David R. Stone Memorial Endowment provides funds to aid oncology nurses interested in attending the annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress, the largest conference dedicated to oncology nursing. The fund also supports the purchase of amenities for the oncology nurses’ workroom or lounge.
“The David R. Stone Memorial Endowment is a much-deserved tribute and acknowledgment of the incredible work done by the nurses at the WVU Cancer Institute,” Hannah Hazard-Jenkins, M.D., executive chair and director of the WVU Cancer Institute, said. “Every nurse here has a profound dedication to their patients and their families; they understand the fear and anxiety a cancer diagnosis generates, and they have an innate skill to create a calm and compassionate environment. I am so grateful to David Stone’s family for providing resources for our highly skilled nursing team that will allow them to continue to provide elite-level care to the patients who walk through our doors.”
Janet said her husband of 48 years was a charismatic, people person. After earning a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation from WVU, he worked for the Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation before launching a successful career in sales. He had a great memory and a gift for storytelling that helped him build connections easily, both personally and professionally.
Dave was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2017, after he went to a walk-in clinic because he wasn’t feeling well and was admitted to the hospital. He underwent surgery and battled serious complications before choosing the WVU Cancer Institute for continued treatment with Sobha Kurian, M.D.
“We knew from the get-go that coming to the WVU Cancer Institute was the right decision,” Janet said. “We got along well with his doctor, and we could see that she was a brilliant oncologist. From that point on, we had confidence, and it’s so important to have confidence in your healthcare provider. Plus, we were treated so well.”
Janet said Dave continued to live life to the fullest — enjoying golf trips to Ireland and Pinehurst, vacations to Italy and Napa Valley, and other opportunities to travel with friends and family — as he went through three rounds of chemotherapy, each requiring four-hour infusions every two weeks for several months.
She knows he would appreciate her efforts to celebrate the oncology nurses who contributed to his care.
“When you go in, you’re so overwhelmed — emotionally and physically,” Janet said. “We were met with such compassion from those nurses. I know they’re well-trained and skilled at what they do, but their innate understanding made us feel so welcome and at home. We really never felt that way any place else, at any time in our lives.”
Janet said the experience helped them both recognize how demanding and costly cancer care can be — and the overwhelming need for philanthropic support.
“You want to see the WVU Cancer Institute succeed and continue to do good work,” she said. “People often want that, but they don’t know what to do. It takes a lot of money to do what they have to do, from day-to-day work-ups to the research they do so well. It’s where your heart leads you. If you can give, you should give.”
To learn more about supporting the WVU Cancer Institute, visit WVUCancer.org/Giving or contact Director of Development Brandon Cook at bcook@wvuf.org for more information.
The Stone gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliated entities.