A Tribute to Sharon Gish Heiden

Sharon is a mother to our four children and my best friend. We met in 2004 and got married a year later. She found me when I was at a very low point in my life and made me remember who I was...and that life is a wonderful gift. She saved me and gave me the love and family I was searching for, something I will never be able to repay her for helping me find again.

Sharon was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma in April 2011, which rocked me to the core. She asked me to be the "Rock," a role she is so much better at than I am. Sharon has always been very active with the kids, especially the kids' schools and athletics. She runs an elite inline hockey club and is a USA Hockey Level 4 coach. Sharon also enjoys golf, tennis and swimming, but hasn't had the chance to enjoy those activities much over the past few years, with the kids and work taking up most of her time.

Sharon has three jobs: she is a mother, a sales and marketing director, and a realtor. She has been a realtor for 18 years, a mother for 15 years, and a sales and marketing director for one year. She is great at all of those jobs. I recently found out how hard one of those jobs is when she had to seek treatment in Boston while I stayed in Virginia trying to fill in the best I could.

On October 25th, Sharon came out of surgery, which was the second all-day surgery she had in four days, cancer and tumor FREE! She is up and walking, just a week after having part of her sacrum removed! She is amazing and determined to retake life - inspirational. Her strength and courage are unmatched, and she is and always will be my hero.

We have received so much love and support from our family and friends. I can honestly say that without you all we wouldn't have made it this far. We are so thankful you will be with us through the months ahead while Sharon restarts her life cancer-free.

I call Virginia my home today, but for 20 years I called Massachusetts my home, and that is where one of my kids was born. Now, Sharon has been reborn there, and we both have a special connection to the wonderful city of Boston and the medical staff at Massachusetts General Hospital. It's going to take a few months for her to be ready to come home again; I can't wait to see her walk through that door and neither can our children.

Donate in Sharon's Honor

Sharon's family has graciously requested that visitors consider donating to sarcoma research in her honor. The Initiative uses at least 97% of donations to fund promising, peer-reviewed research studies. If you would like to help with a tax-deductible donation, please consider donating by check, as checks incur no processing fees.

To donate by credit card, please fill out our short form so that we can target your donation appropriately. You will then be directed to our secure payment service where you can complete your donation (with a 2.9% processing fee). We will notify Sharon of your donation after it has been received.

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Copyright © 2011 Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.