Dear Family and Friends,
Since September 2007, you have followed my journey and encouraged, loved and supported me and my family!! We could not have done so well without our “village.” I cannot thank you enough for the love, prayers and energy you have sent our way. We absorbed this energy and love and it has carried us a long way. My family and I have discussed how we can use my experience with ovarian cancer to help other women and their loved ones. We talk often of how ovarian cancer is the silent cancer as its symptoms generally don’t show up until the cancer has spread. It is truly frightening. As I look out in the future, I dream of a time when women of all ages will have a reliable early detection test for ovarian cancer and more humane treatment for those woman with late stage ovarian cancer situations. Like most cancers, when caught early, ovarian cancer can be beaten. Unfortunately, today there is no test that is accurate or reliable so most women are diagnosed in late stages making ovarian cancer the most fatal form of gynecological cancer.
– Colleen Drury
Born October 2, 1954 in Chicago, IL. Colleen moved to Arizona when she was two months old. Her parents are Stan and Donna Bootz. She has eight siblings, two older sisters and five younger brothers.
Colleen attended St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix, Arizona where she graduated in 1972. Colleen earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arizona State University 1987. She started her nursing career working at St. Joseph’s Hospital where she stayed for approximately five years. She then transitioned into community/school nursing as well as legal nurse consulting for Renaud Cook Drury Mesaros, PA. After 24 years, Colleen retired from the firm on December 31, 2012.
Colleen met Bill on Halloween night in 1978, they fell in love quickly and were married only two months later on February 3rd, 1979. After 10 months of marriage, Nicole was born. Danielle followed only 51 weeks later and Michelle joined the family a few months after their third wedding anniversary. Little Billie Colleen, daughter number four, was born in 1988 and was the missing final piece to the Drury family.
Fast forwarding through many great years of living Osborn Road, enjoying the years of watching her daughters attend Tavan Elementary School, play tennis, swimming, St. Mary’s High School, Arcadia High School, Drake University and Drury University. The first addition came to her family when Nicole married Billy in 2004 and created the Cundiff branch. Only a year later, Michelle married Pete forming the “Drury/Batschelet” clan. In 2011, Danielle married Dan and created the Kamm branch.
On September 16, 2007, Colleen’s life changed forever. Shortly after vacation, Colleen began to experience some abdominal bloating, frequent urination, feeling of fullness after eating only a small portion of food, back pain and a few other “text book” symptoms. In mid-September she was diagnosed with stage 3-C Ovarian Cancer.
Although three doctors missed her diagnosis, she was blessed in many ways following this news. Through the grace of God she was directed down to Tucson to meet with Dr. Chambers, one of only four gynocological oncologist surgeons in Arizona at that time. Within only three weeks of the initial diagnosis she underwent a major debulking surgery which was extremely successful. While she opted out of a trial study, Colleen was pleased to know she was a candidate for and would be receiving the current gold standard in chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life
Colleen and her daughters blogged about their experience from 2007-2013. To read all about it, click here. After spending her final month in hospice care, Colleen passed away on February 23, 2013.
Colleen loved to exercise, travel, cook, and spend time with friends and family. She was an avid reader. She also gave the best hugs, just ask her grandkids (Chloe, Luke, Blake, and Caleb). Colleen served on the board of Colleen’s Dream Foundation with Nicole and her husband, Billy.
Inspired to carry on her legacy, her other daughters (Danielle, Michelle, and Billie) are actively involved in the foundation.