Ohio State honors superstars of support every year through Step Up for Stefanie’s Champions, which recognizes caregivers who played vital roles in the cancer journeys of loved ones. Meet one of our 2021 Champions, Ron Passen, who was nominated by his wife, breast cancer survivor Jody. “A high-speed train ride” “I was deemed high risk when I was 31. Since then, I’ve been going to get screened every six months,” Jody says. “In October of 2018, my mammogram was clean. Then in June of 2019, when I had my MRI, that's when they found my tumor.” “I was playing in a charity golf outing,” Ron says. “I knew that she had had these scans and the biopsy, and we were just used to having a negative result, but she called me and said it was positive. At that point, there's an urgent need for as much information as possible, so I left immediately in the middle of the charity event. I'm sure the foursome is still wondering what happened to me because I just excused myself and I left.” “I tell people it was much like a very high-speed train ride because I was diagnosed June 12, my surgery was July 3, I started chemotherapy August 5, I believe, and then I started radiation October 28,” Jody says. “A rock like you can’t believe — there every step of the way” “We were only married a year-and-a-half when I was diagnosed, and he was a rock like you can't believe,” Jody says. “He drove me to everything, and he was the second set of ears that you absolutely need when you first get diagnosed because you're just so overwhelmed and everything's getting thrown at you very quickly. Ron was absolutely there every step of the way.” “I love her, number one,” Ron says.” Number two — being with her on a daily basis, you realize how impactful this is. I think even for the most confident person, having this diagnosis, the unknown, the uncertainty, it really shakes your world. I was the one who could monitor how she was feeling, whether she was tired and what she was up for.” “We knew this was the place we needed to be” “I absolutely knew the second I walked into the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center that that's where we belonged for my treatments and everything else,” Jody says. “That really differentiated Ohio State,” Ron adds. “Every element of the team — whether it was chemotherapy or surgery or radiation — knew exactly what the other parts were doing. “That first day, that's exactly what you need because we were so desperate for information. Ohio State did a great job of reviewing everything that we gave them. They double-checked the information and the lab results. We came away very confident in our plan, our physicians and our facilities, and we knew this was the place we needed to be.” “He really deserves it” “He's very deserving [of the Champions honor]. I know that there were lots of nominations, and I'm just very happy that he was selected,” Jody says. “I wouldn't have been able to make it through without him, and I'm very thankful and appreciative that he was there to support me and love me because it was not an easy road.” “Being elected to this was a total shock and surprise and an honor, and I'm very humbled by it,” Ron says. “This was about Jody and her journey, and just making sure that she had everything she needed. “I work in health care, and I've seen patients without champions. So, we've actively reached out for patients that don't have those advocates, and we volunteered to be there for them. We’re always more than willing to step up and help those patients because they need that. I mean, everybody needs that person, especially at that point in their life.” Honor Ron and other cancer caregivers by registering or the 2021 Virtual Step Up for Stefanie’s Champions Walk/Run.