While no husband or son should have to experience the loss of a wife or mother, Douglas Alsdorf and his son Garrett are committed to ensuring no one else has to experience the tragedy they did. Eleven years ago, Douglas and his wife Laura, who met at The Ohio State University, relocated back to central Ohio from Los Angeles to live closer to family again. Douglas passed up a prestigious position at UCLA to begin teaching geophysics at Ohio State, and Laura left her dream job with Mattel to focus on starting a family. But within a few months of beginning their new life in the Midwest, Laura was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Initially, the couple considered moving back to Los Angeles for care, as Douglas would accept only the “best treatment, period,” for his wife, and he believed that he would find it out there. But after researching many options, Douglas and Laura decided to seek treatment locally at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James). Both were impressed with the quality of care and expertise at the OSUCCC – James, but they decided to travel to Houston for a second opinion. Douglas recalls the physician there telling him point blank, “I wish we had the clinical trials that The James has.” In the end, Douglas, Laura and Garrett stayed in Columbus. “We didn’t move because The James is that good,” Douglas says. Laura began fighting a six-year battle against cancer with the support of the OSUCCC – James and her family. A loving mother and wife, she was more concerned with her family’s well being than with her own. Douglas remembers her telling him: “This cancer is unfair to you and unfair to Garrett.” But Douglas never heard her complain of it being unfair to her. Laura continued treatment through 2011, when she learned that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs. She died soon after. Douglas and Garrett recall that, during Laura’s final days of treatment, she was “incredibly courageous” and “selfless.” Garrett, who is now in middle school, loves to play video games, perform in plays and hike outdoors with his father. He remembers his mother as someone who was caring and brave, and who “never really worried about herself.” Douglas, along with Laura’s brother Don, established a fund in memory of Laura shortly after her death. The motivation for their giving stems from Douglas’ passion for funding research and from his desire to express gratitude for the compassionate care that Laura received from the staff at the Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center. “The nurses were outstanding and memorable. One nurse, in particular, asked if she could paint Laura’s nails as Laura was too weak to do them herself. That is just one example of the remarkable level of care shown to patients at The James,” Douglas says. “The experience of giving back became a cathartic release. It allowed me to heal. I didn’t know I would feel that way,” he adds.   The money raised through Laura’s fund benefits the research of Sameek Rowchowdury, MD, PhD, at the OSUCCC – James, which focuses on genetic typing of cancer cells—work that could lead to the development of treatments specific to each patient’s genetic makeup.   Over the years, Laura’s fund has reached $117, 000, thanks to the incredible generosity of friends and family. Douglas hopes one day to see her fund surpass $1 million. He also plans to publish a book in her honor. What started as a collection of therapeutic blog postings has turned into a memoir about “life, love, death and dating.” All proceeds from the book would be donated to the fund in Laura’s name.  To donate to The Laura J. Behrendt-Alsdorf Endowment Fund, visit our website here.