Winter 2014 Collegium

Page 9

ACADEMICS Wegmans School of Pharmacy

every week, complete with whey powder to help him gain weight, since he has completely lost his appetite. And Dar, an on-campus Lackmann employee, gives him her homemade soup, a recipe she made for her mother while she was receiving chemotherapy treatments. Many people on campus have even been recorded on video sharing knock-knock jokes or just well wishes with Swigart— videos he watches while receiving his treatments. “I have been so humbled by everyone’s support, you just can’t imagine. The love and support from the Fisher community has been incredible.” he said.

Facebook and shared how much he had touched her life, and how much he means to her and fellow former campers. He said hundreds of people have contacted him with well wishes, and he has been added to prayer chains at a variety of churches. He credits his wife, family, and church family for giving him the abundance of support and his extra fight. “You have to fight, you can’t give up,” he says. “When you have that many people praying for you, something has to come from it. I believe that.” Swigart said he talks a lot about the Fisher family to people, because it’s a real thing. “We are more than colleagues here. We are a family. There is no place I can go on this campus without finding love,” he said.

Alumni from Faculty, staff, and students - with Swigart in the forefront - wore purple for National across the country Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month on November 1. have also shown their support by wearing “Team Swigart” pins at their workplace. At his first day of infusion therapy, he recalled how Pam Carzo, Swigart’s assistant, said he has never scared he was, waiting for his treatment. After shown his staff if he was having a down day and having blood work done, the oncology pharmacist, sometimes even seems more concerned with how who was a 2010 graduate of the School of Pharmacy, they have been affected by his illness. In fact, he has only missed one day of work since his diagnosis. came to the center to give Swigart a hug and prayers. Another alumnus is a pharmacist with the home health care company that helps to administer an at-home drug treatment. The alumnus sends along thoughts and prayers with the treatment nurse when she visits Swigart. But perhaps his best moment during treatment was when he heard from a child with whom he worked in the 1980s while he was a professor at the University of Nebraska. During that time, he co-founded and volunteered at a camp for children with cancer. One of those campers - now an adult - found Swigart on

“Even in the face of this health challenge, he has continued to be upbeat and positive. Just his presence here in the building has been a daily reminder of what perseverance looks like,” said Dr. Jennifer Mathews, Associate Professor. “Scott finds the bright side to everything and has reassured and comforted all of us.”

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