About Marshal
Marshal Robert Fisher, age 17, passed away on May 14, 2018, in Tallahassee, Florida, after a four-year struggle with a form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. Marshal was born August 17, 2000 in Tallahassee.
Marshal and Betsy Fisher, of Tallahassee, became a forever family through the Leon County court system when adoption became official on September 17, 2013. The following May, Marshal was diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
He had an abiding interest in nature – all things animal and insect. He was an imaginative artist, creator and builder, from taking art lessons to building Legos and model kits. He also enjoyed flying remote control airplanes, riding his recumbent bike, fishing and playing tennis.
Countless people helped Marshal on this journey; doctors, nurses, caregivers, students, friends, and family. Marshal and Betsy were an Ambassador Family for Children’s Miracle Network at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.
Marshal never met a stranger and always made the underdog feel appreciated.
About the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program fund
The Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program aims to improve access to care for patients ages 15 to 39 by addressing unique medical and psychosocial needs of these patients as they navigate through their cancer journey.
Your donation will support creating and growing a program that serves kids and young adults like Marshal in a variety of ways:
- Supplying age-appropriate activities for adolescents and young adults in conjunction with the UF Health Child Life program.
- Bridging the transition when a child turns 18 and becomes “independent”
- Education with regard to specific cancer and how treatment may impact physical, psychological, developmental health
- Comprehensive psychosocial evaluation and support
- Assistance with continued health insurance coverage for cancer treatment and surveillance
- Help with transition of a childhood cancer survivor to adult survivorship multi-disciplinary team
- Fertility counseling before starting cancer therapy and after treatment, psychosocial support and multidisciplinary care
- Communication challenges like survivorship vs. end-of-life discussions related to young adults and adolescents
- Provide social networking and supportive opportunities among AYA patients