Team USA sled hockey player shares importance of cancer research

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

At the age of 16, Hanna Jorgenson was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. After 27 rounds of chemotherapy she was finally cancer-free.

Now, at the age of 29, Jorgenson serves as an ambassador for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that works closely with leading pediatric oncologists to determine the most promising research to fund and that creates funding priorities to make the greatest impact for children with cancer.

Jorgenson, a Hugo resident, grew up in Rochester. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April 2010.

“It was extremely difficult. Growing up, I was super active, super healthy. I was really competitive playing soccer, so it definitely came as a complete shock because there were no warning signs, really. It came out of nowhere,” she explained.

She went to the doctor thinking it was likely some sort of sports injury. “It was a huge shock,” she said.

Jorgenson went through 10 rounds of chemotherapy to find out that her tumor hadn’t shrunk in size. Her best chance of survival was a hemipelvectomy, which was the amputation of her leg, hip and half of her pelvis. After having the surgery in June 2010, she went through another 17 rounds of chemotherapy to make sure there weren’t any cancer cells floating around in her body.

“I was quite small to begin with, so that amount of chemotherapy really took a huge toll on me. I lost a lot of weight, I lost all of my hair; and then going through that massive surgery after doing 10 rounds of chemo was also very difficult. I had little to no energy and I was just really sick,” she recalled. “It was extremely difficult physically. It was a battle.”

Despite the cancer battle, Jorgenson was able to graduate from high school with her class and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), where she double majored in communications and psychology. After graduating in 2016, she moved back home to Rochester, where she worked for a nonprofit organization while pursuing her master’s degree in communications. She now works in marketing for a company that provides speech devices to those with communication disorders. While at UMD, Jorgenson discovered sled hockey. “I fell in love with it … It was a lot of fun being able to find another sport to stay active. It is definitely something I missed after losing my leg, so I was really glad that I could find another outlet.”

Jorgenson spent four seasons (20162019) playing for the USA women’s Paralympic sled hockey team.

Two years ago, Jorgenson found out she has Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which is a genetic mutation in her TP53 gene that puts her at high risk for pretty much every type of cancer. Since her risk of breast cancer was nearly 99%, she decided to proactively get a prophylactic mastectomy.

“I’m very fortunate that I know that I have this mutation, but it’s definitely changed the way that I think about my health and just being able to do all the proactive measures has been a blessing,” she explained. “I feel like I’m always going into the doctor to get moles removed and do all these other things to try to stay on top of things, because we know that my risk is so high.”

Jorgenson is one of seven “honored kids” the St. Baldrick’s Foundation selected to serve as ambassadors in 2023, sharing the importance of funding childhood cancer research with the “Cancer-Free Isn’t Free” campaign in honor of National Cancer Survivor Month in June.

“They have a mission that’s very near and dear to my heart. Cancer research, especially childhood cancer research, is so underfunded, and so being an organization that really focuses on that was huge for me,” she said. “As a childhood cancer survivor myself, I know how difficult going through something like that is, and so being able to support organization that is really focusing on helping kids that are going through things like the things I went through, it was an easy answer for me to say yes, of course, I want to do this.”

How can you help? Jorgenson says people can share the mission, donate, organize events, attend events and advocate for childhood cancer research. For more information or ideas on how to get involved, visit www.stbaldricks.org.

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

By The Numbers

• 1 in 263 children will have cancer before they turn 20

• Every 2 minutes worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer

• 90% of kids with the most common type of cancer will live, thanks to research

• In 80% of kids, the cancer has already spread to other areas of the body by the time it is diagnosed

• Over 12 types of childhood cancers exist

• 99% of childhood cancer survivors have a chronic health problem by the time they are 50 and 96% have severe or lifethreatening conditions.

• 67 is the average age for a cancer diagnosis for adults, and 6 for children.

• 300,000: the number of children who are diagnosed with cancer worldwide every year

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Mahtomedi School Board Notes

• G overnmental bodies pay close attention to the health of their General Funds, which is where their operating money comes from. To be considered robust the minimum unassigned fund balance needs to be at least 8% of the total expenses, said Jeff Priess, director of finance and operations for the Mahtomedi District, in his report of the 2023-24 Preliminary Budget.

As of July 1 the fund balance is estimated to be $7.4 million, or 11.43% of the total expense. By June 30, 2024 the fund balance is expected to be $7.6 million, or 11.7% of the total expense. “So we’re looking healthy,” he said. The board approved the 2023-2024 Preliminary Budget and the 20222023 Fund 06 revisions.

• T he board is required to send an annual 10-year Long Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) Plan to the Minnesota Department of Education. The board approved the 2024-2025 LTFM Plan, which includes $1.5 million to work with on O. H. Anderson window replacement, health and safety improvements, new flooring in three buildings and HVAC work.

• I ntermediate District 916, of which the Mahtomedi District is a part, also has a LTFM plan for the 20242025 school year. The umbrella district has no levy authority, so its member districts contribute financial support. ISD 916 will have access to $431,000, of which the Mahtomedi district will pay 3.33%, or $14,000.

• D irector of Communications

Alice Seuffert gave a presentation on the history and terminology of the Strategic Plan, as well as the school board’s role and the process to finalize the plan. The board unanimously approved the Strategic Plan Results Statements, which “build learner agency through exceptional learning experiences; create an inclusive and equitable educational system that values diversity and honors individuality; ensure the social and emotional well-being of students and staff with an emphasis on mental wellness; foster trust and partnership among all staff, students, families, and community members and define, cultivate, and celebrate excellence in the many ways it is embodied in the diverse Zephyr community”.

• T he familiar star person logo seen on the district letterhead, its website and on social media will be replaced by the blue letter “M” as the district goes through a rebranding process. Focus groups met during the first week of May to come up with the new brand/ architecture logo. Board members looked at nine options. Seuffert’s department is finalizing the artwork and will publicly unveil the new logo when it is ready.

• D irector of Community Education

Kate Anderson and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Lead Coordinator

Erin Roche gave a power point presentation on what the SRTS has been working on for the past year. SRTS volunteers are working with residents and the cities of Mahtomedi, Willernie and Pine Springs to install infrastructure improvements, such as enhanced crossings, in front of schools along Warner Avenue S. and Co. Rd. 12. A three-way stop is proposed for 72nd Street and Warner Avenue. A pedestrian and traffic study has been requested of Washington County for Co. Rd. 12. On campus improvements would include a biking/walking route from Co. Rd. 12 to the high school and middle school, as well as an east-west bike route to Wildwood Elementary and a path between the middle school and 80th Street N., Roche said.

• T he board conducted the second reading the policies with minimal or no changes, including Policy 905 – Advertising, Policy 906 – Community Notification of Predatory Offenders and Policy 999 – Advisory Committees Involving Citizens.

• T he district continues to benefit from community largesse, after the board formally accepted donations totaling $48,098.97. Highlights include $31,167 from MAEF from grants, and $6,395.07 from private parties through the high school Nordic Ski fundraiser.

• At graduation, 13 students were recognized as national merit scholars, a record for Mahtomedi High School, said Superintendent Barb Duffrin in her report. In addition, eight graduates boasted a cumulative unweighted GPA of 4.0. Duffrin also honored the Passages Transition Program graduates and the pre-school Class of 2036 graduates. Seven sports teams competed at the state championship level, including State AA high jump champion, Owen Carlson.

• B oard Chair Stacey Stout read the Superintendent’s Evaluation Summary. The board was pleased with Duffrin’s implementation of the district’s goals and shared areas that the board would like to see expanded, Stout said. The board considers Duffrin to have met all the goals for the 2022-23 school year and looks forward to further advancement, Stout said.

The next School Board meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13 in the District Center Community Room, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave.