We Take A Team Approach

Informing you about your options

Officers

Gregory J. Cantwell – Founder / President

Greg Cantwell was 30 years old when he was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma

(a primary brain tumor). Even though Greg had the support from his family and friends he didn’t know anyone that could relate to the fight he was about to embark on or beaten the same type of cancer.

Greg’s Mission provides support, HOPE, education, current resources and awareness to patients suffering from brain tumors especially Glioblastoma Multiforme (a grade 4 primary brain tumor) via phone, email, Skype and personal visits. Greg has dedicated his life to making sure that no person diagnosed with a brain tumor has to go through it alone and that no family or caregiver goes without support.

Kellie Lindblom - Treasurer

When Greg approached me about joining the board of Greg’s Mission I could not say “yes” fast enough. January 15th 2007 was a day that forever changed my life as well as my whole family. It was Martin Luther King Day. Even the bank is closed but we have an annual team building retreat every year. I had just finished lunch and heard my cell phone beep, I had a message. I started listening to it and it was my sister Kim. “You need to come home as soon as you can, we think Mom has had a stroke” the words confused me, I stood up made my way to my boss and said I need to leave my Mom has had a stroke. I was shaking so much he drove me to my house. My brother Kevin and I along with our families made the silent trip to Marshalltown and met our Dad, sister and Mom at the hospital. Initial MRI readings confirmed a brain tumor. They felt it was 95% benign. Mom would have surgery in about 10 days and they thought everything would be ok. January 25th after 9 hours of surgery her doctor gathered us all (myself, my siblings and my father) in a room and said, “I am sorry your Mom’s tumor is very different than I had first thought, she has a Stage IV Glioblastoma Multiforme.” Our lives were forever changed from that moment on. The most important journey we would take had just begun.

I would love to help Greg in his mission to find a long-term treatment or even a cure for a GBM, but until then Greg’s experiences, comfort and fight is needed more and more each day to help those facing this terrible type of cancer. Supporting Greg’s Mission will help ensure other individuals, families and caregivers who experience a day like our January 25th are not alone.

Kellie a native of Marshalltown, Iowa is involved in the Cedar Rapids community through volunteering at numerous events and fundraisers for local charities. Her daughter Jasmyne is her pride and joy. Jasmyne attends Wartburg College. Building relationships and helping others are cornerstones Kellie takes real pride in.

Lisa Cantwell , MHA, CPHQ - Secretary

Lisa has healthcare experience both personally and professionally. Personally, Lisa is now living a healthy life after receiving a living donor liver transplant in 2005 and continues to stay current with advances in Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes, which she also manages on a daily basis.

Lisa received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Iowa, a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. Lisa is now a Quality Engineer in the Adult and Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Multiple Myeloma Program at University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is responsible for quality assurance, compliance and operational improvement of all clinical activities as well as the development of quality improvement processes and quality controls. 

She serves as the Chair of the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Quality Council is the primary accreditation specialist for the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.