In collaboration with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, the Seahawks helped to host patients at a Seahawks practice as part of the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative. The Seahawks recognized six patients, some who have recently completed their cancer treatment and one who is celebrating 10 years cancer free. They each represent the six screenable cancers – breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate and skin.
Along with the practice visit, each patient was invited to our Crucial Catch game and was honored on the field during halftime and able to ring the Crucial Catch bell.
We took some time to honor and highlight each of their unique stories as they celebrate the completion of their cancer treatment this year.
Keegan Faust, Breast Cancer Survivor
Keegan was diagnosed before age 40, as a newlywed who was trying to start a family. The news was devastating, since it affected her ability at that time to start the family she wanted. At the same time, her diagnosis changed her life - she was inspired by the work of the oncology nurses who cared for her. As she was still finishing radiation therapy, she went back to school to seek her nursing degree. She is now 10 years cancer-free and has a beautiful baby boy named River, now almost 4, who she adopted with her husband. She works at Virginia Mason Medical Center serving cancer patients in the way she hopes allows them to feel cared for the way she did, when she received her treatment.
It was really special for her to ring the Crucial Catch bell at Lumen Field during the Crucial Catch game because this year marks 10 years cancer free and she actually never got to ring the bell in-hospital after her final treatment.
Keely McDowell, Cervical Cancer Survivor
Keely was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer after visiting the emergency room with acute symptoms. She was in a lot of pain, and waited until she could no longer ignore it. She was diagnosed in the emergency room.
As a young woman, once she began moving through her choices, her mother was by her side the entire time, and asked plenty of questions to get fully informed, so they could take back control of her situation. No matter when you become aware of your symptoms, taking action and seeking the care you need and deserve.
John Lemons, Skin Cancer Survivor
Q: When were you diagnosed with cancer and what was the diagnosis process like?
"I was diagnosed with a melanoma cancer by my dermatologist who was instrumental getting me over to the surgeon who removed melanoma from my chin. She did an excellent job and I'm thankful for her life saving operation.
I'm now finished with the melanoma operation and would like to thank my doctor for his constant concern and follow-up after the operation. He was my first line of defense. The care and doctors involved were exceptional, I could not have asked for a better team. My partner and friends and family were very supportive. I looked so bad after the operation and had to inject some humor into the situation. I told everyone I was (going) to be cast as a mummy in a film due to extreme bandaging of my head. Laughing at yourself helps!"
A: Who is your favorite players and one of your favorite Seahawks moments?
"Kam Chancellor was the most dominant player of the Legion of Boom."
"One of my favorite Seahawks plays was the first snap of the ball over Payton Manning's head into end zone when we beat Denver in the Super Bowl."
Ron Sylve, Prostate Cancer Patient
Q: When were you diagnosed with cancer and what was the diagnosis process like?
"I became aware of my cancer from a routine physical, and my urologist noticed that my PSA was elevated. We talked about it and she and I agreed we would find out what is going on. They identified through an MRI, some abnormal things, and the next step was to get a biopsy. I had the biopsies and came back positive. I met with the people at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health who would do the treatment and we talked about what I wanted. I am 78 years old and decided to do radiation and hormone treatment. I am currently in my 5th week of radiation treatment and taking medicine ongoing. I finished radiation October 21st. I have so much support from all my great friends. I get regular phone calls, people checking up on me. Having cancer, it's something you deal with - it's life. I've had excellent care. The people at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have been so supportive and I'm getting through this - it's not overwhelming."
Q: How has football impacted your life?
A: "I am a former football coach - junior league. Football has been a part of my life as long as I can remember, I played in high school and college. It's a game that I love, and Seahawks are my home team!"
Thomas Delius, Lung Cancer Survivor
Q: When were you diagnosed with cancer and what was the diagnosis process like?
A: "Having been a past smoker, my primary care doctor, recommended I enroll in the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health early detection lung cancer screening program. Due to my smoking history, I met the research study qualifications. I had annual CT screenings for about 10 years. This April the CT scan showed a change in a couple of nodules in the left lower lobe of my lung. This indicated probable signs of cancer. I underwent surgery at the end of May to robotically remove and evaluate the nodules which were cancerous. These nodules were excised, and the lymphatics were examined and free of cancer. Because of this early detection and surgical treatment no further cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy was needed. My quality of life and breathing are fantastic and I can't thank the pulmonary specialists. Also, the appreciation I have for the medical community providing care at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle. I thank my wife Claudette for all her steadfast support and care during this time."
Q: Who is your favorite Seahawk?
A: "Without a doubt, my favorite Seahawk has to be place kicker, Efren Herrera, who, in 1979 on Monday night football caught a 20 yard pass from Jim Zorn on a fake field goal attempt."
Adriana Stiphout, Colorectal (Colon) Cancer Survivor
Q: When were you diagnosed with cancer and what was the diagnosis process like?
A: "I was diagnosed a year ago after a routine colonoscopy due to family history. I was diagnosed with colon cancer stage 2a which luckily didn't require further treatment after surgery. I need to continue monitoring for this and other cancers for life due to my propensity to cancer. My husband, his family and my family have been biggest support system throughout this diagnosis. Working as a scientist doing cancer research has also been source of comfort knowing I am contributing to find a cure. The care I have received at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, starting with my surgeon, has been outstanding. While I didn't have any symptoms yet, my advice to everyone is to be your number one health advocate and don't skip checkups."
Check out the Seahawks 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
This is a 2024 photo of Laviska Shenault Jr of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (81)
This is a 2023 photo of Michael Dickson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
This is a 2023 photo of Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
This is a 2024 photo of Sam Howell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Sam Howell (6)
This is a 2023 photo of Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
This is a 2024 photo of Coby Bryant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback/safety Coby Bryant (8)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
This is a 2024 photo of Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13).
This is a 2024 photo of DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
This is a 2024 photo of Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
Seahawks linebacker Josh Ross (18).
This is a 2024 photo of Jake Bobo of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks rookie receiver Jake Bobo makes his first touchdown catch on a pass from Geno Smith in the fourth quarter.
This is a 2024 photo of Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
This is a 2023 photo of Devon Witherspoon of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
This is a 2024 photo of Tre Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
This is a 2024 photo of Kenny McIntosh of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25)
This is a 2024 photo of Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
This is a 2024 photo of Riq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
This is a 2024 photo of Nehemiah Pritchett of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28)
This is a 2024 photo of Josh Jobe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks S Jerrick Reed II is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32).
This is a 2024 photo of Dee Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Williams (33)
This is a 2024 photo of Brady Russell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38)
This is a 2024 photo of Chris Stoll of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks long snapper Chris Stoll (41)
This is a 2024 photo of Drake Thomas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42)
This is a 2024 photo of Tyrice Knight of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48)
This is a 2024 photo of Trevis Gipson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Trevis Gipson (50).
This is a 2024 photo of Olu Oluwatini of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
This is a 2024 photo of Boye Mafe of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
This is a 2023 photo of Dre'Mont Jones of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
This is a 2024 photo of Derick Hall of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
This is a 2024 photo of Jalen Sundell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of September 5, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks offensive lineman Jalen Sundell (61)
This is a 2024 photo of Sataoa Laumea of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Sataoa Laumea (63)
This is a 2024 photo of Christian Haynes of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Christian Haynes (64)
This is a 2024 photo of Michael Jerrell of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65)
This is a 2024 photo of Charles Cross of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
This is a 2024 photo of Laken Tomlinson of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Laken Tomlinson (70)
This is a 2023 photo of Abraham Lucas of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seattle Seahawks active roster as of June 5, 2023, when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72).
This is a 2024 photo of Anthony Bradford of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
This is a 2024 photo of Cody White of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Cody White (82).
This is a 2024 photo of Dareke Young of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83)
This is a 2024 photo of Pharaoh Brown of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Pharaoh Brown (86)
This is a 2022 photo of Noah Fant of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 6, 2022 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
This is a 2024 photo of AJ Barner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88)
This is a 2024 photo of Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
This is a 2024 photo of Byron Murphy II of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91)
This is a 2024 photo of Mike Morris of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Mike Morris (94)
This is a 2024 photo of Myles Adams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
This is a 2024 photo of Johnathan Hankins of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris (98).
Seahawks defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (97)
This is a 2024 photo of Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks NFL football team. This image reflects the Seahawks active roster as of June 10, 2024 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99)
