About Us
Maria Lorick was diagnosed with Stage III C Ovarian Cancer on May 17, 2007. The next few days forever changed the life and direction of an entire family. Major surgery to remove a grapefruit-sized tumor and debulking the abdominal area (a process in which the OB/GYN oncologist seeks to remove as much of the cancer seedlings as possible) resulted in a diagnosis of Stage III C ovarian cancer. This silent killer of 15,480 women a year in America alone had invaded yet another unsuspecting victim.
Maria's battle with cancer ended on February 4, 2010, when she went to her heavenly home. Throughout the journey she was steadfast in her faith and continued to inspire others.
John and Maria Lorick refused to be idle and allow the disease to continue unchallenged in its relentless pursuit of devastation. Cancer is more than an individual disease, it is a family- altering battle. The Lorick family chose to fight more than a personal battle. They chose to found the Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Cancer Foundation to fight for all women.
The foundation’s objectives are:
- To increase the level of knowledge concerning various life-threatening female cancers with special emphasis on ovarian cancers.
- To promote research for cancers for which there is no early detection test or cure with special emphasis on ovarian cancer.
- To establish a faith-based universal support system known as Journey Counselors. These special counselors are cancer patients, spouses, and first line caregivers specially trained to use their own journey as a source of counsel, information and inspiration to newly diagnosed patients.
"The Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Foundation has the potential to change the lives of millions through the education of women and their doctors and the funding of much needed research."
Destin Black MD, Gynecologic Oncologist, Willis Knighton Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, Shreveport, LA
“Women have a lifetime risk of 1:70 for developing ovarian cancer; if not diagnosed and treated in the earlier stages, 80% will succumb within 5 years. Until the symptoms for ovarian cancer were made public in June 2007, ovarian cancer screening was not recommended except for those presumed to have a hereditary cancer syndrome. Now we know up to 80% of women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer may experience at least one of the known symptoms. What you don’t know, can kill you. We must promote this information and educate both the public and physicians. I hope those of us in the business and medical community will help support the Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Cancer Foundation and give the precious women in our lives a fighting chance not to be another statistic. I know we can, we must.“ Ricky L. Owers, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist, CHRISTUS Schumpert Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, Shreveport, LA
“I think the Maria Lorick Heart of Hope Cancer Foundation could assist in unifying cancer care in our community for the benefit all our women, men and children. In addition, I believe there will be a huge interest in the “Journey Counseling” program facilitating all cancer center patients and families in their journey battling cancer.“ Patrick Connor, MD, Gynecologic Oncologist, CHRISTUS Schumpert Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, Shreveport, LA
