According to Chris, who works for the National Brain Tumor Society, Kelly had a real zest for living and she loved tulips, always saying she wanted to paint the world with tulips.  Kelly Heinz-Grundner was from Saginaw, MI and passed away in 2005. She was 31. After her passing, Chris and Kelly’s mother founded The Kelly Heinz-Grunder Foundation. You can read more about their organization and hopes here.

At Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy, we are always looking for ways that our employees can give back to and engage with the many different organizations that support the patients that get their medications through our pharmacy.   After attending the NBTS conference, meeting Chris and learning about the Tulips Against Tumor program, it was suggested that Diplomat plant some tulips in the courtyard of our new headquarters on Saginaw Street.   As you can see in this picture, it was a chilly day in Flint, MI as Kathy Karns, Becky Foerster and Lauren Ganapini planted the 200 tulips bulbs that were ordered from Tulips Against Tumors.

These tulips will always be a symbol of honor for all those affected by brain tumors. There are over 63,000 people diagnosed in the USA each year and over 600,000 people currently living with a brain tumor.
Although winter was not too terribly harsh this year, we still had to wait for Nature to do her thing and the bulbs to grow.   Our patience paid off this week as the tulips bloomed in an amazing sea of color.

Almost like a painting.

Brenda Hawkes is a Patient Advocate Liaison for Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy.  If you have any questions or comments about the Advocacy Navigator Program, please feel free to contact her at bhawkes@diplomatpharmacy.com.