Brain Cancer Patients Fight Tough Odds
Local Residents Deal With Same Prognosis As Kennedy
POSTED: 5:11 pm EDT May 21,
2008
UPDATED: 6:21 pm EDT May 21,
2008
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BOSTON -- Local residents dealing with the same prognosis as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said it's a tough fight against very long odds.NewsCenter Five's Kelley Tuthill reported Wednesday that with a good attitude, great medical care and a lot of support, they are getting through day by day. 
VIDEO: Brain Cancer Patients Fight Tough OddsSteve Augart's 8-year-old son worries whenever he gets a call at school."He's scared every time that it will be his mom calling to say his dad is dead," Steve Augart said.Augart and his wife, Nancy Peponis, also have a 2-year-old who was just a baby when Augart was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in January 2007. He was 41 years old.The Lexington family has a lot of empathy for the Kennedys."It really hit me imagining what the family is going through. It hit us out of the blue -- like someone struck us across the face. That feeling continued for months," Peponis said.Playing the piano is therapeutic for Augart, who suffered a stroke during a recent surgery."They guessed I would survive two years, but I feel more optimistic. I think I will see grandchildren," he said.Maria Asenjo, of Lynn, has lived to enjoy grandchildren even though three years ago a doctor gave her just six months to live. Instead, she set a goal of surviving to her 50th birthday, which she celebrated earlier this month."I'm alive and kicking. I know Kennedy will do the same thing," she said "This guy will live a long life. He's a warrior. I think he will do well."
VIDEO: Brain Cancer Patients Fight Tough OddsSteve Augart's 8-year-old son worries whenever he gets a call at school."He's scared every time that it will be his mom calling to say his dad is dead," Steve Augart said.Augart and his wife, Nancy Peponis, also have a 2-year-old who was just a baby when Augart was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in January 2007. He was 41 years old.The Lexington family has a lot of empathy for the Kennedys."It really hit me imagining what the family is going through. It hit us out of the blue -- like someone struck us across the face. That feeling continued for months," Peponis said.Playing the piano is therapeutic for Augart, who suffered a stroke during a recent surgery."They guessed I would survive two years, but I feel more optimistic. I think I will see grandchildren," he said.Maria Asenjo, of Lynn, has lived to enjoy grandchildren even though three years ago a doctor gave her just six months to live. Instead, she set a goal of surviving to her 50th birthday, which she celebrated earlier this month."I'm alive and kicking. I know Kennedy will do the same thing," she said "This guy will live a long life. He's a warrior. I think he will do well." Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
