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U of M Honors Dexter Student's Memory With Grant

Laurence Carolin inspires hospital to fund cancer research.

The University of Michigan boasts some of the brightest minds in the world of medicine, and this week, several physicians were honored with research awards given in honor of three patients who were treated at the university's hospital.

“Some children and young adults touch us in a special way as we realize the potential they would have had if we could have conquered their cancer,” said Dr. Greg Yanik.  

One of the three patients who was honored at Sunday's reception was Laurence Carolin, the 15-year-old Dexter student who died in January 2010 following a two-year battle with a malignant brain tumor.

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"Laurence’s story was told to us through Judy Moyer (nurse practioner) and Dr. Pat Robertson (pediatric neurologist and oncologist.) We were speechless when we first heard about Laurence. He was immediately at the top of our list of candidates," Yanik said.

During Laurence’s battle with cancer, he was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He took the $5,000 from the wish and asked to have it donated to ONE.org, the international organization that fights extreme poverty in Africa. Laurence also wanted to help prevent others from dying of the brain cancer that he suffered from and donated his brain to the neurosurgeons who treated him at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.  

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The research award in Laurence's name was given to Dr. Jeff Magee, whom Yanik called, "an amazing young hematologist-oncologist."

Magee is using stem cells to try to understand the different types of mutations in leukemia.

"Laurence was such an impressive young man, and I am grateful for this award which will be used for the research itself as well as travel costs and technical staff," Magee said.

Dexter resident Dr. Valerie Castle, a pediatric cancer physician and chairwoman of Mott's Department of Pediatrics, said, "Laurence's life has meant so much to so many. Today's reception is a complete celebration of family in honor of some extraordinary people and hope for what the future holds for these researchers."

Mike Hartwell, whose son Eric died at 9 years old from a rare type of leukemia, was present for an award given in Eric's name.

"The team felt there have been children under their care that have left very meaningful impressions on them, often impacting the way they have treated their patients from that point on," Hartwell said. "The children, in their own way, have lasting legacies."  

Laurence's close friend Sam Griffith, a junior at Dexter High School, attended Sunday's reception.  

"It's really great that Laurence is getting recognition with this award that is named after him. I still think of him as the kid I played Game Cube with. He is a real inspiration to me," Sam said.   

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