When those who knew him talk of the late David R. Baker of Schoolcraft, Mich., they mention the word "giving" repeatedly. David started his battle against prostate cancer knowing that it had already advanced to his bones. After being treated at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center for nearly eight years, he ended his battle in October 2014 at the age of 69.
David practiced giving back during his treatment process by taking part in multiple clinical trials to help further prostate cancer research. He chose to receive chemotherapy as part of various clinical trials rather than take part in standard treatment protocols.
"His main goal was, 'I'm going to go somewhere where I can help other people,'" said his wife of almost 50 years, Carol Baker. "He always thought about other people."
In memory of her husband, Carol, along with her daughters Lori Lockhart of South Lyon, Mich., and Colette Jasiak of Mattawan, Mich., chose to provide a donation to Karmanos. The gift will go specifically to David's oncologist, Elisabeth Heath, M.D., F.A.C.P., professor of Oncology and of Internal Medicine for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Patricia C. and E. Jan Hartmann endowed chair in Prostate Cancer Research at Karmanos, to further her research efforts to find a prostate cancer cure.
"There are hardly enough words to say how wonderful and knowledgeable that woman is," Carol said. "She saved my husband's life for seven and a half years. The years we were given and the support we received while at Karmanos were priceless. I wanted to give her the money for her to get an answer to prostate cancer, to help somebody else and to help those who can't help themselves."
Dr. Heath said she was "awestruck" when Carol gave her the check during a lunch meeting they shared after David's death. "To come up with such a contribution, you can't help but be overwhelmed by their generosity and that it's for the continuance of prostate cancer research," she said. "I was just speechless."
Dr. Heath said David was a joy to care for and that he played an active role as a patient in helping to advance research by taking part in clinical trials. Funding provided by the Baker family continues his legacy.
"This money will be used for prostate cancer research," Dr. Heath said. "We recently put out a prostate cancer research team solicitation for new funding to support a prostate cancer project. With the Bakers' contribution as seed money, we will now be able to do the preliminary research that will hopefully attract additional funding for this project.
"The Baker family's gift will benefit the efforts of the entire research team and help us make a difference to the next man diagnosed with prostate cancer."