Patient family shares gratitude to Dana-Farber through estate gift

Two-time cancer survivor Robert “Bob” Doyle and his wife, Anne, credit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s expert and compassionate staff with Bob’s recovery from both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and squamous cell cancer of the tongue. Even though Bob went through grueling treatments for both cancers, he looks on the experience as incredibly positive.

“Each time at Dana-Farber, my entire team was dedicated to my success—not just a cure but my success,” Bob said.

“From the very first appointment at Dana-Farber, my husband was treated with the utmost respect. Their goal was to get the best possible outcomes for our family and they succeeded,” Anne added.

In gratitude for Bob’s care and to ensure future generations will experience the same level of care that their family did, Bob and Anne made a gift to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund in their trust. Their generosity will provide a steady source of future funding for Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission.

After Bob’s treatment for AML in 2012, which included a bone marrow transplant and a clinical trial, the Doyles returned to their home in Florida. Bob and Anne then decided to make a legacy gift to Dana-Farber, in addition to the annual gifts they make each year.

“Little did I know, I would need Dana-Farber again just two years later,” Bob said.

For a second time, Bob and Anne were impressed with the surgical, radiation, and nursing teams at Dana-Farber. Cancer-free once again, Bob doesn’t hesitate to recommend friends and family to Dana-Farber. The Doyles’ gift is their way of paying things forward and continuing Dana-Farber’s cutting-edge work, which may benefit those close to them in the future.

“You never know what will happen, especially to your loved ones. We want to ensure that our family and friends can obtain the best care possible, so we made this legacy gift. With it, Dana-Farber can continue to research, treat, and work toward cures,” Anne said.

“We love being part of the Dana-Farber community and we felt a responsibility to give back however we could,” Bob added.

With this future gift, Bob and Anne secure the important work of Dana-Farber physicians-scientists for years to come.

Please contact Erin McKenna, Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning, at 800-535-5577 or Erin_McKenna@dfci.harvard.edu, for more information on including Dana-Farber in your estate plans.

Jennifer Skala Bodio
Assistant Director, Development Communications