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Honor Mindy Halpern Alger

Make a donation to FORCE to help support breast and ovarian cancer research.

Dedication

Courageous, loving mother and wife, Mindy passed away at home in Palo Alto on April 5, 2011.

Personal Story

One of Mindy's favorite quotes: "You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you." - Mary Tyler Moore

Mindy was truly brave. She learned that she was BRCA1 positive in 2001. Cancer in one of her fallopian tubes was discovered in 2005. She fought her way through eight surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a clinical trial because she viewed each effort as a way to get more time with her children, Rebecca and Matthew, now 15 and 9. To the end of her life, she hoped to beat her disease.

Mindy's focus always was on others. When Matthew was born four months early, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces, she dedicated herself to caring for him, and he is now growing into a fine young man. Also, while battling cancer, Mindy left the practice of law to earn a masters degree in social work, with the goal of counseling and assisting others. Twice, she tackled social work fellowships at the VA hospital even as her health declined. She saw a bright future ahead, and it was one of service.

We love her and will always miss her.