2.25.16 17

My Thoughts On Medical Research

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of American Century Investments. All opinions are 100% mine.

My-Thoughts-On-Medical-research

As many of you know who have been reading my blog for the past several years, in February of 2012, just about 4 years ago my dad was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. His prognosis at first was very good with aggressive medicines but as time went on his prognosis got very grim. Thankfully due to some advancements in medical research around that time he could do some experimental procedures and medicines and was able to make a full recovery.

This entire situation was extremely emotionally draining not only on my family but mostly on my dad. Before my dad got sick I thought of Cancer as one of those things other people get. You know people in other families but not my family. I remember the day he told me so well because it felt like a bad dream I could not wake up from. After my dad got better I started paying a lot of attention to medical research facilities, and where money was being spent on medical research. I say all the time if I win the lottery 90% of that money is going to medical research. But you don’t have to win the lottery to invest and to take part in medical research and it’s importance.

Recently I was introduced to American Century Investments. American Century Investments was founded by James Stowers Jr. (Jim) and his wife, Virginia in 1958. Both cancer survivors, Jim and Virginia dedicated their personal fortune to improving human health through basic biomedical research by founding the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in 1994. In an unparalleled act of generosity, they created a $2 billion endowment for the Institute, comprised of cash gifts and a more than 40 percent equity ownership stake in American Century Investments. As such, American Century Investments global asset management firm’s controlling owner is the Stowers Institute for Medical Research.

Did you know that more than 40 percent of American Century Investments profits have been distributed to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, a non-profit basic biomedical research organization. The Institute is the controlling owner of American Century Investments and has received dividend payments totaling over $1 billion since 2000.

Contributing to medical research is something so close to my heart. Without people like the Stowers my dad would probably not be living and many people wouldn’t have the help and treatments available to them that they do.

Please consider investing with American Century Investments. Andrew and I have both had experiences with close family members and Cancer so we make it a mission of ours to support medical research in any way we can. This doesn’t mean you have to be a millionaire to donate money or to be a part of the research. Take a look at American Century Investments and see the wonderful things they are doing!

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17 Comments

  1. Molly wrote:

    I love the soft colors and feel of your blog. It makes me want to go give mine a bit of a facelift! Have a beautiful day!

    Published 2.25.16
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  2. I work for the American Society of Hematology and our volunteers do a lot of work with Lymphomas. I hope your dad is doing better.

    Published 2.25.16
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  3. So glad that your dad made a full recovery, and I am so sorry that your family had to go through such a terrifying ordeal. Thank you for doing this post and reminding people of the importance of donating to medical research, it’s one that people often forget since there aren’t many commercials for it on TV with sad music and cheesy celebrities reminding you what your $20ish a month helps pay for. Psst… donations are tax deductible, ya’ll 🙂

    Published 2.25.16
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  4. My best friend was diagnosed with this at 28. It’s a very treatable cancer , which is the good news!

    Published 2.25.16
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  5. Amanda wrote:

    So glad your dad was able to make a full recovery. It is so hard to see a loved one taken from a disease that can be so vicious.

    Published 2.25.16
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  6. Susannah wrote:

    I’m so glad your dad has been able to make a full recovery! All the amazing finds in the medical field are wonderful and I feel so fortunate to live in today’s day and age where so many medical issues are no longer huge issues.

    Published 2.25.16
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  7. very happy to hear about your dad..being a health care professional, research is very close to my heart and have always done some thing little to support.

    Published 2.25.16
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  8. Jenny wrote:

    So glad your dad was able to recover — that’s such wonderful news. I am so glad we live in a technologically progressive world so that cures are more common than back in the day.

    xoxo, Jenny

    Published 2.25.16
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  9. Laci wrote:

    So glad it was treatable !! I think every extra $ should be for medical research !

    Published 2.25.16
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  10. I’m glad to read that your dad’s outcome was so great! I also believe a lot in medical research… I’m a type 1 diabetic, and I’m often sick and tired, and my life expectancy isn’t great. It’s treatable, but there’s still no cure. Still praying every day that research can find one before I’m much older. Thanks for the heads-up about a way to contribute through ACI. 🙂

    Published 2.25.16
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  11. Chelsea wrote:

    I”m so happy to hear your dad was able to make a full recovery!!

    Published 2.25.16
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  12. Dominique wrote:

    It’s great to hear that your dad got better. Medical research is great and it’s important to see where the money is going and if there is progress.

    Published 2.25.16
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  13. Emma wrote:

    Thank you so much for sharing your story. Cancer is such a scary thing, but I’m so happy that your dad was able to make a full recovery.

    Published 2.26.16
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  14. My family too has been a victim of cancer more than once. Medical research is so important! Thank you for sharing this.

    Published 2.26.16
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  15. Hollie wrote:

    Medical research is vital to our existence.

    My husband works in Alzheimer’s research, his honours thesis was on cardiovascular health and ageing, and I tell you what, without the work of him and the countless other medical researchers that pioneer new studies, trials and treatments, global mortality rates would be much higher.
    As a human being, I am so very thankful that we are able to enjoy longer lives, but as an urban planner myself and needing to plan for an ageing population, that can be a bit of a struggle! As long as these researchers continue to do what the do though, I’ll be one happy camper.

    Published 2.28.16
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  16. Elle wrote:

    Love your blog! As someone who has lost three very close loved ones due to cancer this post touched my heart.

    Published 2.28.16
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  17. Kristi wrote:

    I was fortunate enough to work for Mr. Stowers at American Century for almost 20 years. He was a wonderful man and he and his wife did so much for the community. Many cancers are caused by environmental factors, and as a blogger who blogs about beauty, I hope you will look at some “greener” options. Those withouth parabens, phlatates, fragrance – all things that have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer and many other modern maladies. The industry has not had a new law passed since 1938. The European Union bans or restricts over 1400 ingredients – the U.S. ONLY 11!! We wonder why we are sick – why cancers come out of nowhere? Your skin is your largest organ, so please consider that as you are reviewing future products. Thank you for such a nice article about the Institute. Their work will go far, but we need to learn how to PREVENT cancers, not just cure them.

    Published 3.7.16
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