Dear Caregivers and Friends at OCF:

My name is Kimberly Crocker Crowther and I have been a member of OCF since 2002 when my husband, David, was diagnosed with Stage 2/3 tonsil cancer and underwent a modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation. I post under the user name "kcdc". OCF provided a source of sanity and support for me when I was stressed as Dave's caregiver and remains invaluable to me today.It is my turn to give back to OCF and the oral cancer community.

I am a nurse practitioner and a doctoral student at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Because of Dave's experience and my new awareness of the profound stress of being a caregiver of a person with oral cancer, I have decided to research this topic for my doctoral dissertation in hopes of raising awareness in the medical and nursing community so we health care providers can help caregivers better cope with the experience.

Often, caregivers are the "forgotten ones" who grapple with trying to "do right" for our loved one and feeling overwhelmed and scared.Days are long and stress is high and I would like to know how this has affected you.

Brian Hill has graciously agreed to allow me to post a message on this site asking fellow OCF members who are caregivers to participate and/or help in recruitment of participants to fill out anonymous survey that will take 30-40 minutes at most to complete. If you are interested in participating please send me a private e-mail with your address and I will send you a copy of the questionnaire and a self-addressed stamped envelope to return it to me. Your address will be seen only by me and destroyed once your survey is sent.

Your answers to the questions will remain anonymous. You may complete the survey in the privacy of your home and return it to me. I will not contact you again regarding the study unless you would like to see a copy of the results which I will gladly share.

I am grateful to any of you who are willing to help with this research.You do not need to be an OCF member to participate. You may know a caregiver who is not a member and I will gladly send him/her a survey packet.

In closing, I am hoping your input will help me make a meaningful difference in the oral cancer care community and in the lives all of survivors and their caregivers who have battled and are battling this diease with love and bravery every day.

I can be reached at:

[email protected] or via phone at 508-785-1708

Many thanks in advance,

Kimberly Crocker Crowther MS, RN, APRN, BC
("KCDC")