2024 GIVING PROGRAM RECIPIENTs

 Lexi Nowak was a beautiful soul who lost her life to Ewing Sarcoma in November 2023 after being diagnosed nearly 3 years prior. Lexi was a caring sister, a brilliant artist, and a wonderful spirit. Lexi grew up in Oak Park, IL and went on to attend Naropa University in Boulder, CO. Lexi studied Studio Arts and was an avid printmaker and creative experimenter. She was skilled in many mediums, and even created her own line of soap in 2021. 

She married the love of her life in 2017. Lexi had the best sense of humor - even when things were not the easiest. She always made nurses laugh while she was in the hospital with her very dry sense of humor. She was the strongest person, the kindest, and the most caring to her family, her beloved cats, and cherished friends. Lexi had a fantastic fashion sense and a pension for vintage clothing and thrifting. She had a knack for finding the coolest clothes and always wearing the best outfits - from all different decades - though she loved the silhouettes of the 1950s. 

Her favorite holiday was Halloween, and she loved things that were a little spooky and ghoulish. She was a unique soul who cared about all creatures - big and small - and loved to celebrate weirdness in all its forms. She will be remembered as being unapologetically caring and emotionally intelligent. Lexi always made sure everyone she loved was taken care of, especially her younger sister. Lexi passed away peacefully at home with her husband by her side in Colorado. She was only 31. 

If you know somebody battling Ewing's Sarcoma, or any form of pediatric cancer, and would like our foundation to consider them as a future GIVING PROGRAM RECIPIENT, please email us at: kevinwantsacure@gmail.com 

Monica Lupou-Mrugacz’s battle with osteo sarcoma began in April 2022 when she woke up one morning unable to walk on her right leg. After four months of various procedures and biopsies, she

was officially diagnosed on August 2, 2022. On August 19, she underwent surgery to replace the upper portion of her right femur and began chemotherapy. In November 2022 her left lung collapsed and while undergoing thoracentesis it was determined that the cancer had metastasized, and she had Stage 4 lung cancer caused from the sarcoma.

One June 24, 2023, Monica was wed to Jeremy Mrugacz in a beautiful church ceremony followed by a reception surrounded by her devoted family and friends. She has described it as, “the best

day of my life.”

Monica was very excited when she heard the news that she would be receiving a grant from the Kevin Wants a Cure Foundation and wanted so much to be a part of the fund-raising

efforts. Over an 18-month period, Monica continued to receive several types of chemotherapy treatments but to no avail. Monica lost her battle, ultimately to lung cancer on March 29, 2024.

Monica was a graduate of St. Walter School Class of 2008 and Lake Park High School Class of 2012. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Elmhurst College in 2016 and her

Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in 2019.

Monica was a caring and compassionate nurse tending to her kids and young adults at the Marklund Children’s Home in Elgin for three years, and later working as a Psychiatric Nurse at

Northwestern Central DuPage Hospital.

Despite her two-year health battle, Monica managed to continue caring for others with grace and dignity while maintaining her fierce disposition – a true fighter that never gave up.

If you know somebody battling Ewing's Sarcoma, or any form of pediatric cancer, and would like our foundation to consider them as a future GIVING PROGRAM RECIPIENT, please email us at: kevinwantsacure@gmail.com