In the News - Channel 7 Detroit

From day one, Megan Hayes was driven to study in Japan, go to U of M, then become a doctor.

"She just knew what she wanted to do and she wanted to touch a lot of people in a very short time and she certainly did that," said Mary Helen, Megan's mother. Megan nearly accomplished it all, even though cancer came at 17. She was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma, a rare cancer that grew in her chest.

The first day of chemo her family put together a three-ring binder. "Did you do this immediately? You knew to do this immediately?" Health Team Reporter Carolyn Clifford asked Mary.

"Yes, it just came into our heads."

"There was so much thrown at us, we just were overwhelmed, all the paperwork, all the medications," added Patt, Megan's dad.

They filled, Megan's Blue Book with appointments, a journal, medical records, and doctor's phone numbers. "And the neat thing was, no matter who brought Megan here if we were working, they knew where everything was," Mary told Carolyn. "They had everything in one place, which is wonderful."

Through two years of surgeries, stress, and sickness, Megan's Blue Book helped her family stay focused. Until her final hospital stay. "She decided she was done with taking treatment and there wasn't much more they could do and so she said, 'I'm ready to come home,'" Mary recalled.

"I'm having a great time at home sitting outside in the sun and it's great to be home," Megan said in a home video. Four weeks after that bright March day, at age 19, Megan died, her family by her side.

"And she had this wonderful smile come over herself- just a beautiful smile and then she took her hands and put them right down to her chest, and took her last breath.." Patt said.

"Two weeks after Megan passed away we were looking at the journal and we said, 'You know there was a reason that we went through all of this."

The reason, they realized, was to make journals for others. The Hayes' recently returned to U of M to show Megan's doctor and nurse their finished product. The Hayes' want to set up a foundation in Megan's memory and then give the money to hospitals and clinics, and support groups. The journals are for anyone, sick or well, to organize their medical care.

"When the people come and want to purchase a journal for us, it's a time for us to tell our story to them," Patt said.

"We want to hear success stories. We were on the other end. We want to hear success stories."

It's called, Megswork, because the Hayes' believe they are doing Megan's work. For more information about buying a Megswork journal, visit www.megswork.com.