Alex loved her time at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. When her cancer recurred in the summer of 2018, both her doctors and her parents encouraged her to put off vet school and take care of the cancer first.
She considered it. She knew there was no putting off the treatment, but she insisted on moving forward with vet school as well.
So she began chemotherapy in early August and started vet school two weeks later. She informed the school about her illness and they could not have been more accommodating.
Throughout chemotherapy, radiation and a two-week break to return to Johns Hopkins Hospital for surgery, they allowed her the flexibility to manage both her schoolwork and treatment.
In November, it became apparent that Alex would not be able to return to UFCVM for the spring semester. She needed treatment that was best done at Hopkins, where her family could be close by to support her. However, there was still hope of getting back to remission.
I was in Gainesville at the time, helping Alex finish her semester. What it took for her to do that is a different story, and a testament to how strong she was.
While lying in bed one night, I thought about what I could do to help Alex through a long, difficult course of treatment in Baltimore. The best thing I could think of was to give her something to fight for.
So at 10 p.m. on a Thursday night, I fired off an e-mail to Dr. James Lloyd, who was then the UFCVM dean.
I explained Alex’s situation, thanked him for how accommodating the college had been and asked him to find a way to keep Alex connected to the college so she would be reminded of her dreams as she was fighting her cancer.
Thirty minutes later, at 10:30 p.m., he responded by saying the college would do everything possible to keep Alex engaged. He copied the associate dean, Dr. Juan Samper, who responded at 11 p.m. with similar assurances.
And they were true to their word.
Dr. Samper kept in touch with Alex even after it became apparent that there would be no return to Gainesville.
When she passed away, he informed me that she would receive an honorary DVM diploma when her class graduated in 2022.
In 2020, Alex’s mother and I were invited to the White Coat Ceremony for the UFCVM class of 2022. It symbolizes the transition of students from studying science to caring for patients.
Sadly, the ceremony was cancelled because of the COVID pandemic. But when the white coats were sent to students, one came to me with Alex’s name on it, along with a custom collar for Dakota.
And when graduation day came, even though nearly four years had passed and the administration had changed, Alex’s mother and I were invited to Gainesville to receive an In Memoriam degree for Alex.
The university didn’t have to do any of this.
They didn’t have to make allowances for Alex to complete both her treatment and her studies.
They didn’t have to hold a spot open for Alex.
They didn’t have to keep her engaged when she couldn’t come back.
They didn’t have to honor her memory.
But they did all of those things.
So when it came time for me to honor Alex’s memory, it made sense to do it with an organization that she loved and that supported her both in life and death.
We created the Alex Lebovic Veterinary Medicine Scholarship. Once funded, it will help future veterinary students live the dream Alex could not.
Here are three ways you can help.
- Donate to the Alex Lebovic Foundation. Funding the scholarship is our first priority.
- Donate directly to the scholarship fund at the University of Florida
- Buy a copy of The Great Dog Pack and, if you like it, tell your friends about it. One hundred percent of the proceeds for the book help fund the scholarship.
I’ve heard it said that everyone dies twice.
The first time is when they pass from this world.
The second is the last time their name is spoken.
Once this scholarship is funded, Alex’s name will be spoken for as long as the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine exists.
It’s the best way I can think of to honor her.