Chad's Story
Chad Dempsey's Legacy
Chad Joseph Dempsey
January 3, 1976 – April 27, 2024
Chad Joseph Dempsey, a remarkable band director, educator, and father, left an indelible mark on the world of music education. His life was a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and the transformative influence of music. Born in Maryville, Missouri, Chad’s journey in music began early, flourishing throughout his high school years where he was an active participant in the debate team, choir, golf team, and band. His musical talents earned him a place in the Missouri Music Educators Association All-State Band (trombone) and All-State Choir (bass).
A Life Dedicated to Music and Education
After graduating from The University of Kansas, where he was a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Chad continued to pursue his passion for music by joining Drum Corps International, marching with the COLTS and Phantom Regiment, and later serving on their staff. His career as an educator truly began when he joined Edinburg C.I.S.D. in 2000, eventually becoming the Band Director for the Edinburg North High School Mighty Cougar Band.
Chad’s dedication to his students was unparalleled. He believed in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, encouraging students to explore their creativity and express themselves through music. His commitment went beyond the classroom; during the pandemic, he established the “HEY, BAND!” Network, providing a vital platform for band directors to support their programs and students.
Overcoming Adversity with Grace and Strength
On July 2, 2022, Chad was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma. Despite the grave prognosis, he underwent surgery on July 4th and faced multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments with remarkable resilience. Throughout his battle, Chad continued to inspire others, posting daily motivational videos, running a marathon, and being named Teacher of the Year. His strength and positive energy became a beacon of hope for his students, colleagues, and community.
Continuing the Legacy
Chad’s impact extends beyond his professional achievements. As a loving husband to Sonia Dempsey and a devoted father to Sophia Elena Dempsey and Oliver Connor Dempsey, he cherished his family deeply. His legacy lives on through the melodies and harmonies of his students, who carry forward his passion for music and education.
To honor Chad’s memory, this website aims to raise funds for students who exemplify inspirational character traits and demonstrate leadership and motivation. These scholarships will support future generations of musicians and leaders, ensuring Chad’s spirit of encouragement and excellence continues to resonate.
Support Chad Dempsey’s Legacy
Join us in celebrating Chad’s life and legacy by contributing to the scholarship fund in his honor. Your support will help nurture the talents of students who embody the inspirational qualities that Chad championed throughout his life.
Understanding Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is a type of brain tumor that originates from glial cells, which support nerve cells within the brain. It accounts for about 15% of all primary brain tumors. The prognosis for glioblastoma is generally poor, with a median survival time of approximately 12-15 months after diagnosis. Only a small percentage of patients survive beyond five years.
Symptoms of glioblastoma can vary but often include headaches, seizures, memory loss, and changes in behavior or personality. These symptoms are a result of the tumor’s pressure on surrounding brain tissues. Early detection and aggressive treatment are crucial but often provide limited success due to the tumor’s fast-growing nature and tendency to infiltrate surrounding brain tissue.
Understanding Glioblastoma (GBM)
Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a highly malignant type of primary brain tumor. It is classified as a Grade IV astrocytoma by the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating its aggressive nature and poor prognosis.
Origin and Pathophysiology
GBM originates from astrocytes, which are star-shaped glial cells in the central nervous system that support and protect neurons. The exact cause of glioblastoma is largely unknown, though it is believed to arise from genetic mutations that lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to cell death. These mutations often affect key regulatory pathways involved in cell growth and repair, such as the p53 tumor suppressor gene and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway.
Characteristics and Behavior
Glioblastomas are characterized by:
- Rapid Growth and Infiltration: GBMs are known for their rapid growth and ability to infiltrate surrounding brain tissue, making them difficult to completely remove surgically.
- Heterogeneity: These tumors are highly heterogeneous, both within a single tumor and among different tumors, contributing to their resistance to standard therapies.
- Necrotic Tissue: GBMs often contain regions of necrotic (dead) tissue surrounded by rapidly dividing tumor cells. This necrosis can contribute to significant edema (swelling) and pressure on adjacent brain structures.
Symptoms
The symptoms of glioblastoma vary depending on the tumor’s size, location, and rate of growth. Common symptoms include:
- Headaches: Often severe and persistent, headaches are a common initial symptom due to increased intracranial pressure.
- Seizures: Many patients experience seizures, which can be focal or generalized.
- Cognitive and Personality Changes: As the tumor affects different parts of the brain, patients may experience memory loss, confusion, and personality changes.
- Neurological Deficits: Depending on the tumor’s location, symptoms may include weakness, sensory loss, and difficulty with speech or vision.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of glioblastoma typically involves:
- Neuroimaging: MRI and CT scans are used to identify the presence and characteristics of the tumor.
- Biopsy: A biopsy is performed to obtain a sample of the tumor tissue, which is then examined histologically to confirm the diagnosis and determine the tumor grade.
Treatment
Treatment for glioblastoma involves a multi-modal approach, including:
- Surgery: The primary goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible while preserving neurological function. Complete resection is often not feasible due to the tumor’s invasive nature.
- Radiation Therapy: Post-surgical radiation is used to target residual tumor cells and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Chemotherapy: Temozolomide (TMZ) is the standard chemotherapeutic agent used in conjunction with radiation therapy. It works by interfering with the tumor cell’s DNA repair mechanisms.
- Targeted Therapy: Bevacizumab, an angiogenesis inhibitor, is sometimes used to slow the growth of the tumor by inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels.
Prognosis
The prognosis for glioblastoma patients remains poor despite advances in treatment. The median survival time is approximately 12-15 months post-diagnosis, with only a small percentage of patients surviving beyond five years. Factors influencing prognosis include the patient’s age, overall health, extent of surgical resection, and the molecular characteristics of the tumor.
Glioblastoma continues to be a focus of intense research, with ongoing studies aimed at understanding its complex biology and developing more effective treatments. Despite its challenges, advances in molecular biology and genetics hold promise for future therapeutic strategies.
In the developing world, nearly 20% of cancers are due to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human papillomavirus infection. These factors act, at least partly, by changing the genes of a cell. Typically many genetic changes are required before cancer develops. Approximately 5–10% of cancers are due to inherited genetic defects from a person’s parents. Cancer can be detected by certain signs and symptoms or screening tests. It is then typically further investigated by medical imaging and confirmed by biopsy. Many cancers can be prevented by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, vaccination against certain infectious diseases, not eating too much processed and red meat, and avoiding too much sunlight exposure. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical.
The benefits of screening in breast cancer are controversial. Cancer is often treated with some combination of radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy.
Pain and symptom management are an important part of care. Palliative care is particularly important for people with advanced disease. The chance of survival depends on the type of cancer and extent of disease at the start of treatment. In children under 15 at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate in the developed world is on average 80%. For cancer in the United States, the average five-year survival rate is 66%.
In 2015, about 90.5 million people had cancer. About 14.1 million new cases occur a year (not including skin cancer other than melanoma). It caused about 8.8 million deaths (15.7% of deaths). The most common types of cancer in males are lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. In females, the most common types are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer. If skin cancer other than melanoma were included in total new cancers each year, it would account for around 40% of cases. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are most common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often. In 2012, about 165,000 children under 15 years of age were diagnosed with cancer. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are most common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often. In 2012.
The risk of cancer increases significantly with age and many cancers occur more commonly in developed countries. Rates are increasing as more people live to an old age and as lifestyle changes occur in the developing world. The financial costs of cancer were estimated at $1.16 trillion USD per year as of 2010. Cancers are a large family of diseases that involve abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. They form a subset of neoplasms.
A neoplasm or a tumour is a group of cells that have undergone unregulated growth and will often form a mass or lump but may be distributed diffusely. When cancer begins, it produces no symptoms. Signs and symptoms appear as the mass grows or ulcerates. The findings that result depend on cancer’s type and location. Few symptoms are specific. Many frequently occur in individuals who have other conditions. Cancer is a “great imitator”. Thus, it is common for people diagnosed with cancer to have been treated for other diseases, which were hypothesized to be causing their symptoms. People may become anxious or depressed post-diagnosis. The risk of suicide in people with cancer is approximately double. Cancer is fundamentally a disease of tissue growth regulation. In order for a normal cell to transform into a cancer cell.
In the developing world, nearly 20% of cancers are due to infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human papillomavirus infection. These factors act, at least partly, by changing the genes of a cell. Typically many genetic changes are required before cancer develops. Approximately 5–10% of cancers are due to inherited genetic defects from a person’s parents. Cancer can be detected by certain signs and symptoms or screening tests. It is then typically further investigated by medical imaging and confirmed by biopsy. Many cancers can be prevented by not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, eating plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, vaccination against certain infectious diseases, not eating too much processed and red meat, and avoiding too much sunlight exposure. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical. Early detection through screening is useful for cervical.
The benefits of screening in breast cancer are controversial. Cancer is often treated with some combination of radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy.
Pain and symptom management are an important part of care. Palliative care is particularly important for people with advanced disease. The chance of survival depends on the type of cancer and extent of disease at the start of treatment. In children under 15 at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate in the developed world is on average 80%. For cancer in the United States, the average five-year survival rate is 66%.
In 2015, about 90.5 million people had cancer. About 14.1 million new cases occur a year (not including skin cancer other than melanoma). It caused about 8.8 million deaths (15.7% of deaths). The most common types of cancer in males are lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. In females, the most common types are breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and cervical cancer. If skin cancer other than melanoma were included in total new cancers each year, it would account for around 40% of cases. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are most common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often. In 2012, about 165,000 children under 15 years of age were diagnosed with cancer. In children, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and brain tumors are most common except in Africa where non-Hodgkin lymphoma occurs more often. In 2012.
The risk of cancer increases significantly with age and many cancers occur more commonly in developed countries. Rates are increasing as more people live to an old age and as lifestyle changes occur in the developing world. The financial costs of cancer were estimated at $1.16 trillion USD per year as of 2010. Cancers are a large family of diseases that involve abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. They form a subset of neoplasms.
A neoplasm or a tumour is a group of cells that have undergone unregulated growth and will often form a mass or lump but may be distributed diffusely. When cancer begins, it produces no symptoms. Signs and symptoms appear as the mass grows or ulcerates. The findings that result depend on cancer’s type and location. Few symptoms are specific. Many frequently occur in individuals who have other conditions. Cancer is a “great imitator”. Thus, it is common for people diagnosed with cancer to have been treated for other diseases, which were hypothesized to be causing their symptoms. People may become anxious or depressed post-diagnosis. The risk of suicide in people with cancer is approximately double. Cancer is fundamentally a disease of tissue growth regulation. In order for a normal cell to transform into a cancer cell.
Help us attain our goal
- of $10,000 goal
- Raised by 15 donors
I will forever cherish the moments of positiveness, warmth, and inspiration.
You’d think that after losing people like him we would be better to each other. But it takes 2 and I am willing to do my part if you are.
Life is too short, friends.
Chad and I ended up at KU together. Where I got to watch him excel in the music department with his talent and leadership. Sharing many great memories and dragging me along to be part of the Lawerence Bar Band, a group of performers far more talented than me.
Watching Chad start his teaching career at Edinburg North it was easy to see the the impact he would have on his students while building a program reflective of his vision.
Chad, like many others, I will continue to be INSPIRED by you to live up to a better standard.
Leave a message of support
I will forever cherish the moments of positiveness, warmth, and inspiration.
You’d think that after losing people like him we would be better to each other. But it takes 2 and I am willing to do my part if you are.
Life is too short, friends.
Chad and I ended up at KU together. Where I got to watch him excel in the music department with his talent and leadership. Sharing many great memories and dragging me along to be part of the Lawerence Bar Band, a group of performers far more talented than me.
Watching Chad start his teaching career at Edinburg North it was easy to see the the impact he would have on his students while building a program reflective of his vision.
Chad, like many others, I will continue to be INSPIRED by you to live up to a better standard.