Associate Dean of Student Engagement & Intercollegiate Athletics at Univ. of Dubuque | Chair of NCAA Division III WBB Committee 🏀| Pediatric Cancer Advocate 🎗
Today she opened my eyes to a whole new definition of
#TwoADays
...rocked radiation 17 of 28 and chemo day one of five for week 17 of 44...this was at the end of the day...HUGE smile! Still has yet to complain...mind blown!
#MotivationalMonday
#PalmerStrong
#Perspective
💛🎗🥰
Day made
@derekhough
! Thanks for giving Palmer her first piano lesson and making a tough couple weeks forgettable with a memory like today. She now wants a piano for her birthday!
#PalmerStrong
💛🎹🎗
What an epic game tonight as
@BadgerVB
moves onto the National Championship game, BUT...this picture is evidence that they are so much more than athletes...they already are champions!
#TBT
#OnWisconsin
#PalmerStrong
Her strength is the best birthday gift of all! Yesterday was a tough chemo day for her and a tough day overall. She’s struggling a bit today, but not enough to forget to tell me to have the best day because it’s my birthday! She’s a rockstar & it’s halftime for her!
#Week22of43
💛
On scan day, we wear smiles! Mid-treatment scans underway, and she’s been killing it all day...not that I am surprised! She’s a fighter and my inspiration! Prayers for good news on Good Friday! 🙏🏼💛🎗
You would think in the last 7 months we would have perfected our selfie game! You my dear have perfected that smile...I don’t remember a day through all of this that you weren’t wearing it!! Happy birthday Palmer Rae! I 💛 YOU!!
Still 25 long weeks left, but today we will celebrate radiation 28/28! Her strength, smile and resilience inspire me! Grateful for the the support and guidance as she crushed this part of the treatment plan!
#fortitude
#myword
#PalmerStrong
“Stay strong, make them wonder how you’re still smiling.” She makes me wonder every day. Draw some strength from her smile! Thanks
@pioneervb
for a great night of raising awareness for pediatric cancer. It’s a battle no one...especially a child...should have to fight! 🎗💛
“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.” Today I held my daughter as her head was shaved and tears streamed down her face. I am in awe of her strength. Fighting back my tears was the hardest thing I have ever done!
#PalmerStrong
“Stay strong. Make them wonder how you’re still smiling.” Today has been the toughest day of this journey, but I will continue to smile & be strong because following her lead seems like a no brainer. You make me wonder every day, P Rae💛
#PalmerStrong
#PediatricCancer
#Radiation
Tough weeks like this, I’m grateful for wins...big and small! Two on the hardwood with the
@UwpWbb
! 💙🏀 ⛏First successful blood transfusion, which results in 11 PM Christmas carols! 🎄🎅🏼 🎤Finishing week
#11
of chemo! ✅🎗💛
#PalmerStrong
#AllYheWins
#WeRiseUp
#Chasin
’
Week
#23
has us tired...tired of low counts, tired of the unknown, tired of ER visits, tired of nights in hospital beds, BUT not tired of our time spent fighting together!! Our nurse thought we looked pretty comfortable snuggling and sleeping while we waited for labs! 🎗💛💤
That look on your face after a 21-week grind...the doubters, those who said we couldn’t, knowing
@UwpWbb
had my back the whole time! By far the most rewarding
@wiacsports
tourney berth of my career! Proud of this team...pain and adversity are great teachers!
#WeRiseUp
💛🙌🏼🎗🏀
Week
#24
✅ Last night as we were snuggling she says to me, “Mom, since we don’t really know what caused Lily, is that why we don’t really have a cure for it?” Not sure if I have ever been so proud and heartbroken at the same time. The truth is tough!
#PalmerStrong
#ARMS
💛🙏🏼🎗
Week 25 in the books! It was definitely one of the tougher ones, but I am grateful for those that supported me through the week, some March Madness with good friends and that smile! 💛🏀🎗
💛🎗⚾️ The
@LutherBaseball
team won even bigger off the field tonight after their 9-2 win over Coe College as they shaved their heads in honor of Lewis & other kids battling pediatric cancer. Well done
@CoachNikkel
& men. I am a very proud
@norsesports
Associate AD today! 💛🎗⚾️
Last night was special. We’ve shared our story A LOT. Not for attention, to be advocates. To raise awareness for peds cancer. To raise 💰.
@BadgerMBB
win, Coach Gard’s 💯 W, 👀
@jockosports
& witnessing P Rae “face her fears” again were icing on the 🎂.
#OnWisconsin
#Badgers
The greatest gifts of all!! Grateful for a few days off from reality to see the excitement of the holidays in their eyes...especially hers! Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄 💛
#Week14
✔️
“Hold my hand & I’ll take you there, somehow, someday, somewhere.” To those that have supported us & those that doubted us...we’re almost there! I know the journey has only begun, but I will celebrate every day that she takes my hand, praying I lead her down the right path. 💛😍
Thank you
@amygillsports
for capturing how amazing the
@uwp_pioneers
SAs are especially my
@UwpWbb
team, the Athletic department & the
@uwplatteville
support has been. In a time when it seems like everything is against you, I am grateful to be a Pioneer! 💛
Happy Birthday
@BrettFavre
!! She kept telling all of her nurses today that it was her mom’s favorite football player’s birthday!! If only she would have been old enough to witness your grit!!! 🏈💚🎗
#PalmerStrong
Definitely a bittersweet day, but I have been raised to make choices that you can live with. Making a decision in the best interest of
@UwpWbb
and my family is one that will leave me no regrets. Appreciate the continued support during this transition!
#Blessed
#PalmerStrong
💛🎗
Grateful to be celebrating a tie game at the end of regulation! Huge shout out to the coaches, teammates, visiting fans, but most importantly the sellout crowd!! Grab a seat folks...we're headed to overtime!
#CancerSucks
#PalmerStrong
#Rhabdomyosarcoma
“Cancer cannot have you because you’re so much more than that.” Thank you for being my inspiration and teaching me what it means to have perspective and courage in the fight of your life. 💛🎗
#worldcancerday2021
“You’ll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” Join
@UwpWbb
&
@Platteville_MBB
Saturday for our Pediatric Cancer DH at Bo Ryan Court! 📅Dec. 8th ⏰3/5 PM 🎫 💰$8 for BOTH games!
#WisdomWednesday
#PalmerStrong
💛🏀🎗
Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Was the BEST week! New job! ✔️ Amazing friends! ✔️ Palmer got to swim for the first time since diagnosis! ✔️
#ThisIs39
💛🍾🎗💜
When work takes you to the
@NCAADIII
WBB championship, you take selfies with the trophy & are grateful for FaceTime kisses. So many opportunities for growth, reminiscing about winning “the ship” & a reminder to be appreciative of what the game has brought to my life! 💛🏀🏆
#whyd3
Not a whole lot of sleep, but today is an exciting day! Bracket release for
@NCAADIII
women’s basketball coming at you! Let’s G🏀🏀🏀🏀! Let the MADNESS begin!
#whyD3
@d3hoopsville
@d3hoops
🙌🏻🙌🏾🙌🏿🙌🏽
⏰ 2:30 EST
💻
📅 TODAY
She had so much fun today! Told me on the way home the news is so lucky to have
@jockosports
! Thanks for making s tough day better! Mr. Bean is in a window waiting for sun and dancing! 😂💛🎗
Pretty sweet day at the office today 👀
@NCAADIII
WBB practices for
@TUWBX
and
@cnuwbb
. What a great experience for these teams and staffs - definitely deserving! Going to be a great weekend of hoops! “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” 🏀
No words for how amazing this video is!
@pioneervb
has some pretty talented student-athletes both on and off the court!!! CJ, every time I listen, I have tears! Head over to our
@UwpWbb
Facebook page to see full video!!
#WeRiseUp
#PalmerStrong
She was a true fighter, you could see it in her eyes. She was not born strong, she was made strong. She was sculpted to be her own hero when the world let her down, and she kept picking herself back up. 4️⃣of4️⃣3️⃣
#twinning
#week4life
#chemocuddles
@LoveYourMelon
Not how I pictured year 9 as the
@UwpWbb
coach to start, but spent time in the gym with our staff & squad, came 🏡 to this smile, & Coach Iverson & her
@StoutWBB
team sent a package for P-Rae. Pretty awesome to be in the
@wiacsports
, the support has been amazing!
#blessed
#whyD3
If you haven’t brought
@brendatracy24
to your campus you should be asking yourself why not! Blessed that
@uwp_pioneers
&
@uwplatteville
have proven this is a priority of ours. Truly believe that people are put into our lives for a reason & grateful that God put her in mine!
2024 has been full of peaks and valleys, but today I am humbled to be recognized for this award by our student body. Not even two years in and so much progress. Can’t wait to see how far we go together
@UDubuqueSports
and
@UDubuque
!
Congratulations to everyone who was recognized at Honors Convocation🎉 Towards the conclusion of the ceremony, seven Spartans and one student organization were bestowed with high honors by the
#UDubuque
community.
⏩
Nothing really changes in becoming the leader you want to be. The question is, do you have the courage to lead? To be unapologetically you and realize you’re not for everyone & that’s okay. Great day one
@NCAA
Pathway. Can’t wait for the next four days.
@NCAADIII
#learnlead
#why
Just reppin’ our
@STEcampaign
gear today. I try to teach her the importance of strength, bravery & positivity on days like today. Thank you
@brendatracy24
for being so courageous, without that, I am not sure our paths would have crossed, but I am so glad they did! 💛💪🏽🎗
Even though you couldn’t see it under my 😷, spending the afternoon with some of my faves helped me start 2019 with a smile before heading back to Madison with BAE!!
#LoveMySquad
#PalmerStrong
#WeRiseUp
@UwpWbb
💛🏀🥰
⚪️🔵🔜Have a feeling tonight was the start of something great! First SAAC meeting of the year with some of our
@norsesports
leaders! B.I.G. things coming from this crew! Stay tuned! 🔜🔵⚪️
Couldn’t be more proud of these ✌🏼 and the entire
@UwpWbb
team this year! Not sure when the last time we’ve had ✌🏼on first team...says a lot about the work them and their teammates have put in!!
#WeRiseUp
🏀💙🎗
Thank you to the
@BadgerVB
&
@BadgerRowing
for stopping by AFCH & making her day.
#BadgerFridays
are a highlight when we’re admitted. Putting a smile on kids’ faces is priceless. You should be so proud! Lucky to catch ✌🏼 OT
@BadgerWBB
game to finish our afternoon! ❤️🏀🏐🚣🏼♂️🎗
I couldn’t ask for a more impressive team! They have put in hours of hard work, made sacrifices that others wouldn’t & were never given enough credit! This weekend continues to be epic. The tip before the real tip between
@cnuwbb
&
@TUWBX
. Way to go
@NCAADIII
!
#d3hoops
#whyd3
🏀
We can’t believe we’re only 1️⃣0️⃣ days away from getting back in the gym and
#chasin
’ with
@UwpWbb
‼️ It’s truly going to be a special year‼️
#dream
#PioneerFamily
🦄💛🏀
You know, just “dropping back” getting ready for some touchdowns and big plays from
@DubuqueFootball
. Grateful for what
@UDubuqueSports
and
@UDubuque
has going heading into fall and for a sports gal, fall means football! Happy to watch them work tonight! 🏈 Let’s GOOOOOOO!
Smiling about kicking off
@NCAA
Leadership Academy ✌🏼 with my awesome cohort! Three days of focus and growth to better the
@uwp_pioneers
SA experience...today’s fave takeaway was all about EQ! Definitely worth the 3:30 AM wake up!
#LearnLead
#whyd3
⏰✈️😆📚💤
What a week at the
@NCAADIII
WBB championship. My final year was a memorable one. Grateful for all of the amazing people this committee brought to my life throughout the years. Congrats to all the teams in this year’s field - I really enjoyed spending time with you all!
#d3hoops
When opportunities for growth and learning present themselves, I am grateful for technology to allow me to check in back 🏡...week 36 brought different kinds of challenges, but we will continue to rise above!
#KeepBelieving
#PalmerStrong
#RegionalRules
Student-Athlete ✔️ National Champion ✔️ Assistant Coach ✔️ Head Coach ✔️ SWA ✔️ Associate AD ✔️ Associate Dean of Student Engagement & Intercollegiate Athletics 🙌🏼
Grateful for the journey that has brought me here!
⚪️ Let’s GOOOOO, Spartans! 🔵
@UDubuque
@UDubuqueSports
So thankful for this crew. We take a lot of heat for the hours of time we volunteer, but to 👀 the changes we’ve made over my years on the committee, I’m super proud. Today was a good day. Phenomenal talent on display. Then there were two.
#d3hoops
#WBBhoops
🏀 Probably not enough caffeine in a cup for this day, but
#SelectionSunday
headquarters in Decorah has been up and going for 4.5 hours! Its an exciting day for
@NCAADIII
basketball! We’re getting ready for a championship!! Let’s do this! 🏀
@d3hoopsville
@d3hoops
So grateful for the opportunity to sit down with my friend
@jockosports
to share our story, raise awareness for pediatric cancers and to share how blessed I have been to work for the
@uwplatteville
@uwp_pioneers
Athletic Department through a tough journey! 💛🎗
#PalmerStrong
Beyond grateful to tell this story of my two friends, Megan and Palmer. You are both inspirations to me and so many others. I can't wait for everyone to see the story tonight at 10 on
@nbc15_madison
@mwilson44
#PalmerStrong
Another week, another chance to better myself! Grateful for the opportunities provided by the
@NCAA
for developing leaders. Excited to learn among some strong, empowering women for the next couple of days! Let’s GOOOOO! It’s a great day to be GREAT!
#NCAALearnLead
Happy Mother’s Day to all the AMAZING mothers out there...there are a lot of them!! An extra squeeze to fellow moms of warriors! I know how tough the days can be and hope today is filled with strength and love! Enjoy your day!! 🎗💐💛
So incredibly blessed to be a part of
@uwp_pioneers
Athletics department!! The support for myself and my family from the
@uwplatteville
community is amazing!! Talk about
#SquadGoals
💙🧡
Still in disbelief. One of the things that was most evident to me about
@DrKMNavarro
was her passion for student-athlete leadership & mentoring young professionals. We just texted a few weeks ago touching base. Thoughts and prayers with her husband, family & the Pioneer family.
We are deeply heartbroken by the passing of Athletic Director Dr. Kristina Navarro-Krupka this weekend. She was a champion for the entire
@uwplatteville
, especially our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Condolences to Nick, her family, friends and everyone she impacted. 💙🧡