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Golf Tournament Information and Registration
Saturday, August 2, 2025
7:30am registration | 8:00am shotgun start
This Year's Recipients
TODD ALTMAN
Todd, Patty, and their 2 children, Jordan and Kaitlin, have lived in Waseca since 1999. Todd is the Hy-Vee Meat Manager in Faribault, Minnesota, and Patty is a Second Grade Teacher at Hartley Elementary School.
During the summer of 2023, Todd started experiencing severe pain in his upper right thigh area with swelling in his right calf and foot. In late August, the pain was so extreme that Todd wasn’t able to walk, and therefore was not able to work. His family first took him to urgent care in Mankato, and an ultrasound test were performed. The ultrasound results ruled blood clots. However, Todd was still experiencing extensive pain and was using crutches to get around so the following day, his family took him to the Mankato Emergency Department. They gave him medication for his pain and performed a CT scan. After 8 hours in the ED, they set up an appointment for Todd to see a urologist. Todd had a PSA blood test done, and biopsies were performed. Todd’s PSA (Prostrate Specific Antigen) level was 879, which was extremely elevated. A normal PSA is around 4. The urologist discussed the results of the tests and explained the scans. The results confirmed that Todd had stage 4 prostate cancer so a new journey in our life began.
Todd met with radiation oncologists and a medical oncologists in Mankato, who stated that this was a very aggressive cancer, as the scans also detected a spot on Todd’s pelvic bone and by his spine plus cancer was present in numerous lymph nodes. A PET Scan was performed in Rochester, and then the treatment regimens began in Mankato in addition to genetic counseling.
For the past 1.5 years, Todd has experienced a lot of “ups and downs”, as most cancer patients do. Some spots have grown, and other spots have gotten smaller. Todd has responded very well to his treatments with limited side effects, and his PSA number has gradually decreased. At his last checkup in February 2025, his PSA number was in the normal range: 4.4. His next PET scan is scheduled for April 2025. We are hopeful that we will see more positive results.
After moving to Waseca in 1999 Patty accepted a third grade teaching position at Sacred Heart School in 2002, and that is where the Altman family met the O’Brien families. Ben and Ria O’Brien were teachers at Sacred Heart at that time so our relationship formed. Patty has had the privilege of teaching Ben and Ria’s son, Oliver, Matt’s son Gavin, as well as three of Tony and Tami O’Brien’s children, Sally, Sarah, and Sydney.
The Altman family got to know Bea O’Brien over the years. Bea always made time to visit and was so genuine in wanting to know how everyone was doing. She stayed positive and let us know that she cared and was praying for him, and we did the same for her. Over the past year, we have also had several conversations with Sally and JP Eykyn and their cancer journey. During Todd’s cancer journey, we have had doctor appointments with Tami O’Brien, as she works with Todd’s medical oncologist. In addition to having a wonderful relationship with her on a personal level, we have appreciated working with her on a professional level, too.
The Altman family is forever grateful for the personal relationships that they have made with the O’Brien families. O’Brien’s passion and generosity for helping others is never ending and so appreciative! They learned from the best, and that wonderful lady is smiling down on them everyday.
CHRISTINE PETERSEN
Christine Petersen is from Bemidji, MN where she lives with her husband Tom and their two children, Tyler (16) and Alaina (13). Christine works at Pinnacle Marketing Group as a graphic designer and has been employed there for 21 years.