Natick Widow Walks PurpleStride In Memory Of Husband

NATICK, MA—At the tail end of 2013, Paul Buerlen was feeling "under the weather," and had been feeling that way for a couple of years. Finally, he got an answer to why his body was giving him signals: He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer following an extensive surgery called "The Whipple."

The biomedical engineer, husband and father lost his battle on Dec. 19, 2015, surrounded by his wife, two children, four dogs and two cats. Paul, always a strong-willed, stubborn sort of guy, had just turned 60. Pancreatic cancer, which also killed actor Patrick Swayze, has a survival rate of just 9 percent.

Rachel Buerlen, a registered nurse, watched her husband's valiant war with this highly-fatal form of cancer.

When Paul was first diagnosed, he continued to try and work, though he lost roughly 60 pounds, and ended up down to about 100 pounds before his death. Near the end, he got Rachel a German Shepherd. Named "Ivy," he got her the dog so she would have a protector and someone to grow old with. Paul and Rachel would have been married for 35 years last August.

Now, she's taking part, with daughter Holly, in PurpleStride, a fundraiser specifically designed to raise money for research in pancreatic cancer. She'll join hundreds in an event and walk on Sunday, Nov. 4, at Boston Common.

PurpleStride, a one-mile walk that started in 2008, is the biggest fundraiser for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. More than 50 events take places across the country each year.

So far, Rachel and Holly have exceeded their goal of $500, with the donations at $675. Donate here.

"My inspiration to do the walk is mostly due to Paul’s courageous and positive outlook throughout his illness," Rachel told Patch. "In our case, it seems to be hereditary. My mother-in -law died from it as well as my father in-law's half sister. I worry for Paul’s and my two kids, Jason and Holly."

Rachel is a Natick native, and Paul grew up there.

Rachel said that trying to remain positive and explore every avenue carried her and Paul through this "horrific" process. She stopped working, and she and Paul tackled a mini-bucket list that included football, baseball and hockey games and traveling to their favorite places in Florida.

"Emotions were all over the place," said Rachel. "I think we just loved each other and did everything possible to hold onto that love and devotion. We leaned on each other for support.

"I can’t really say I was or have been angry," she said. "Incredibly sad, always, and discouraged that this cancer seems not get the funding it needs because it is so insidious and hard to cure."

Rachel said part of what drove her to raise funds to fight pancreatic cancer was hoping she can stop anyone else from having to endure what her family endured, which included multiple misdiagnoses.

"It was such a roller-coaster ride, some very high hopes followed by severe lows," she said. "The chemo and radiation were just awful. The side effects were worse."

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Photo of Paul Buerlen, submitted and used with permission