From Fear to Gratitude: A Liver Cancer Survivor's Journey and How CTR Helped

Hello Everyone, My Name is David, and this is how I’m paying it forward:

Two years ago, I learned I had a rare liver cancer, and my only hope for a healthy future was a liver transplant. I was only 32 years old then, and cancer was never a thought I had in life. After 18 months of learning about life after a liver transplant, facing the uncertainty of being on a waiting list along with thousands of other patients, and living in daily fear of never receiving a call, it finally happened. On September 30th, 2022, I received my new liver, and I am so grateful, but it hasn’t been easy.

It remains a journey of anxiety, and I am finding my way through it. I do often wonder where I would be without the steady guidance of Candy Hammeras throughout the entire process. Candy and her team have helped guide thousands of cancer patients like myself around the clock and free of charge. Thanks to Cancer Teamwork Response, a charity Candy founded to help cancer patients regardless of ability to pay, hundreds of cancer patients are assisted through their most frightening times in life - just like mine. This can include the often “life-saving” second opinion with experts in one of the national top-ranked facilities. Candy has also created a network of the top three ranked hospitals in Southern California, CTR Network, to collaborate for cancer care: UCLA, Hoag Hospital, and UCSD. I continue to experience this hands-on collaboration and guidance, and I want other patients to feel it. As cancer patients, we need less anxiety in our cancer journey, and we get that with CTR!

Please take a few minutes to forward this letter to five people you know. Advise them to save CTR’s number in their contact list. We never think cancer will happen to our loved ones or us, but sometimes it does. Imagine how this could help someone you may not even know simply by forwarding the information. I am not sure I would be where I am today without the guidance of Cancer Teamwork Response. Please introduce others to CTR so they can receive the same guidance and care that I did.

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2023!

David Neal / Volunteer, Cancer Teamwork Response (CTR)