Episode 37

The Caregiver Who Sparked a Movement

with Andrea Wilson Woods
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The Caregiver Who Sparked a Movement

How do you turn unbearable loss into lasting impact?

Andrea Wilson Woods, patient advocate, speaker, and founder of Blue Fairy: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, shares the powerful legacy of her sister Adrienne’s book, I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman’s Journey with Liver Cancer. What began as one young woman’s journal became a voice for thousands facing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)—one of the world’s deadliest yet most preventable cancers.

As Adrienne’s guardian and caregiver, Andrea faced a system unprepared to support young adults with cancer. Out of that heartbreak came Blue Fairy, now a national nonprofit providing education, advocacy, and emotional support for HCC patients and their families. Andrea explains how today’s targeted and immunotherapies are changing outcomes, why patient stories matter, and how caregivers can stay organized and hopeful through chaos.

This episode is a tribute to Adrienne’s courage and to every family walking the same path. It’s a reminder that even in the hardest moments, advocacy, love, and education can create real change—and that hope always has another chapter.

Highlights:

00:42 – The story behind I’d Rather Be Dead Than Deaf
Hear how Adrienne Wilson’s journals became a powerful book that gives a voice to young adults facing liver cancer.

02:15 – Why Andrea founded Blue Fairy
Learn how one sister’s loss inspired a national nonprofit that now educates, advocates, and supports HCC patients and families.

04:12 – Understanding hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Discover what makes HCC one of the deadliest cancers—and why prevention and early screening are key.

06:45 – Today’s breakthroughs in liver cancer treatment
Andrea explains how targeted therapies and immunotherapies are improving both survival and quality of life.

09:03 – A caregiver’s turning point
Find out how Andrea went from feeling powerless to becoming her sister’s strongest advocate and a voice for others.

11:20 – The Blue Fairy approach to advocacy
See how education, storytelling, and community support drive real change in awareness and policy.

13:47 – Caregiver tools that make a difference
Learn Andrea’s practical “binder system” for keeping records, test results, and notes organized through treatment.

16:02 – Palliative care vs. hospice—knowing the difference
Hear Andrea’s clear explanation of these two terms and how each can improve quality of life at different stages.

18:25 – Why stories save lives
Understand how personal stories like Adrienne’s can move doctors, influence research, and inspire others to seek help sooner.

21:05 – Finding hope after loss
Andrea shares what healing looks like after grief—and how Blue Fairy continues Adrienne’s legacy through education and compassion.

Mentioned Resources:

CanCare- www.cancare.org

Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook

Blue Farey - https://www.bluefaery.org/

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About the Guest:

Andrea Wilson Woods is the founder and president of Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association, a nonprofit she created in memory of her sister Adrienne. A cancer caregiver, patient advocate, speaker, podcaster, and award-winning author, Andrea has turned personal loss into a mission of hope, empowering families facing liver cancer through awareness, education, and support.

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Ep 54

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with Susan Sabo-Wagner and Isabel Verastegui
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Ep 53

Cancer Researcher Becomes Survivor

with Larry Coffer
What can a cancer researcher teach us when he suddenly finds himself sitting in the patient chair? Larry Coffer spent more than 20 years at MD Anderson Cancer Center supporting ovarian and breast cancer research, helping teams develop treatments and improve outcomes for patients. Long before his own diagnosis, cancer shaped his life through his stepfather’s battle with colon cancer. That experience inspired a career dedicated to helping others. Then, while training for a marathon, a routine physical revealed a rare cancer called extramedullary plasmacytoma. What began as a standard checkup quickly became a life-changing journey. Larry shares what it was like to move from researcher to patient, receive treatment at the institution where he built his career, and navigate the uncertainty that comes with a rare diagnosis. He opens up about the emotional toll of cancer, the importance of leaning on friends, family, faith, and community, and how running helped him process the experience. He also discusses his work as a stem cell donor and advocate, helping others understand the life-saving impact of bone marrow and stem cell donation. Larry’s story is a reminder that a diagnosis does not define who you are. With support, purpose, and hope, it is possible to keep moving forward one step at a time. Highlights: • How a routine health screening uncovered a rare cancer with no warning signs • What changes when a cancer researcher becomes a cancer patient • Why support systems matter even for the people who seem strongest • How running, faith, and community can help during treatment and recovery • What stem cell donation really involves and why more donors are urgently needed Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Larry’s Marathon Fundraiser for CanCare - https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/larry-coffer About the Guest: Larry Coffer is a plasma cell cancer survivor, cancer researcher, stem cell donor, and marathon runner. For more than 20 years, he has led groundbreaking research at MD Anderson Cancer Center focused on ovarian and breast cancer. Then a routine physical before a marathon changed everything. Larry completed 20 rounds of radiation and rang the bell in January 2026. His running community has a special connection to CanCare, a full circle moment. Larry shares what happens when the science becomes personal, and what he found on the other side.
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