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 40


Hope for Cancer Caregivers

with ‍Rose Gerber
What helps a caregiver stay steady when cancer changes everything? Caregivers carry so much of the emotional weight of cancer, yet their needs are often overlooked. In this powerful episode, Darcie Wells joins the Community Oncology Alliance with host Rose Gerber for a conversation that shines a light on the unseen side of caregiving and the hope that grows when no one has to carry the burden alone. Rose, a long-term breast cancer survivor, and Darcie talk about why caregivers deserve as much care, compassion, and emotional support as the person going through treatment. They discuss the role of trained peer volunteers and how emotional support changes the caregiving experience for both the patient and the family. Darcie reflects on caring for her mother, stepfather, and grandmother as each faced cancer, all from a distance. She remembers wanting to help but not knowing where to turn, and later realizing how much a companion with lived experience would have eased the fear and isolation. Her message is clear. Your role matters. Caring for yourself strengthens the care you give. Hope grows when someone walks beside you with understanding. Highlights: • Learn why caregivers often hide their stress and how that impacts the support system. • Hear how CanCare trains volunteers to provide safe, compassionate emotional space. • Understand why relationship-based matching helps caregivers feel seen and understood. • Discover simple communication habits that help caregivers support loved ones. • Gain insight into long-term caregiving needs and why support must adapt over time. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Book – www.cancare.org/hopebook COA - communityoncology.org About the Guest: Rose Gerber is a long-term breast cancer survivor and host of the Community Oncology Alliance podcast. Diagnosed while raising young children, Rose’s journey through treatment shaped her calling to ensure that others facing cancer are supported, informed, and heard. Today, she leads patient advocacy and education for the Community Oncology Alliance, managing the COA Patient Advocacy Network and working alongside oncologists, nurses, survivors, and policymakers across the country. Her work has taken her to Washington, D.C., national media platforms, and community cancer centers nationwide, empowering patients and protecting access to community-based cancer care.
Ep 39

Two Diagnoses: One Mission

with Don Williamson
How do you hold on to hope when cancer returns years later? Meet Don, a two-time thyroid cancer survivor, CanCare volunteer, and ministry leader whose journey runs on faith, family, and service. His first diagnosis came at 22 after a biopsy led him from strep throat checks to major surgery in New England; years later, as a husband and father, he faced cancer again in Houston. Through both chapters, Don anchored to prayer, community, and a growing conviction that every day is a gift. He shares how a frightening diagnosis reshaped his priorities, deepened his relationship with God, and opened the door to unexpected love as he reconnected with Jeanette, now his wife of 34 years. Don’s “but God” turning point led to action. He began encouraging fellow patients at the hospital, then launched a church ministry called HOPE—Healing Others through Prayer and Evangelism. Today, as a trained CanCare volunteer and Ambassador, he walks beside others so no one faces cancer alone. Listeners will hear practical ways to find courage, invite support, and keep perspective when responsibilities feel heavy. Don’s message is simple and strong: you are not alone, hope is real, and better days are ahead. Highlights: [02:42] – Finding strength through faith after a shocking diagnosis
Don shares how a simple sore throat led to a cancer diagnosis at 22 and how prayer, family, and his church community grounded him when everything changed. [07:12] – What happens when you discover God is truly enough
During his second diagnosis years later, Don explains how his faith deepened and how he learned to trust God’s plan even when fear and uncertainty returned. [14:58] – Why hope is more than wishful thinking
Don defines hope as “confident expectation” and shows how perspective and purpose can replace fear, even when circumstances don’t change. [21:10] – Turning pain into purpose through service
After finding healing, Don began visiting other patients, then launched HOPE—Healing Others through Prayer —to help others walk through cancer with support and faith. [28:55] – The lasting power of connection and laughter
Don and Darcie reflect on how encouragement, humor, and community keep hope alive, proving that no one should ever face cancer alone. About the Guest: Don Williamson is a 2x cancer survivor, loving husband, father, and man of faith. First diagnosed at just 22 years old with Stage III thyroid cancer, Don’s journey through cancer strengthened his faith and led him to a love story he never expected. Years later, as a husband and father, he faced cancer again, which led him to create a ministry for others facing cancer. Today, Don shares his story to inspire others and volunteers with CanCare to support those who are walking a path he understands well.
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