Larry L.

Larry was diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer in 2003 and underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery—all successful. He knew then that he needed to help others get through their journey but didn't know how. Although he had been given a CanCare brochure at the hospital, it went to the bottom of the pile of other information he received.

Right after retirement, his church, Fellowship of the Woodlands, hosted a CanCare health fair. He went and knew then that CanCare was what he was looking for to give back. Larry contacted CanCare and was in the June 2007 training class, class #40.

He had no idea when he signed up that CanCare even went to hospitals. When it was talked about on Friday night of training, he was adamant that he would NOT do hospitals—it was too intimidating. But that changed completely. By the time training was over, Larry had signed up for four different hospitals.

Larry remembers one of his first patients in the radiation treatment center at Methodist that sold him on being a volunteer and, more specifically, being at a hospital. She was a lung cancer patient in her later 60s or early 70s, in a wheelchair, recently diagnosed. She was slumped down in her wheelchair, looking like she had lost her last friend. Larry introduced himself and told her he was a Stage 4 tongue cancer survivor. She got a big smile on her face, straightened up in her wheelchair, and asked, "YOU ARE?"

Currently, Larry volunteers at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, where he was recruited by Dr. Bob Boyd. He has been there ever since and is now in his tenth year as a hospital volunteer.

When asked about how CanCare impacted his life... I introduced myself and told her I was a stage 4 tongue cancer survivor. She got a big smile on her face, straightened up in her wheelchair, and asked "YOU ARE?" She was surprised. It was obvious I made a big impact on her, but what she didn't realize was how big an impact she made on me. From that point on, I realized how important it was for a cancer patient to have contact with a cancer survivor and be introduced to CanCare.

My words to pass along to anyone facing cancer... Don't underestimate the power of simply meeting someone who has survived what you're going through. Sometimes just knowing that someone has walked your path and come out the other side can completely change your outlook. That moment of hope and encouragement can be transformational for both the patient and the volunteer.