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 65

Brave Enough to Choose Joy

with Shannon Donohoe-Simpson
Listener Advisory: This conversation touches on sensitive topics, including sexual assault. Please take care while listening, and feel free to pause or skip ahead whenever you need. How do you find the courage to ask for help and rediscover joy after a breast cancer diagnosis? At 35, Shannon Donahoe-Simpson was raising one-year-old twins when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease. Now a TEDx speaker, storyteller, and advocate for wholehearted living, Shannon shares how one of the hardest seasons of her life became the start of a profound personal transformation. Through chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and the challenges of caring for her young family, Shannon learned the power of community, emotional healing, and allowing others to help. She opens up to Darcie Wells about the childhood trauma she began to confront during her cancer journey and the healing she found through counseling, support groups, and honest conversations. Her experiences also shaped how she advocated for her son as he navigated autism. Today, Shannon helps women find the courage to choose joy, even after deep pain and loss. Her story is a reminder that healing doesn't have to happen alone, asking for help is an act of bravery, and hope can begin with one small step forward. Highlights:  Why receiving help can be harder than offering it.  How shared experiences can ease feelings of isolation.  The connection between vulnerability and personal growth.  Learning to release control when life feels uncertain.  Making room for grief without closing the door to joy. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Shannon’s Website -https://shannondonohoesimpson.com/ About the Guest: Shannon Donohoe-Simpson is a TEDx speaker, storyteller, breast cancer survivor, and self-proclaimed joy bringer from Vancouver Island, Canada. In 2009, a year after welcoming twins and at just 35, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive breast cancer. Today, she helps women become brave enough to choose joy and step fully into authentic, wholehearted living.
Ep 64

Not Just Doctoring. “Humaning”

with Dr. Jason Rosenberg
“What if healing after breast cancer could mean coming out stronger? Reconstructive surgeon Dr. Jason Rosenberg shares how compassionate care and survivor sisterhood help women rebuild their bodies and their hope.” What does it take to heal emotionally after breast cancer, and how can connecting with someone who's been there make a difference? For more than 24 years, reconstructive microsurgeon Dr. Jason Rosenberg has helped women rebuild after breast cancer. Trained at MD Anderson Cancer Center, he understands that breast reconstruction is about more than physical healing. He joins Darcie Wells to share how compassionate care, honest conversations, and survivor support can restore hope during an uncertain time. Recognizing how isolated patients often feel, Dr. Rosenberg created the Butterfly Sisters, a peer support network connecting women facing breast cancer and reconstruction with others who understand their journey. He shares how these relationships ease fears, build confidence, and remind women that life continues beyond treatment. His perspective became even more personal after losing two sisters to cancer. Through those experiences, he gained a deeper understanding of the emotional toll on families and caregivers, including the helplessness of watching someone you love suffer. This heartfelt conversation offers guidance on choosing a breast reconstruction surgeon, advocating for your needs, and supporting loved ones without feeling responsible for fixing everything. It's a reminder that healing takes many forms, hope can exist alongside uncertainty, and no one should have to face cancer alone. Highlights:  Healing Beyond Surgery: Why emotional recovery deserves as much attention as physical healing.  The Power of Shared Experience: How connecting with survivors can ease fear and isolation.  Finding the Right Medical Team: What matters when choosing doctors you can trust.  Support Without Fixing: How caregivers can offer comfort when they can't change the outcome.  Hope Beyond the Diagnosis: Finding meaning, connection, and moments of joy during cancer. Mentioned Resources: CanCare- www.cancare.org Dr. Rosenberg’s podcast - https://linktr.ee/srppodcasts About the Guest: Dr. Jason Rosenberg is a reconstructive microsurgeon with 24 years of experience walking beside women through breast cancer — before, during, and long after surgery. Trained in general surgery under renowned breast surgeon Dr. Ted Copeland and in reconstructive microsurgery at MD Anderson. Dr. Rosenberg founded the Butterfly Sisters patient network and the Survive and Thrive events, both built on the belief that patient-to-patient connection is a form of medicine. He describes his work not just as doctoring, but as “humaning.”
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