This month’s newsletter is all about you — the City of Hope® stories you loved and the progress you made possible. As you can see, it was an incredible year.
Our CEO, Robert Stone, said it best in a popular article from July: “While a cancer diagnosis can change everything, so can hope.”
Hope truly matters. This idea is exemplified by Jason’s story, another one of the most-read stories of 2024. Jason is a Navy veteran and father of three who faced a terrifying Stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis at age 35.
The cancer had spread to his liver. His doctors in Kansas considered his cancer inoperable and could only offer chemotherapy. They told him he would be on it for life, not knowing how long that might be. Jason nearly lost hope — until an online community pointed him to Yuman Fong, M.D., City of Hope’s Sangiacomo Family Chair in Surgical Oncology and a world-renowned liver surgeon.
Dr. Fong offered Jason a different path, although it was not an easy one. It included a 12-hour surgery, a cancer recurrence, followed by radiation and more surgery. Jason endured and, as a result, he has gone 2 ½ years without chemotherapy and has remained without detectable cancer in his body for more than 16 months.
Jason has emerged from his multiyear battle with gratitude and a strong desire to help others. He estimates he has referred more than 150 people to Dr. Fong. He also volunteers his time to advocate for men with colon cancer and is starting a wellness retreat in Hawaii.
This is the ripple effect of hope. Philanthropic support advances research and care that saves lives. In turn, those people inspire more hope and more giving — and the cycle of discovery speeds up.
I am so grateful to Jason for sharing his story. And I am grateful to each of you for all the ways you contribute, cheer us on and activate your communities on our behalf. On behalf of all of us at City of Hope, I wish you all peace, prosperity and good health this holiday season.
Warmest wishes,
Kristin J. Bertell
Chief Philanthropy Officer
P.S. There is still time to make a year-end tax-deductible gift to City of Hope. Donate online here to designate your gift to the area that means the most to you or honor a loved one with your contribution. Every gift makes a difference.