“We had just moved to Orange County and were excited about enjoying this next chapter of our lives,” Seth recalls. “Cancer was the furthest thing from our minds. When we received the diagnosis, everything changed.”
Walking into City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center for their first appointment, the couple felt overwhelmed with uncertainty. But the warm welcome they received immediately helped put them at ease.
“We walked in carrying so much anxiety,” Parizad remembers. “But everywhere we turned, people were kind, patient and reassuring.”
Their first consultation was with Jeffery S. Yoshida, M.D., medical director for urologic surgery at City of Hope Orange County, who specializes in robotic prostate surgery.
“What meant the most to us was the time Dr. Yoshida spent with us,” Seth says. “We had a lot of questions, and he never made us feel rushed. He explained everything clearly and his patience and compassion gave us confidence that we were in the right hands.”
At the time, City of Hope Orange County had not yet received the equipment needed for robotic surgery, so Seth's procedure was scheduled at City of Hope in Duarte. The couple began preparing for the travel and logistics involved in treatment and recovery.
Then, just weeks before surgery, they received unexpected news: the robotic surgical equipment had arrived in Irvine, and Seth was offered the opportunity to become the first patient to undergo robotic surgery.
Their answer was an immediate yes.
“We were elated,” Parizad recalls. “It meant Seth could have surgery close to home in a place where we already felt comfortable and cared for. Instead of worrying about traffic and logistics, we could focus on Seth's recovery.”
As Seth recovered, the couple’s fear gradually gave way to gratitude. They reflected on the many people who had supported them, from their nurse navigator and physicians to the nurses, caregivers and staff members who made each visit easier.
“We made a promise to ourselves,” Parizad says. “Once Seth’s health was back on track, we wanted to help others the way people had helped us.”
The experience also changed Seth's perspective on compassion.
“Compassion isn't just something you talk about,” he says. “We saw it in action every day. We felt it in the way people listened, explained things and cared for both of us. That compassion gave us strength when we needed it most.”
Today, Seth and Parizad proudly give back as volunteers at City of Hope Orange County. Drawing from their own experience as patient and caregiver, they help connect others navigating cancer with resources, encouragement and support.
For Parizad, volunteering is a meaningful way to honor the care they received. She felt that City of Hope Orange County cared and supported not for only Seth as a patient, but also for her as his loved one and caregiver.
“City of Hope showed us that healing is about more than medicine,” she says. “It's about people, their kindness, compassion and willingness to care. We were given so much during our journey, and now we want to help others feel a little less alone.”
For the Sethnas, giving back is deeply personal. It is their way to thank the team that cared for them and helped transform one of the most difficult chapters of their lives into something meaningful.
“We are deeply indebted and eternally grateful to the medical team and staff at City of Hope,” Seth says. “City of Hope gave us more than hope. It gave me a new lease on life, gave us confidence when we were scared and vulnerable and the expertise we needed to move forward. It reminded us that hope is not only found in medicine.”
By supporting patients and families facing their own challenges, Seth and Parizad pass forward the same comfort, encouragement and hope that meant so much to them.