When Wayne walked into Baylor Scott & White All Saints last summer, he had just heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”
What followed was an 11.5 hour surgery to remove his voice box, thyroid, and lymph nodes. He woke up unable to speak, eat, or even breathe the way he once did.
Wayne describes those first days as terrifying, “I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t communicate. ICU was a nightmare.” Then, something changed. Lauren, the head and neck oncology nurse navigator at the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center, walked into his room.
Lauren didn’t just explain what a laryngectomy meant. She gave Wayne and his wife a roadmap for their new normal. She taught them how to communicate, breathe safely, and prepare for life after surgery. She introduced them to the tools and resources they needed, and most importantly, she gave them hope.
Today, Wayne is back on the golf course. He even scored his third hole-in-one! He says, “Without Lauren and the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center, we had nowhere to go. I strongly encourage everyone to support this program. It helped me tremendously.”
The Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center is fully funded by philanthropy through the Baylor Scott & White All Saints Health Foundation. Every service—from patient navigation to support groups—is offered at no cost to patients and families. And anyone can access these resources, whether they are treated at our hospital or not.
As the year ends, will you help ensure that patients like Wayne never face cancer alone?
Your gift today will provide:
- Expert patient navigators who guide families through every step
- Education and emotional support during the most overwhelming moments
- Lifesaving resources for patients across our community and beyond
During this season of giving, your generosity can bring hope, healing, and a path forward to every person who turns to the center in their most difficult moments.
