Miracles on York Avenue: Inspiring Stories from MSK Patients & Staff

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

My favorite holiday film, “Love, Actually” has an opening scene that still resonates with me 20 years later. Hugh Grant states that when the world feels gloomy, he thinks about the arrivals gate at London’s Heathrow Airport. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection. Love, it seems, is all around. “You just have to look for it,” he says.

The holidays are again upon us, and today we are celebrating the human connection in medicine. We'll share stories of the extraordinary power of innovation, hope, and love right here at MSK. With a hat tip to another holiday classic, we’re calling it “Miracles on York Avenue” and it's a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Hello, I'm Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and welcome to Cancer Straight Talk. We're bringing together national experts and patients fighting these diseases to have evidence-based conversations. Our mission is to educate and empower you and your family members to make the right decisions and live happier and healthier lives. For more information on the topics discussed here, or to send your questions, please visit us at mskcc.org/podcast. 

In this first story, we meet Pauline, an avid runner who was unfortunately diagnosed with ovarian cancer earlier this year. Her doctor, Vance Broach, is an MSK GYN surgeon. He was actually planning to run the New York City marathon this past fall as part of Fred’s Team. That’s the official running group of MSK, dedicated to advancing MSK’s mission to end cancer. What happened next is nothing short of remarkable: Pauline, along with Dr. Broach and Dr. Moe Byrne, a GYN fellow at MSK, ran the marathon together, finishing hand in hand. Let’s hear from this trio of runners and what this experience meant to them.

Pauline:

These are some of the happiest, happiest moments of my life. It's like literally this photograph of me just running towards you, Dr. Broach, and my arms are open, and your arms are open. It is genuinely mind-blowing to actually pause and think about: you meet someone that saves your life, right? You run a marathon and then you hug someone who's like, cut you open and pulled out your insides. It's just beyond strange to think about the connection in so many different ways.

I'm an ovarian cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at the beginning of January, and that really began our relationship. 

Dr. Vance Broach:

I met Pauline at the end of January 2024. In her recovery, getting to know Pauline a little bit more, we sort of connected over a shared interest and love of running. I mentioned that I was running the marathon this year for Fred's Team, and Pauline mentioned that she was hoping to run. As time progressed and it became clear that Pauline was going to be able to do this, during the spring and summer as we were both getting geared up and training for this, we trained for this marathon together. Then eventually come November, we were able to run it together, which was unquestionably the most special running experience I've ever had, and the best, most fun marathon I've ever been able to do.

Dr. Reidy:

I think one of the most indelible memories that you shared was the three of you crossing the finish line hand in hand. I could get teary eyed just thinking about it. 26.2 miles of one marathon, but clearly doing another marathon, which is caring for you Pauline, and you going through that treatment. Dr. Byrne, can you share with us what that was like for you?

Dr. Moe Byrne:

Yeah, and I'll try not to cry. So I'm one of the clinical fellows on the surgical team, and I actually didn't care for Pauline during her initial course with Dr. Broach. We all connected as she was thinking of joining Fred's Team. We had messaged back and forth. I let her know, “You are inspiring our whole team. Every time you felt like a run was hard or you were tired getting out of the OR.” Thinking of the fact that she was doing this while going through chemo, while recovering from a huge major abdominal incision, it just really put things in perspective and really helped us remember why we run for Fred's Team. She kind of personified that for all of us in the best way possible.

Pauline:

Moe's texts to me, it's just one of the most precious texts ever. It's like, “You don't know me. I work on the team and we're tracking you, and you're inspiring our team.” I was like, “I can't believe that I inspire you.” It's just incredible. Thank you so much.

Dr. Vance Broach:

We wouldn't have missed it for the world. It was the absolute best.

Dr. Moe Byrne:

We couldn't imagine doing it any other way. Crossing that finish line, I’m going to tear up, but this past year with Pauline and running and getting to know her has been instrumental for all of us and that'll be a memory. I texted my husband like, “That's the peak of my career, getting to do that with one of our patients.”

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

I love that story. The next story is an example of how our research extends beyond the MSK walls and patient population. It highlights how the work being done in the labs at MSK benefits all cancer patients throughout the country and world.

Jessica is a 29-year-old who was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 3 rectal cancer. She was found to have a genetic mutation, which allowed her to benefit from a groundbreaking colorectal trial pioneered at MSK – the first-ever trial with a 100% success rate – led by Drs. Andrea Cercek and Luis Diaz. In California, Jessica’s local oncologist followed that trial protocol and gave her immunotherapy. As a result, Jessica achieved a complete response, sparing her from the toxic effects of radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Just an IV drip of immunotherapy and her cancer went away. Earlier this year, Jessica reached out to MSK because she wanted to personally meet Dr. Cercek and thank her for saving her life. Let’s listen as they meet for the very first time.

Jessica:

Hi! Oh wow, it’s like meeting a real-life celebrity.

Dr. Andrea Cercek:

Hi, it’s so good to meet you!

Jessica:

It’s so nice to meet you. How is everything?

Dr. Andrea Cercek:

Good, good. How about you? You’re in California?

Jessica:

Yes, San Diego. I’m getting into my new normal now. Treatment’s done. Everything’s clear.

Dr. Andrea Cercek:

Congratulations, that’s the best news.

Jessica:

Being able to have beat cancer and sit here and talk to you, the person that literally made all of this happen. I am here because of all the work that you did!

I was diagnosed with stage 3 rectal cancer in January 2024. We started immunotherapy treatments in February. We talked a lot about all of the findings from the Memorial Sloan Kettering clinical trials, what that meant, the information that was presented. And then when my oncologist said, “We’re going to follow a clinical trial from Memorial Sloan Kettering,” I was like, “Whoa.”

Dr. Andrea Cercek:

It was meant to be.

Jessica:

This was meant to be! Being in San Diego doesn't change the fact that I’m still impacted by the hospital that I always knew to be the place to get care for cancer.

Dr. Andrea Cercek:

It's just an incredible feeling to know that we could reach someone like you, that you were able to benefit. That's the most rewarding thing there is. It goes beyond the trial. It goes beyond our experience here, but it can be applied to everyone that has this type of cancer. To see how well you’ve done, it’s amazing. Thank you. Thank you for reaching out. It’s incredibly meaningful, honestly.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

Dr. Cercek’s message is so powerful, and I think she nailed it in terms of how we clinicians feel. That’s the joy of what we do every day, and finding stories like Jessica’s is truly remarkable.

This next story is from a patient named Tara, who benefited from a screening program to detect pancreatic cancer. As most of you know, one of the biggest challenges with pancreatic cancer is that it’s often found too late, when it’s already metastasized. She shares her expansive gratitude. Let’s take a listen.

Tara:

When first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I tried to rationalize it. It was caught early, so I must be okay. They will remove it, and I will be cured. But then I cried. Not the pretty kind of crying, but the inconsolable type where you can't breathe and you have snot coming out your nose.

On the chalkboard in my kitchen, I wrote the phrase, "Logic over emotion." Logically, my cancer was stage 1A with no lymph node involvement. It was caught early. It could be surgically removed. There was hope. Surgery was hard, but chemo was harder. When I thought I couldn't do it anymore, I just kept showing up. Going for a walk, practicing yoga, or stretching every day was a lifesaver for me. The hardest part was not judging myself on what I thought I should be able to do. I finished chemo on Halloween of 2024. Next up is a clinical trial. People call me brave, but I am not. I just keep showing up.

This holiday season, I am most grateful for the little things: days when I feel good, the ability to look for joy in things, a hug, the feeling of hope, a card in the mail, the strength to take a walk, and calls from family and friends. And I am grateful to have found people going through this cancer journey with me so I am not alone.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

What an incredible journey. This next story is a beautiful love story about the magic of finding love after two tragic losses. Let’s take a listen.

Brett:

I'm Brett Ravage. My husband Aaron was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, and he passed away in 2019.

Tom:

My name is Tom Scalera. My wife Rebecca Timlin-Scalera was a breast cancer patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Rebecca passed away in 2019.

Brett:

Tom's wife Rebecca was a friend of mine. Rebecca was always a source of inspiration for me. Once my husband had passed away, she was the only person I could really tolerate being around because she got it. Rebecca knew that her time was limited. I had promised her that I would always look out for her family and specifically her children.

When Rebecca passed away, I wanted to do for Tom and the kids what my friends and community did for me, which was to make me feel love. So I used to drop off little things at the house and then I would text and say, “Hey, just dropped some groceries off.” You know, Tom checks on me like, "Hey, you just moved, like, how are you doing?" And I'm like, “Not good.” And he's like, "Why don't you come over for a drink and you can just escape a little bit. It'll be good for both of us."

So I took him up on it and the two of us, we were like two soldiers just coming back from war. We sat there all night until 3 in the morning talking about diagnosis and treatment and death and grieving and kids and like, we went through the whole thing. It was so cathartic and amazing to go through it. It was the first time in a long time that I actually felt connected to somebody, and somebody who got me and got what I went through and vice versa. You're like seen and heard and it was really, it was so beautiful. I walked away and I was like, “Of course this is the person that Rebecca would choose to fall in love with. This guy is just as incredible as she is. This guy is going to be my best friend.”

Tom:

It was all of that, and then you just happened to be really cool. We hadn't laughed with other people. Everything I needed to ever know about Brett, I met that night, and then just confirmed and reaffirmed since then.

Brett:

It’s interesting because when she was alive, Rebecca had similar views. She was definitely a visionary, and she actually was the one who brought us together.

Tom:

Rebecca said, "Look, by the way, someday you're going to meet Brett and you're going to understand why she's the chosen one." And that was all that she said. And I said, “I don't want to have this conversation. I don't like this road we're going down. Too weird, not doing it.” It obviously stuck with me, but we wouldn't have known each other if we tripped over each other at the grocery store.

She makes this comment to me, but I wasn't the only one. She made the comment to three of our mutual friends. So when we told these people what had happened, not knowing that Rebecca had told them, they said, “Oh my God, I have been waiting for this conversation because Rebecca sat in this chair, and she told me that this was going to happen someday, and she swore me to secrecy,” and nobody talked. There was dancing. There were tears.

Brett:

And of course, if anybody could pull this off, it's her.

Tom:

So fast forward to 4 or 5 months ago, we got engaged and then we quickly put the wedding in motion. It’s all happening.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

Congratulations to Brett and Tom and their families. What a story. This next story comes from our early drug development team. They’re the people who lead our early-stage clinical trials. And one of those trials is giving hope and the gift of time to Marley, a young mom with stage 4 lung cancer.

Marley:

My name is Marley, and I'm a 35-year-old from Pennsylvania. In June 2023, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with stage 4 ALK-positive lung cancer. As a non-smoker and an active mother of two young boys, lung cancer was never on my radar. The diagnosis was terrifying, but I started a treatment with a targeted drug that worked for a few months. Then in February 2024, a CAT scan revealed that the cancer had become active again and had spread. That's when I was referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering. Like a deer in the headlights, I navigated the city and became a patient under the care of Dr. Drillon and his exceptional team. I joined the Nuvalent clinical trial, a promising drug to treat ALK cancer. Since starting this trial, my cancer has shrunk and remains dormant. I'm doing remarkably well, and I feel remarkably well.

This holiday, I'll be carrying the Christmas decorations up the steps without having to take multiple breaks or shortness of breath. I am able to ring in the new year with my family, to see my sweet boys enjoy holiday traditions, and make new memories. I'm grateful for all of the love and support surrounding myself and my family, the brilliant team of doctors and nurses and staff throughout MSK. I have learned to appreciate even the smallest of victories. Cancer, you're not in control, and for that, I am truly thankful.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

What an incredible journey. This next story moved us as it is an example of how it can “take a village” to care for a young patient, and boy, did this warm my heart. Ryan is a 23-year-old young man with autism. He lives with his parents, Dee and Tony, in New Jersey. He is highly energetic and quite the prankster. He’s also completely nonverbal. In his mother’s words, he has the mind of a 4-year-old. He doesn’t understand cancer. Yet in June of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Ryan was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer.

In this next story, I speak with Ryan’s mom and dad about how they navigated that terrifying and uncharted territory. I also speak to Ryan’s oncologist, Dr. Sam Funt, the leader of a care team made up of more than 50 people across MSK who came together to not just treat Ryan’s cancer, but keep him happy, calm, and comfortable in the process.

Dee:

He knew there was something wrong with him. He wasn't feeling well. I called his teacher and I asked if they could make a social story for young people that are nonverbal. It's with pictures like a little kid would have. It says, "I might lose my hair. I might feel sick and nauseous and throw up and it's okay." So it was in a way that he was able to understand because it's a language that they use at school.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

Dr. Funt, what were your first impressions of Ryan and how do you navigate that as a doc?

Dr. Sam Funt:

His autism posed a particular challenge. When I first met him, I saw that he was pacing all the time around the room. They had told me that he required anesthesia and sedation just for routine vaccinations. So to be able to get this 12-week chemotherapy program in, I knew right away it was going to be really challenging and I was really fearful that we weren't going to be able to do it.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

So how do you put together such a plan?

Dr. Sam Funt:

There was definitely no playbook to follow, but one of the first pieces of advice was to put in a MetaPort in a special location. A MetaPort is how we administer chemotherapy often, but it often sits in the front of the body, in the front of the chest. Dr. Bajorin had told me that he had a patient where they were able to place a MetaPort in the back, so patients wouldn't be able to reach it. One of our pediatric surgery colleagues, Dr. Gerstle, was able to place the MetaPort in the back and so that was important.

We have a tremendous child life team that would actually decorate Ryan's room ahead of the admission with posters. He was really into Barney at the time. I'm not sure if he's still into Barney.

Dee:

Yes, he is. It was very, very, very obvious that the care was phenomenal. They truly did care for Ryan. The Barney posters and the toys and the clay. They treated him like a typical person and they didn't ignore him.

Dr. Sam Funt:

We would have Barney posters and iPads and clay and sensory beads, and it would all be decorated ahead of time, which is not our typical process. So even the admitting colleagues in the admissions office, everyone was aware that Ryan was coming.

We had a fantastic pediatric anesthesiologist, Dr. Vittoria Carlon, who is just so instrumental. She and I would meet Ryan upon arrival, and then administer a sedative and start chemotherapy. And we had psychiatry involved also to help control his mood. So it was just really a tremendous team effort, and we did this multiple times over multiple admissions. We were ultimately successful because of all the different people that were involved and invested in Ryan's care.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

That is absolutely remarkable.

Tony:

Lots of compassion.

Dee:

A lot of compassion. A lot of compassion and care from everyone. All the nurses, the staff, the child care team, they all went above and beyond, and you could see it. You could see it.

Dr. Sam Funt:

It was just incredibly rewarding for me, and I know it was for all of the different people that were involved in his care. You should have seen the emails that were sent out. There would be like 50 people CC'd, it's no exaggeration. And everybody asks about Ryan still when I go up to the 18th floor. Oh, here comes Ryan.

Dee:

You want to say hi? Is there something you want to tell everybody?

Dr. Sam Funt:

Hi Ryan.

Dee:

What do you want to say?

Ryan:

Thank you Dr. Funt for all that you have done for me. To all of the nurses and staff at MSK, thank you.

Dr. Sam Funt:

So nice Ryan. Thank you.

Dee:

Say bye-bye.

Ryan:

Bye.

Dr. Sam Funt:

He did great.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

That was beautiful. Really, really beautiful.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

That one makes me tear up. By the way, because Ryan is nonverbal, he used a computer device to speak to us during that interview.

This next story truly is a miracle and highlights Cecilia, a patient with advanced esophageal cancer who was cured on a clinical trial at MSK. Throughout her treatment, she developed a special bond with her care team, especially nurse leader Tara Griffin. Let’s take a listen.

Tara:

I am Tara Griffin, and I am a proud MSK lifer. I've been a nurse at MSK for 27 years. Cecilia came in, advanced esophageal cancer, and esophageal generally would have, at the time, a very poor prognosis to begin with. When she arrived to us, she was wheelchair bound, very thin, and she had this large tumor the size of a grapefruit on her neck. I think her legs were swollen and she was weak. But you know what, I remember her smile. Whether she was uncertain about how the day was going to go or nervous, she was still smiling and came in very pleasant.

Cecilia:

And when I got into the room, Tara is always that person. Once I saw her, she had this broad smile, and she was just so receiving.  She was angelic to me. I just wanted to be in the arms of someone who would just take me through, and I think Tara was the force for me that day.

Tara:

When Cecilia had gone on the trial, it was considered what's called a basket trial. So it was drugs that, at the time, were proven for another type of cancer, but they hadn't shown efficacy against her type.

Cecilia:

After a couple of treatments, it showed signs of response. And now I am happy to say that I have no evidence of the disease for 7 years, and I'm doing well. I thought it was the end of the road for me, but I'm still here and I'm still going and still thriving. Tara is exceptional. She's just Tara. Her smile envelopes others, and then you can see that there is hope, and there is light.

Tara:

There are some who just stick out and stick with you for life. Hearing her say this, it really gets me choked up. Cecilia, hearing you say that I was like an angel for you, God, it's just so deep for me. That there is inspiring me to do whatever I can because you never know how much you touch somebody's life. At the core of this, it is a privilege to care for these patients and families. And for you to say that I'm like an angel or beacon of hope, then I know I've done what I needed to do.

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

That’s a lot of love around us right there. What an incredible human connection they developed.

And now a personal story. Although I treat all my patients as if they were family, this year cancer hit my own home, twice. First, my father-in-law was treated for cancer for a 3rd time here at MSK, and then my own dad was diagnosed with advanced esophageal and primary liver cancer at the same time. I called my dad to ask him to share his thoughts. Let’s take a listen to that phone call.

Steve Reidy:

Hello, my name is Steve Reidy. Last March, I was diagnosed with cancer and it scared the daylights out of me. So I turned to God for help, and he sent me my daughter, my own daughter, and her group at Memorial Sloan Kettering to fix it for me. Now it’s December, and I don’t have cancer anymore!

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

I am so grateful to my colleagues who cared for both of them. To those touched by cancer, as a physician and caregiver, I see you and I understand you. Cancer is hard and awful, but please know there are healthcare professionals behind you with an unwavering dedication to you and your loved ones. You are the reason we do what we do every single day.

We want to close out with one of our patients, Michael, who benefitted from not one but two clinical trials. Following a successful immunotherapy treatment for lung cancer, he was unfortunately diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2020, but he is stable and thankfully doing well.

Michael is a writer and poet, who actually found a passion for writing after his cancer diagnosis. He calls it “cancer’s gift.”  As we close out this episode, let's hear the words of Michael as he shares something many patients can relate to: trying to find meaning in the unknown. This is his poem, called “Revelation.”

Michael:

Revelation

I’m standing not in the middle

but nearer to finding why I’m here

The universe pulls me closer

to answers whispering near

It’s not fear that grips my heart

but a quiet anticipation

mysteries yet to unfold

their deeper explanation

The road has been long

With its valleys and peaks

Each step brings me closer

to the understanding I seek

God’s plan is greater than I can fathom

each trial holds meaning above

A purpose drawing nearer

each moment woven with love

Not fear of the unknown

but a promise fills my soul

I rise each day for a reason still

the divine hand makes me whole

Standing at the edge of revelation

I feel the warmth of creation

Not fear of what’s next

But joy that swells inside

Peace and blessings

Dr. Diane Reidy-Lagunes:

Peace and blessings indeed. As these stories have demonstrated, I hope you find a little light, love, and connection this holiday season.

Thank you for listening to Cancer Straight Talk from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. For more information, or to send us your questions, please visit us at mskcc.org/podcast. Help others find this helpful resource by rating and reviewing it on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Any products mentioned on this show are not official endorsements by Memorial Sloan Kettering. These episodes are for you but are not intended to be a medical substitute. Please remember to consult your doctor with any questions you have regarding medical conditions. I'm Dr. Diane Reidy- Lagunes. Onward and upward, and a very happy and healthy holiday season to you and yours.