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“What inspired me was my kids. Living for my children. My faith in myself and in the doctors.” – Kara Thornhill

“That day was the worst day of my life.” At 37, Kara Thornhill was living a fulfilling life with her two young daughters and a blossoming teaching career when her world was abruptly shaken. In March 2017, persistent symptoms of intense itching, digestion issues, and fatigue led her to visit her doctor. Initial tests, including blood work and an ultrasound, revealed a troubling mass. Further investigations with a CT scan and MRI confirmed her worst fears: on May 8th, Kara was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%.

Kara learned this cancer was terminal, with treatments that could only prolong life. Despite the grim news, she resolved to move forward for her daughters. “I’ve got to put one foot in front of the other. I’ve got to do this,” she told herself.

Referred to The Princess Margaret, Kara was offered an experimental protocol developed by a team of doctors, including her Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Laura Dawson. The multi-disciplinary effort combined liver transplant, radiation oncology, and medical oncology into a unique treatment plan. It involved numerous tests, surgical procedures, and four weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy, aiming for a liver transplant. Though uncertain, it was her “best chance at long-term survival.”

With her family’s support and guidance from Dr. Dawson, Kara pressed on. Her family helped with childcare, meals, appointments, and even lived with her in a Toronto hotel during treatment. Kara’s sister Tanya ultimately volunteered to be her liver donor.

“I am beyond blessed for the support and love from my family,” Kara reflects.

Family support carried Kara through and inspired her to overcome her diagnosis. She became the eighth person in Canada to successfully complete The Princess Margaret’s protocol for cholangiocarcinoma. Today, Kara is NED (no evidence of disease). “When you have two human beings who depend on you, you can’t crawl into bed and cry,” Kara says. “You’ve got to keep moving.” Four years after that terrible day, against all odds, she’s doing just that.

 
Kara’s letter to her former self after surviving terminal cancer.

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