Morning Medical Update

When Alecia Bone was diagnosed with cancer, she needed a bone marrow donor. Her match was found thousands of miles away in Wales. That stranger became so much more than a donor. Today, Alecia calls him family. And her story has come full circle. She's now part of a team working at the very cancer center where she once received care. ❤️ It's a story of hope, connection and the people who change our lives in extraordinary ways.

Army veteran Sid Giffin typically shies away from the spotlight, but his story marks a significant milestone for himself and The University of Kansas Health System. Sid marks the 2,026th liver transplant achieved in the year 2026. Gratitude and emotion shine through as Sid walks us through his remarkable story and second chance at life.

Broadcast journalist Alyssa Jackson was 26, healthy and busy chasing stories when she found a lump. A mammogram revealed the most common form of breast cancer. This young reporter shares how that diagnosis and an advanced treatment plan changed everything.

She was a nurse caring for patients, then suddenly she became one. A shocking stage 4 diagnosis. An aggressive fight. And now, no evidence of disease.

Rita Jones was pregnant with her fourth child in July 2025 when she discovered a small lump in her breast thought to be a routine pregnancy change. After giving birth, the lump had doubled in size, leading to a devastating triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis. With four small children to raise, Rita relied on advanced treatments at The University of Kansas Cancer Center and is now cancer-free.

For 31 years, Rachel Frank searched for answers to her joint pain, eye troubles and a host of other health challenges until she came to The University of Kansas Health System. Specialists discovered a rare genetic mutation tied to a very rare congenital condition that had gone undiagnosed since birth, finally giving Rachel answers and a new understanding of how to manage her health.

Mary Kay Sillyman thought her chronic fatigue and illness were caused by a gallbladder problem. It turned out to be leukemia. The shocking diagnosis set Mary Kay on an eight-year course of treatment that has her in remission and grateful for her family, cancer team and advances in cancer treatment.

After making one promise to herself to never miss a mammogram, Cheryl Williams was diagnosed with breast cancer. She beat it with aggressive treatments. Then the cancer came back and this grandmother faced it with help from her family, cancer team, and by taking eight pills a day.

She's a busy mom who thought her stomach problems were nothing serious. But Mandy Riemer trusted her gut and pushed for a colonoscopy that revealed a massive tumor and stage 4 colorectal cancer. Now, after aggressive treatment and a decade out, she's sharing her story about trusting yourself and your cancer team.

After more than 20 years living with a chronic autoimmune disease, Peggy Czaplewski's liver is failing. She needs a transplant. Not sick enough to qualify for the deceased donor list, her only hope is a living donor.