Diana was a full-time journalist when, at the age of 34, she experienced a stroke that impacted her movement and left her with spasticity.

“I didn’t know if I would ever walk again,” Diana says, “or if I could feed myself.” She suffered from intense pain and had difficulty moving. But despite the long road ahead, she was grateful to be alive.

Today, eight years later, Diana lives a full and busy life. She drives, cooks, does her own makeup and plays games with her family. She credits the love of her husband and children, alongside treatment and therapy, for her incredible progress.

“I discovered that I could be strong and overcome difficulties and even give strength to other people who are going through what I have,” Diana says. “To be able to walk again today, hand-in-hand with my husband, makes me very proud.”

Steve has been diagnosed with kidney cancer twice. After initial success with a nephrectomy, his cancer returned in January 2018. This time, his doctor said there was no treatment available. “He advised I would probably be put on life-extending drugs,” Steve says. “I asked how long they would last, and he said maybe four years.”

Steve was scared to think that he might not be there for his family. He learned about an alternative treatment option and today, he is in long-term remission.

During his illness, Steve found support from groups like Action Kidney Cancer. He now works as group counselor to support others.

“I wouldn’t be here today without the research,” he says. “It gives me the opportunity to be with my children, my wife, my family, as we grow.”

Collette spent almost 20 years going back and forth between different doctors and treatments, before she was finally diagnosed with PBC.

“In those days there was no treatment; there was nothing,” she says. “I was told I had five to seven years or the option of a liver transplant.”

Given the lack of information, she put a listing in a national newspaper to find out if there were others living with PBC. She was inundated with responses from people who suffered personally or who had loved ones living with the disease.

Determined to spread the word, she founded The PBC Foundation, dedicated to providing support and information to those affected by PBC.

“To know that my situation has helped others in their PBC journey, is very precious to me,” she says. “And thanks to receiving treatment, I can now live my life.”

In September 2012, when she was 21, Caitlin received news every child dreads: her father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had been given three months to live.

Defying the odds, her father’s cancer initially went into remission after surgery. It came back three years later, and Caitlin moved home to help with his care. “Often,” she says, “you’re so focused on your loved one that you don’t think about how it’s impacting you. His health became our number one priority. At the time, I was in survival mode myself.”

The experience taught Caitlin the importance of accepting help as a caregiver. “The best way to care for the person you love is to make sure you’re getting the care you need.” Driven by the desire to help people going through the same challenges, she got involved with advocacy group PanCAN following her father’s passing.

“My dad always said three things make a good day,” Caitlin says. “Help someone, learn something new and get one thing done.”