**Father Receives Life-Saving Liver Donation from Daughter Following Cancer Battle**
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In a remarkable act of love and sacrifice, Tom Duncan has been declared cancer-free after his daughter, Kelly, donated a portion of her liver to him. The touching story began in October 2022 when Tom visited an emergency department to treat a kidney stone, only to receive life-changing news about his health.
During the examination for the kidney stone, doctors discovered 13 lesions on Tom’s liver, leading to a diagnosis of liver cancer. This devastating revelation came as a shock, especially for someone who led an active lifestyle, often found running, lifting weights, and hiking alongside his daughter. Reflecting on the news, Tom shared, “It’s probably just part of my personality, but I was like, how am I going to beat this?” His optimism during this challenging period encouraged both him and his family.
Over the subsequent years, Tom underwent a rigorous treatment regimen, which included chemotherapy, several surgeries, and various liver treatments. Unfortunately, despite his courageous fight, the cancer continued to return. By 2025, doctors presented him with a potential solution: a liver transplant.
At this critical juncture, Kelly Duncan, an oncology nurse working at Scripps Cancer Clinic in San Diego, stepped forward. After testing, she discovered that she was a perfect match for her father’s needs. “It went from something that I deal with at work to something that I was dealing with now at home,” Kelly recounted. The situation quickly became personal for her.
However, the decision to undergo surgery was not without its own challenges for Kelly. During this time, she was also navigating significant life changes, including her recent marriage and a house move. “Honestly, one day I had the thought of, if this didn’t happen, what our lives would look like,” she reflected. “And that to me was way scarier than the surgery itself, so it was a pretty easy decision for me.”
Tom and Kelly journeyed to the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital in New York for the surgical procedure. Before their operation, they took the opportunity to capture the moment, posing together in coordinating hospital gowns, a memory of solidarity as they faced the surgeries that lay ahead.
Following the successful transplant, Tom has emerged as cancer-free, a triumph that brings immense relief and joy. The father and daughter now plan to celebrate this monumental milestone by hiking another mountain together, a symbolic nod to the shared love of the activities they cherished before his illness.
Expressing his gratitude, Tom said, “Without crying, just thank you, and I love you.” Furthermore, he emphasised his commitment to making the most of his new lease on life, stating, “I’m trying to make this liver go as long as I can make it last so you feel like everything you did was worthwhile.”
The bond between Tom and Kelly has deepened throughout this ordeal, showcasing the strength of family ties in the face of adversity. Their story serves as an inspiring reminder of the profound impact of love, support, and selflessness during a time of crisis.
As they prepare for their mountain trek, both father and daughter look forward to a future filled with hope and shared adventures, grateful for the second chance that has been given to them through Kelly’s extraordinary act of courage.