Bright light in the fight against cancer

Looking at his face, you wouldn’t know Don Higgins has liver cancer. Make that inoperable liver cancer. His brown eyes radiate joy. His smile greets you like a gentle hand on the shoulder.

When Don was diagnosed, he told his doctor, Ben Fangman, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist with NKC Health Cancer Care, he’d like to get a second opinion.

“Dr. Fangman told me that any doctor who tells you not to get another opinion shouldn’t be your doctor,” Don, 80, said with a sunny grin. “I thought, wow, that’s very nice of him. So, my wife, son and I went up to Rochester, MN and Mayo Clinic.”

While Mayo Clinic’s finest physicians were examining Don, clinic representatives from Rochester were in Kansas City, announcing NKC Health’s membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a worldwide collaboration that brings Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and resources directly to patients here at home with no added cost to them.

Heading up to Mayo Clinic, there were questions about the best way to treat a cancer that couldn’t be removed with surgery. Mayo Clinic’s research and expertise showed that immunotherapy without chemotherapy offered the best path forward.

“We were very relieved when we learned chemo was off the table,” said Maudie Higgins, Don’s wife of 61 years and high school sweetheart. “Many years ago, my mom lived with us while she went through chemo. We saw how tough that was on her. I’m glad Don doesn’t have to go through that.”

Medicine always marches forward. There are always new medications, new studies and new evidence giving hope in the fight against cancer. Membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network helps NKC Health providers stay at the forefront, whether it’s a cutting-edge new drug or insights from a clinical trial.

“With Don, I know his story, his needs and what matters most to him,” Dr. Fangman said. “By collaborating with Mayo Clinic specialists, we were able to confirm the plan together. That gave him peace of mind, knowing his care was built on both personal understanding and world-class expertise.”

Since joining NKC Health as an employee in 1985, Maudie has driven from their home to the hospital campus so many times she could do it in her sleep. She retired in 2003, though she still works one day a week.

During Don’s five-hour treatments every two weeks, Maudie is at his side. She passes the time with puzzle books or games on her phone, but the biggest part is simply being there for him.

“I don’t want to miss anything,” she said.

At their Grain Valley, MO home, built in 2005 on three acres, Maudie’s care steadies Don through the hard days.

“Don will probably say I’m overprotective,” Maudie said. “But I know how tired he gets and that he’s a lot weaker than he used to be. Sometimes carrying something up the stairs can leave him out of breath.”

“She won’t let me do anything,” Don said with a laugh before admitting that he and a friend recently installed new brakes on Maudie’s car. He also overhauled his zero-turn lawn mower and still goes out in the woods to check the trail cameras.

Don’s energetic spirit and enthusiasm make him popular at the NKC Health Infusion Center where he receives treatment.

“What makes this work so special is the bond we form with our patients,” Dr. Fangman said. “Unlike a primary care doctor, who you might see once or twice a year, we often see our patients several times a week, sometimes for hours at a time during infusions. Over months and even years, we really get to know each other. They share their stories with us, and we share a little of ourselves too. That connection turns into something deeper.”

Maudie takes comfort in knowing that the hospital she’s dedicated so many years to is now caring for her husband with the same compassion and commitment.

“This is my home away from home,” Maudie said. “I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me that the place where I’ve worked for so long, poured so much energy and hard work into, is able to provide this level of care.”

Don’s diagnosis in the fall of 2024 arrived just as NKC Health launched its independent and expanded cancer program. At the same time, Dr. Fangman joined the team, fresh off his service as chief fellow during his hematology and oncology fellowship at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.  

“When I heard NKC Health was opening its own cancer center, I said, ‘Go no further,’” Don commented. “They make you feel like they care and will make you as comfortable as possible. They joke with you and lift your spirits. That goes a long way when you’re facing a life-threatening disease – it’s not all gloom and doom.”

By the same token, staff look forward to Don’s visits. They love the way he lights up the room. They admire the obvious love between him and Maudie and the kindness he shows each visit, despite his diagnosis.

“Don’s positive outlook is contagious,” Dr. Fangman beamed. “It lifts everyone around him. Staying upbeat while facing cancer takes real strength, and Don has made the choice not to let cancer define him or bring him down. It’s no doubt a difficult time, but his spirit and determination give hope and encouragement to everyone who knows him.”

Learn more about the depth of our cancer services at nkchealth.org/Cancer.

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Joel Francis

Senior copywriter Joel Francis has extensive experience writing in a medical setting, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, KU Endowment at The University of Kansas Medical Center and Government Employees Health Association. He was also a long-time freelance music writer for the Kansas City Star.