To my dearest Dr. Teoh, Dr. Reynolds, Kandice, and the rest of my fantastic team,

I remember thinking my world was going to end. I remember feeling as if I was lifting off this earth or disappearing. I remember having to tell my boyfriend, my mother, my father, my brother, my extended family, and my friends that I had cervical cancer at age 27.

I remember being completely in shock and afraid to enter the “cancer center.” I went into the waiting room, shaking, and then got brought into the hospital room, where I totally closed up. I was looking at the floor when there was a knock on the door, and I saw these beautiful shoes, with the perfect amount of heel—and I’m a big fan of high-heeled shoes. I looked up to find my Dr. Teoh. A sense of calm shot through my body, and I knew I was going to be all right.

Dr. Teoh, you helped me through my treatment, told me I was cancer-free, and checked on me. You guided me when I wanted to start a support group for other women with cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancers.

Dr. Reynolds, you got me through one of the scariest times in my entire cancer journey when you helped Kevin get me to the exact right place when I had a blood infection. I remember thinking, “Wow, she cares about me.”

Kandice, you always checked in on my mental health along with my physical health. When I was scared that my cancer had come back, you always calmed me down. 

I love each of you and will never be able to show how truly thankful I am for you. I am a completely changed person because of my cancer and the wonderful care I received. I want to be a stronger and better person because of you. 

– Lily Taylor, who marked five years of remission in June, in a letter to M Health Fairview gynecologic oncologist Deanna Teoh, M.D., and radiation oncologist Margaret Reynolds, M.D., and Regions Hospital nurse practitioner Kandice Tolic, N.P.