Katie Couric: Turning Grief Into Purpose

November 17, 2025

Precede Foundation

In a moving piece, journalist Katie Couric shares how her nephew, Dr. Ray Wadlow, turned unimaginable loss into a lifelong mission of hope. After losing his mother, Couric’s sister, Emily to pancreatic cancer, Dr. Wadlow dedicated his career to preventing others from enduring the same heartbreak.

Couric recently honored him with the Nobility in Science Award at the inaugural PRECEDE Gala, celebrating his work with the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium, a global effort to dramatically improve survival rates through early screening. With over 60 leading institutions and 10,000 high-risk patients enrolled, PRECEDE is rewriting the story of a disease once deemed untouchable.

Couric’s reflections are deeply personal and profoundly inspiring and a reminder that grief can become fuel for change, and that compassion and science together can save lives.

Read Katie Couric’s full article below!

https://katiecouric.com/health/cancer/emily-couric-son-ray-wadlow-oncologist-award/

Knowing When To Ask For Help

There’s strength in recognizing when you need additional support. If you’re feeling consistently overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed, it may be time to speak with a healthcare professional. Warning signs can include ongoing sleep trouble, loss of appetite, or emotional numbness.

Mental health care is an important part of cancer recovery. There are therapists, social workers, and cancer-specific counselors trained to support your unique needs. Don’t hesitate to seek them out.

Your medical team can help adjust medications or recommend physical therapy if your symptoms are impacting your daily life. Being honest about your struggles allows your care providers to offer better, more personalized support.

The path to recovery from pancreatic cancer is rarely straightforward. It’s a mix of triumphs and setbacks, strength and vulnerability. But through each high and low, healing is happening. Be gentle with yourself. Allow space for rest, reflection, and growth.

You don’t have to go through this journey alone. With the right support, emotional, physical, and practical, you can move forward, one step at a time. And remember, every day you show up for yourself is a victory.

At TrovaNOW, we’re focused on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Every test and discovery brings us closer to better treatments and saving lives. Join us and learn more at TrovaNOW.

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