In Memory of Carla McCown

Carla’s Journey: A Tribute to Strength and Grace

Carla’s cancer journey began in June of 2021, when she noticed a subtle change in the peripheral vision of her right eye. A routine exam revealed a detached retina, leading her to see a retina specialist that very afternoon. Detecting a small mass, the specialist immediately referred her to Dr. Timothy Fuller, a leading ophthalmologist in ocular cancers. Dr. Fuller explained that the tumor was an ocular melanoma and presented several paths forward. After seeking second opinions, Carla made the incredibly difficult decision to have her right eye removed. Just three weeks to the day from her initial diagnosis, she underwent surgery for enucleation.

Following the surgery, Carla underwent DNA screening and a series of full-body scans to determine if the cancer had spread. Thankfully, the results were clear. For the next three years, her regular scans remained entirely clean. It was a massive relief, and we truly began to put cancer behind us. We looked forward to the three-year mark, knowing it was a major milestone—statistically, if ocular melanoma does not metastasize within three years, the future outlook improves significantly. 

Unfortunately, that milestone scan revealed three to four small spots on her liver, and a subsequent biopsy confirmed the cancer was malignant. Ready to fight, Carla underwent a Y-90 radioembolization treatment, which delivers microscopic beads directly to the liver to target and destroy the tumors. She also began immunotherapy. For about two years, these treatments worked wonderfully to keep the disease at bay. 

Ocular melanoma, however, is a relentless and aggressive disease. Eventually, the cancer began to spread, moving first into her lungs and lymph nodes. Carla transitioned to chemotherapy with the same quiet determination and resilience that had defined her entire journey, which once again granted her family more cherished moments together. 

However, the medicine eventually outpaced its effectiveness. Recognizing that her time was invaluable, Carla made the deeply courageous decision to step away from the grueling cycle of clinical interventions. It was a final, profound act of grace and agency—refusing to let her remaining days be dictated by the toll of treatments, and choosing instead to prioritize her comfort, dignity, and quality of life through hospice care. This choice brought a deep sense of calm to her final weeks, shifting the focus entirely away from fighting an illness and toward celebrating a life beautifully lived. Her final days were transformed into a sacred time of quiet conversations, shared memories, and an abundance of love. On September 25th, Carla passed away peacefully, wrapped in the gentle embrace and deep devotion of the family who meant everything to her. While the cancer may have claimed her physical sight, it never dimmed her vibrant spirit, which now lives on vividly in the hearts of everyone she loved.