Loretta Zamora is a testament to both modern medicine and the power of faith. Diagnosed in 2024 with an aggressive liver cancer that few institutions in the world would have operated on, Loretta not only survived but thrived, crediting God's hand and the exceptional care at CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital for her miraculous recovery.
Today, she is cancer-free, a living example of hope and divine intervention.
"God just gave me peace," Loretta reflects, her voice filled with a conviction that underscores the journey she endured. This peace, she explains, was her constant companion from the moment she first learned of the unsettling "spot" that would quickly evolve into a life-threatening mass.
A Routine Checkup Leads to an Urgent Discovery
Her story began with a common, routine annual exam in early 2024. As a diabetic, Loretta was diligent about her health. During her annual visit, Dr. Munni Selagamsetti (Dr. Setti) noticed slightly elevated markers. He sent her for a sonogram, which revealed a "spot," initially dismissed as a possible "shadow."
The radiologist recommended Loretta get an MRI of her abdomen. On July 5, 2024, Loretta went in for her MRI and was called by the radiologist with the critical finding of a large liver lesion measuring 9.4 x 6.4 cm and a portal vein clot. At her follow-up with Dr. Setti, an urgent referral was sent to medical oncology/hematology.
At the appointment with Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, Dr. Logsdon recommended she visit with a surgical oncologist to see if she was a candidate for surgery. Dr. Herman Peters, surgical oncologist with CommonSpirit, confirmed the gravity of the situation. What began as a potential cyst soon became an undeniable mass in her liver.
Dr. Tashinga Musonza, hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon with CommonSpirit, is the surgeon who would ultimately save her life. He felt the mass by pressing on her stomach. The official diagnosis was advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis.
“Without treatment, half of the patients with HCC do not make it past four months,” Dr. Musonza says.
Peace in the Face of Uncertainty
Surprisingly, "It didn’t hurt," Loretta remembered, a curious detail that underscored the nature of her illness. Despite the grim diagnosis, Loretta stayed positive and faithful to God.
"I’m not going to worry about it," she declared, a sentiment rooted in her own resilience. She knew how to handle stress and knew where to turn. "I started praying," she recounts.
Loretta also knew surgery was the next step. "It’s a mass, it needs to come out."
Expert Surgical Care at CommonSpirit
The surgery itself was a tedious six-hour procedure: a right hepatectomy, removing the right lobe of her liver. While her family paced in the surgery waiting room, Loretta found solace in her faith.
"I had peace about it. Learned to give it to God," she says.
In the days leading up to the operation, she didn’t crumble; instead, she got to work.
"I needed to get things in order. I started cleaning and preparing," she remembers. Post-surgery, Dr. Musonza communicated every detail, explaining that the pathology revealed what all the doctors suspected - Stage 3 Hepatocellular carcinoma. Dr. Musonza also informed her that her margins were clear but by less than 1 mm. He recommended that she continue to attack this aggressively and initiate immunotherapy with her medical oncology team.
She began a regimen of Atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, an intravenous medication designed to target cancer cells. After three cycles of this specific regimen, Dr. Logsdon reported that the medication seemed to be worsening her cancer because her MRI revealed multiple new satellite metastases within her liver. Dr. Logsdon offered a new treatment option following his discussion with the CommonSpirit GI multidisciplinary team - a different immunotherapy of ipilimumab/nivolumab, also known as Yervoy and Opdivo.
Loretta knew God had not left her and she was still determined to fight despite this temporary setback. She embarked on a cruise with her daughter, scheduling her immunotherapy around the trip. But even faith doesn't always prevent challenges. A reaction to her immunotherapy – a "hit" she called it - sent her rushing to St. Francis Hospital. She was having abdominal pain, confusion, weakness, and fatigue. It was later determined that she was experiencing an adrenal crisis, a serious side effect of her immunotherapy.
Once again her team of doctors helped correct these new issues so that she could get back to her immunotherapy and live her life.
A Mission to Share Hope
Now, Loretta is on a mission to inspire others.
"I want to give everyone hope. In fact, hope the size of a mustard [seed] will do it."
Even on days she felt unwell, Loretta made a conscious effort to present herself with strength. She would get up, get dressed, put on makeup and jewelry to feel good on the outside. Loretta believes her entire journey was divinely orchestrated.
"God ordained all of this."
From finding her exceptional primary care provider, to Dr. Musonza returning from training just when she needed him, to the team at CommonSpirit Penrose who tackled the complexity of her case – every step affirmed her belief.
'Be Safe, Don't Be Sorry'
Her advice is simple, yet could save someone else’s life: "You need to get checked. If you’re not feeling well, you need to get checked out…Be safe, don’t be sorry. I’m very fortunate."
Her faith, the support of her family, and the exceptional medical care at Penrose Hospital converged to create a true miracle. Loretta’s story is not just one of survival; it is a testament to the power of God, who, she knew, was in control every single step of the way.
