A Father’s Fight to Survive

Charles “Buddy” Walker was in complete disbelief after being diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary liver cancer. An American Liver Foundation (ALF) patient advocate, living donor liver transplant recipient, and father of three, Buddy said, “My symptoms began in May 2023. I was experiencing extreme fatigue and had pain in my right shoulder and upper back. I visited a chiropractor and a pain management specialist, both of whom suspected this was neurological, but all those tests came back inconclusive. Then, during a routine visit with my pulmonologist in August 2023, I was having difficulty breathing and I told my doctor I didn’t think I’d be able to perform the required tests. After observing me for a bit, she suspected it could be congestive heart disease and suggested I go to the ER. When I arrived, they performed a multitude of scans and tests, and 28-hours later, I was diagnosed with liver cancer.”

Liver cancer is the most rapidly growing cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. with rates doubling since 1980.

With over 100 different liver diseases caused by various genetic, lifestyle or environmental factors, understanding your risk for liver disease is essential. Buddy said, “My doctor thinks I developed HCC after years of living with undiagnosed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)”, formerly called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition in which there is a buildup of extra fat in your liver cells. “For most of my life, I thought that as long as I exercised routinely, I could eat and drink whatever I wanted and still maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

As soon as the reality of his diagnosis set in, Buddy began to fight. His wife, Kathy, and three children, Kyle, Kelley and Derek, served as his motivation even when intense immunotherapy and radiation treatments left him in dire condition. Buddy said, “My daughter, Kelley, with whom I share a love of music, would send songs like, Someone Who Loves Me by Sara Bareilles, and Soon You’ll be Better by Taylor Swift, both of which made me cry, but also spurred me on. Another time, when I was in a very dark place, I overheard my youngest son, Derek, say to his brother and sister, I don’t think this is the end for Dad, I’m still betting on him. That statement motivated me tremendously and made me want to rally.”

Despite eradicating the cancer from his liver, Buddy was still in need of a lifesaving liver transplant, but because of his low MELD score, his only hope for survival was to find a living donor. Thankfully, his son, Kyle, was a perfect match! Kyle said, “When I found out my dad had liver cancer, I was devastated. Initially, I did not know that living donation was an option, but once I found out, I began the screening process with the hopes of being a match. It is hard to watch someone you love and idolize live with physical pain and suffering, especially your dad. I was determined to do whatever I could to give him the opportunity to continue living a great and fulfilling life with his family and friends.” On January 21, 2025, Kyle successfully donated a portion of his liver to his father, Buddy, giving him a second chance at life.

Nearly 9,300 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving liver transplant.

Approximately 25% of people on the liver transplant list will die waiting due to lack of available organs, or because they are too sick for surgery. Buddy said, “Living donors are heroes – they are literally saving lives. People don’t realize how many patients will die while waiting to become eligible for liver transplant. I’m sure that if it weren’t for Kyle, that would have been me.” To help raise awareness and fill this growing need, ALF will be launching a new Living Donor Network for non-directed donors later this summer. Unlike directed donors who give to someone they know, the Living Donor Network will allow non-directed donors to offer the gift of life to individuals they may never meet, expanding access to this critical care. Kyle said, “I want people to know what a great opportunity it is to be able to save the life of someone you may or may not know. It is something you will never regret.”

This month, we salute all the dads, driven to rally on and be there for their loved ones, even during the toughest of times. Thank you, Buddy and Kyle, for sharing your story and for helping us spread the word about living donation. For more information about liver disease or living donor liver transplant, please visit our website.