Tim Mefford

Exceptional Cancer Care, Close By

Tim Mefford, 62, and his wife, Gina, provide day care for their nearly two-year-old granddaughter, Palmer, four days a week. He feels well enough to chase after her, laugh with her and watch her grow — a blessing Mefford does not take for granted.

In late December 2023, the Williamstown, Kentucky, native received a devastating diagnosis: he had pancreatic cancer. He had felt tired and his skin appeared somewhat yellow, or jaundiced, so he made a check-up appointment with William Threlkeld, MD, his primary care provider at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. His care team performed some tests and immediately referred him to Brent Xia, MD, a surgical oncologist at St. Elizabeth.

“Within four days, we knew it was pancreatic cancer,” Mefford says.

As hard as that news was to hear, this wasn’t Mefford’s first cancer diagnosis. He had successfully recovered from prostate cancer with treatment at a different area hospital three years previously. When it came time to seek treatment for his new cancer diagnosis, Mefford felt St. Elizabeth was where he needed to be.

“I can’t quite explain it, but something about Dr. Xia drew me to him. And I’ve been so happy about that choice. Anytime I emailed him with a question, he always called me right back with the answer.”

Attentive, Personalized Care

Before Mefford could undergo surgery to remove the cancer, he first received four rounds of chemotherapy overseen by Ivan Bedoya, MD, an oncologist at St. Elizabeth.

Then, in April 2024, Mefford had a pancreaticoduodenectomy — also known as a Whipple procedure — to remove the cancerous portions of his pancreas as well as affected parts of his small intestine, bile duct, gallbladder and abdominal lymph nodes.

Mefford credits Dr. Xia for taking the time to explain the complex surgery step by step, making it less intimidating. “He drew pictures and talked us through exactly what to expect at every stage,” Mefford says.

“Dr. Xia is just a phenomenal doctor,” Gina says. “St. Elizabeth is very lucky to have him.”

Following the nearly 12-hour surgery, Mefford recovered in surgical ICU. Six days later, Dr. Xia cleared him to head home. Once stable post-surgery, Mefford then faced six more chemotherapy treatments, the last of which wrapped up in September 2024.

“All of the St. Elizabeth team, including all the nursing staff, have been absolutely amazing through my surgery and chemotherapy treatments,” he says.

For Mefford, choosing to stay close to home for world-class cancer treatment offered more than just the benefit of convenience. He also felt a powerful sense of community.

“Before I retired, I taught high school history and coached basketball at Williamstown High School and Simon Kenton High School, two area schools. So, a whole bunch of my nurses have been former students of mine,” he says. “It was nice to see so many familiar faces.”

A New Chapter

Today, Mefford is cancer-free and feeling great. He is back to eating what he wants. Even better, he fills his days with the activities he loves, from golfing and hunting to playing with his granddaughter and following his favorite sports teams.

He also carves out ample time each day to check in on other family members, including his grown children and a six-year-old granddaughter who lives in Missouri.

“2024 was a tough year for many reasons. But I was also blessed in so many ways,” Mefford says. “I had a great care team and an exceptional family and friend group to support me the entire journey. And I do believe there’s so much power in prayer.”

For other patients who are perhaps just beginning their cancer treatment journeys, Mefford advises staying as positive as possible throughout the process.

“Stay close to your faith and listen to your body,” he says. “It’s so important to just keep fighting.”