Cancer survivor says hospital valet worker’s five-word daily reminder helped her beat the disease — she later made his lifelong dream come true
A cancer diagnosis can strip even the strongest people of hope and positivity. During such difficult times, patients rely on all the support they can get. One survivor, 41-year-old Kate Fink, received this strength from an unexpected source. According to a CBS News report on October 2, 2026, the woman credits Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center valet worker Jon Avery with helping her through her breast cancer battle. Throughout her time in Buffalo, New York, the man ensured he kept her spirits high with five words. It made a deep impact on her, and in return, she had to do something special for him.
Avery has been doing more than parking cars at the center; he’s been giving patients hope. For Fink, this worked through a five-word reminder. “Keep pushing. You got this.” The woman noted how talking to him changed her entire mindset, giving her hope that she might actually be able to fight this. Willpower is a crucial element while battling chronic illnesses, and it helped Fink pull through. As a result, she wanted to do something out of gratitude. The woman recalled the worker mentioning that he had been saving up to go to a Buffalo Bills game. Fink knew just how to say thank you. She got together with her workplace, West Herr Automotive Group, and raised money to arrange tickets for a game.
Avery was touched by her gesture. His dream had finally come true. The worker didn’t do anything grand; he just showed thoughtfulness and dignity. When people spoke to him, they didn’t identify as cancer patients or as individuals with illnesses but rather as unique personalities, with interests, a sense of humor, and agendas of their own.
From giving high-fives to the little ones to treating the elderly like royalty, he knows just how to make them feel hopeful. When asked what his purpose was in having such interactions, Avery had a profound answer: “To have an impactful conversation that’s not hollow.” As he prepares for the big day, there’s another important reminder he wanted to share. "If I don't got nothing else in the world that means anything to anybody, I know I can live in service."
Mere words gave someone battling something as devastating as cancer new hope. Imagine the power they hold. In another story, a woman managed to realize how her statement during an Uber ride made a difference to an entire family. As she got into the car, the driver told her she looked much better. He later revealed he once drove her to her cancer treatment appointment.
During that drive, she simply said, “My spirit and my body were two different things.” She explained that she was leaving physical procedures to professionals and was focusing on her mindset to heal. Those words stuck with the driver. Later, when his own 12-year-old was diagnosed with cancer, he shared that perspective with his son. He urged him to focus on “feeding his spirit.” The son was later in remission. The man couldn’t help but thank her for those words that gave hope and became a pillar of strength.