Health advocate was speaking at an event when a stranger pointed at his neck — doctors later called her an 'angel' who saved his life
A stranger’s keen eye can spot something unusual in your body before you even notice it yourself. That's exactly what happened to one health advocate. Darryl Bigelow, known for promoting wellness through his company A Walking Vibe, was speaking at the Essence Festival in New Orleans when a stranger noticed something unusual on his neck. As reported by WSOC-TV on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the moment happened two years ago during the event, and later played a critical role in saving his life. At the time, Bigelow had no idea anything was wrong and was focused on encouraging others to live healthier lives.
Bigelow recalled that an audience member pointed out a visible bump on his neck after his talk. At first, he did not think much of it. “I would never even think about having cancer, it really changed my life,” he later told the outlet. After his mother pushed him to see a doctor, tests confirmed he had stage 2 thyroid cancer. Following Bigelow's life-saving diagnosis, Cancer surgeon Dr. Zvonimir Milas said the woman in the crowd is "an angel" who saved his life.
“I was scared to death,” the health advocate admitted, explaining that his thoughts immediately went to his mother and what would happen to her since he is an only child. Dr. Milas said that whenever someone receives a biopsy confirming cancer, there is always a moment of shock. Bigelow’s cancer was diagnosed at stage 2.
Doctors told him that early detection made treatment more manageable. “The earlier you identify most cancers, certainly thyroid cancers, the more easily it is treated,” Dr. Milas explained. Bigelow underwent surgery to remove his thyroid gland along with several cancerous lymph nodes. Remarkably, he was discharged the next day and shared a message of gratitude for being alive. Now, cancer-free, he speaks openly about his experience.
He said the journey took him on “a rollercoaster of ups and downs” and reminded others, “you don't even know what is going on in your body until you get checks.” He now encourages people to prioritize their health, adding, “It is okay to be selfish with your health,” and stresses the importance of having a strong support system during difficult times.
Sometimes, a serious health risk can be right in front of us and still go unnoticed, even by medical professionals. Hector Hernandez, 47, from Downey, California, learned this the hard way when his growing stomach turned out to be far more than weight gain. He believed he was simply “a big guy” and even said, “I thought I was just fat.” As his belly expanded and felt unusually firm, his arms and legs seemed to shrink. He also dealt with heartburn, constipation, and trouble breathing, yet early doctor visits did not raise concern.
When his stomach became “hard,” he pushed for more answers and received a shocking diagnosis, a rare cancer called retroperitoneal liposarcoma. On July 10, 2018, surgeon William Tseng performed a 10-hour operation to remove a 77-pound tumor. Hernandez later said, “I was really lucky,” grateful the surgery worked and that he avoided chemotherapy. Now recovered, he remains thankful for support from loved ones and continues regular checkups with hope for the future.
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