The Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association has published "I'd Rather Be Dead Than Deaf: A Young Woman's Journey With Liver Cancer," the journal of 15-year-old Adrienne Wilson who died from liver cancer. The book features her writings about life, relationships, music, and Los Angeles, along with full-color prints of her award-winning artwork. Adrienne was diagnosed in May 2001 while maintaining a 4.0 GPA as an honor student who had received a UCLA Creative Writing Scholarship and completed fine art studies at the Ragan Art Academy as its youngest accepted student.
Association President Andrea Wilson Woods stated the book covers the period from one year before Adrienne's diagnosis until weeks before her death. All proceeds from the book support Blue Faery's free programs for patients and families. The association's mission focuses on preventing, treating, and curing primary liver cancer through research, education, and advocacy initiatives.
Blue Faery maintains an online Liver Cancer Community for patients and caregivers and provides free comprehensive patient education through its Patient Resource Guides for Liver Cancer. The organization runs three public education programs: Love Your Liver, The Truth About Liver Cancer, and You and Liver Cancer. The book project received support from Exelixis, Elevar Therapeutics, and Eureka Therapeutics.
This publication matters because it brings attention to primary liver cancer while supporting patients through the association's programs. Liver cancer remains a significant health concern with limited public awareness compared to other cancers. By sharing Adrienne's personal journey, the book humanizes the disease while directly funding resources for those currently affected. The association's educational materials, including those available through their Patient Resource Guides, provide crucial information for patients navigating diagnosis and treatment.
The book's release demonstrates how personal narratives can drive both awareness and practical support for medical conditions. For the publishing industry, it represents a meaningful collaboration between nonprofit advocacy and corporate sponsors focused on health education. Readers gain insight into the teenage experience with serious illness while contributing to liver cancer research and patient assistance through their engagement with Adrienne's story.
