From a terrifying diagnosis to training for a marathon: Abigail’s miracle story

In 2019, 23-year-old Abigail Phillips began experiencing sharp pain every time she inhaled. Her doctor diagnosed her with pleurisy and told her to take ibuprofen. But within weeks, her condition worsened dramatically – she began passing out and knew something wasn’t right.

“For the next six months, I was in and out of doctors’ offices undergoing test after test,” Philips said. “The only thing they could find was a consistently high white blood cell count.”

Eventually, she was referred to a hematologist. A CT scan, then a PET scan, revealed something alarming: a suspicious mass in her left lung and diaphragm. Two biopsies later, she received the diagnosis: malignant pleural mesothelioma. She turned to Google and what she found was devastating.

“Everything online said this cancer mostly happens to older people who worked in shipyards or were exposed to asbestos,” Philips said. “That wasn’t me. I was 23.”

And the doctor who diagnosed her did not give her good odds. “The doctor basically told me I was going to die,” Phillips said. Her case was presented during a chest tumor board at Highlands Oncology in Arkansas, where she was referred to Dr. Taylor Ripley, a thoracic surgeon and mesothelioma specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

“Mesothelioma in someone so young is incredibly rare,” Ripley said. “But we’re starting to see the disease in younger patients.”

Despite the daunting odds, Phillips committed to the treatment plan. She started with a round of immunotherapy through a clinical trial before undergoing a major surgical procedure.

“She had an extended pleurectomy and decortication, which is a lung-sparing operation that removes the disease but leaves the lung in place,” Ripley explained. “It’s one of the most complex operations we do, but it offers the potential for long-term control in some patients. Abigail was a perfect candidate because of her youth, strength and attitude.”

After surgery, she completed three months of chemotherapy. Through it all, Ripley’s guidance was a source of reassurance. “He never talked down to me,” Phillips said. “He explained things in plain English and prepared me for everything. I’ve experienced a lot of doctors over the years – I’ve seen all kinds of bedside manners, personalities and knowledge – but I’ve never met another doctor like Dr. Ripley. He’s not only incredibly knowledgeable, but he also genuinely cares about his patients.”

Now, five years in remission, Phillips has defied another expectation: she became a mother. “They told me the treatment would likely leave me infertile,” Phillips said. “But now I have a son and a daughter.”

Another surprise to Phillips: she has become a runner. “After everything, I needed to know I could breathe again,” she said. “So, I started running. Gradually, longer and longer distances. Then, a year after my son was born, I ran my first half marathon.”

In one unforgettable moment, her daughter crossed the finish line with her. “It was monumental. I was told I wouldn’t survive, that I’d never have children. And here I was, running with my daughter.”

Today, Phillips is training for a full marathon and has bonded with a close-knit running community. She also shares her story online, connecting with others around the world – including a fellow mesothelioma patient in Europe.

“She’s one of those remarkable patients who takes the worst news imaginable and turns it into something powerful,” Ripley said. “She didn’t just survive – she rebuilt her life and found a new purpose.”

Baylor College of Medicine offers clinical trials for patients seeking new treatment options. The NEMO trial studies two immune checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy—or ICIs alone—before surgery, followed by one year of ICIs after surgery.

“The NEMO trial is designed to evaluate how immunotherapy affects surgical outcomes and long-term survival,” Ripley said. “We hope these strategies will continue to improve the way we treat mesothelioma.”

For mesothelioma patients, a personalized approach is essential. Ongoing research and advanced surgical techniques are helping doctors improve survival rates and quality of life.

Ripley and his team are currently enrolling mesothelioma patients in the NEMO trial. For more information or to enroll, call 713-798-5530.

By Tiffany Harston, senior communications associate in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery