When Sallie Bailey’s husband, John Bailey, was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) in July 2018, the news came as a shock. Just months earlier, his physical appearance showed no difference.
The first sign was subtle: jaundice in one eye. The jaundice quickly spread throughout John’s entire body, the point at which he and Sallie met with Benjamin Womack, MD, associate professor of Clinical Medicine. Despite the care of Womack, Patrick Yachimski, MD, MPH, professor of Medicine, and Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, associate professor of Medicine, John passed away in November 2018, only four months after his diagnosis.
“Until the jaundice appeared, there were no symptoms,” Sallie recalls. “It’s a silent disease, and by the time it’s detected, it’s often too late.”
John was more than a patient at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He was a man with a passion for good food and wine. A talented chef, he worked in San Francisco, Chicago, France, and Washington, D.C., before retiring from professional kitchens. Even then, he continued creating memorable meals for family and friends and sought out locally owned restaurants and new wines to enjoy. His welcoming smile made everyone feel special, and he loved traveling, especially to California wine country.
After moving to Nashville in 2011, Sallie and John chose Vanderbilt Health for their care because they valued being part of a teaching hospital. That decision connected them to a team of experts who provided compassionate care during an incredibly difficult time. Sallie’s experience inspired her to take action. Today, she supports research led by Ciombor and Yachimski, hoping to help scientists detect cholangiocarcinoma earlier and slow its progression.
“Ultimately, I hope researchers will find a way to treat the cancer so that it isn’t a death sentence,” Sallie says. “Dr. Yachimski and Dr. Ciombor have both told me their goal is to work themselves out of a job. I admire and support that goal.”
Through her gifts, Sallie honors John’s legacy in a deeply meaningful way. Her support helps researchers pursue earlier detection methods, develop treatments that slow disease progression, and improve quality of life for patients. It also fuels innovation in clinical trials and provides hope for families facing rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma. Every contribution moves science closer to a future where this diagnosis is no longer a death sentence.
“Particularly for a rare tumor type such as cholangiocarcinoma, contributions like Sallie’s propel our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of these tumors forward and set the stage for future therapeutic advances,” Ciombor said. “Philanthropic support such as Sallie’s provides critical resources at a time when patients with cancer need better treatment options more than ever.”
Learn more about supporting cancer research and making a gift by clicking here. When making a gift, please write in the comment field that you’d like your donation to support cholangiocarcinoma initiatives.
