THEN: Louis has always been a strategic thinker! We’re lucky to have him working to accelerate cures for kidney cancer.
For Louis, the 2014 loss of his friend to translocation renal cell carcinoma was a life-altering event. Joey, a family friend who shared Louis’s passion for art, passed away less than two years after his diagnosis, leaving a void that could only be filled with action. “He lost his life to pediatric cancer — a terrifying reminder that cancer can tear apart families and communities without a single warning,” Louis reflects. “Amidst that news, however, the initiative that his mom set forth via the Joey’s Wings Foundation amazed me in the sense that it brought to my mind that change, although difficult, is actively attainable.”
Coupled with the loss of another close friend to brain cancer in 2020, this tragedy solidified Louis’s determination to pursue a career in medicine. Today, as a sophomore at Brown University studying biology on the pre-med track, Louis is actively working toward his goal of becoming a pediatric oncologist. He now works in a cancer research lab studying DNA repair, combining his academic pursuits with his commitment to making a difference.
Art has always been a significant part of Louis’s life, and it became a powerful medium through which he could honor Joey’s memory and support Joey’s Wings, the foundation created by Joey’s mother, Kathy Liu. Louis and his twin brother decided to dedicate their first solo art exhibition to Joey’s Wings. “We were able to donate $7000 to the organization toward kidney cancer and pediatric cancer research during the show,” Louis recalls.
Their artistic contributions didn’t stop there. The brothers have also designed logos and art projects for the foundation, including symbols and medals for the annual Joey’s Wings 5K runs. Through these efforts, Louis has found a way to blend his creative talents with his commitment to advocacy, ensuring that Joey’s legacy continues to inspire and support others.
Louis’s commitment to advcocay is as strong as his dedication to research. He recognizes that change is necessary both in the lab and on Capitol Hill. “Without going to DC and seeking research funding and spreading awareness to the community at large through organizations like KidneyCAN or Joey’s Wings, robust new therapeutics and interventions could never reach patient hands,” he explains.
Through his work with Joey’s Wings and his participation in KidneyCAN’s Advocacy Days, Louis understands firsthand the challenges researchers face in securing funding.
Louis draws motivation from the collective effort of the cancer advocacy community. “On harder days, I remember that KidneyCAN, Joey’s Wings, and the cancer advocacy communities as a whole are built on strong, impassioned advocates who are all collectively fighting for patients,” he says.
Whether working in a research lab, organizing grassroots efforts, or advocating on Capitol Hill, Louis finds strength in knowing that his efforts, combined with those of others, are making a real impact.
You can join Louis and others in the kidney cancer community by participating in KidneyCAN’s virtual Advocacy Days. Share your story with Congress and help ensure that the lifesaving research funded by programs like the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) continues to grow.
