Investigative journalist Victoria Price adopted her news team's model of being "on your side" for her viewers in Tampa Bay, Florida. About a month ago, one of her viewers was on her side in return.
Last Thursday, Price shared in a tweet that she will be going in for a procedure today, Monday, June 27, after receiving a tip from a viewer a month ago to have her thyroid checked.
In her tweet, Price confessed her health has been far from her mind during the pandemic.
"As a journalist, it's been full throttle since the pandemic began. Never-ending shifts in a never-ending news cycle. Adjusting to remote workflows and in my case, taking on a new investigative role. We were covering the most important health story in a century, but my own health was the farthest thing from my mind."
"Until a viewer emailed me last month."
"She saw a lump on my neck. Said it reminded her of her own. Hers was cancer."
"Turns out, mine is too."
Price explained there were some delays, due to the pandemic, but now she's on her way to recovery.
"[The pandemic] created some diagnostic delays but I'll finally be undergoing surgery this Monday to remove the tumor, my thyroid, and a couple of the nearby lymph nodes. Doctor says it's spreading, but not too much, and we're hopeful this will be my first and last procedure."
Price also expressed her thanks to the viewer and her community for their help.
"Had I never received that email, I never would have called my doctor. The cancer would have continued to spread. It's a scary and humbling thought."
"I will be forever thankful to the woman who went out of her way to email me, a total stranger. She had zero obligation to, but she did anyway. Talk about being on your side, huh?"
You can view her full tweet here:
Fans of WFLA and fellow reporters reached out to Price after the tweet, voicing their support and gratefulness that she was getting treatment.
It can be incredibly frustrating to receive unsolicited feedback about your appearance, especially from someone you don't know.
But in this case, it was a real lifesaver.
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Travis Whitfill
Travis Whitfill