Read more: Local, State, Health, Community, Love Heals, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, Levi Kelly, Dr. Tony Decarolis, Colorado Springs, Modern Medicine
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Pulitzer Prize winner Willa Cather once wrote, "Where there is great love -- there are always miracles."
That's exactly the belief behind a new campaign the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers are practicing. Proving that a little love can go a long way in changing, and even saving, people's lives.
"Love Heals is a program in which we're putting together our best latest treatment, best drugs, best technology along with a caring loving environment for our patients and their families to heal," Dr. Tony DeCarolis said.
It's helped Levi Kelly, diagnosed two years ago with an aggressive stage four cancer that spread from his arm to his ribs and lymph nodes.
"Am I going to live through this? Is this just going to be a 'game over' type of thing? You know, we had a good run. I was trying to keep a strong mind. Trying to keep faith most of all," said cancer survivor Kelly.
Now cancer-free, Kelly inspires others and reflected on words he shared with a special friend. Advice he will never forget.
"A kid that actually passed away from cancer -- he was in the hospital when I was first in the hospital and all he told me was never give up. Never give up. It's going to get hard. It's going to feel like you're losing, like it's the end, but never give up. And I'll never forget that because he never did. It just got the best of him," Kelly cried.
Patients, families and staff feel that love shows in many ways, but all agree it's an unconditional power when you just can't help doing good to others.
"It's a friendly gesture. It's encouragement. It's a hug. It's all those things. It's just being a friend, and when you can put that together with great treatment, I think it's a pretty powerful tool," DeCarolis said.
Kelly's now making up for lost time encouraging his parents to be a little more lenient.
"Definitely more lenient I would think. Sometimes I would pull the cancer card on them like, ah, you know, 'I just got done with cancer,' but that's kind of cruel. I don't pull that one too much," laughed Kelly.
Kely's a result that love heals and is grateful for all his support.
"They're amazing people," Kelly said.
