Years ago, I was writing my heart out on ihelpc.com, sharing my experiences with liver disease, hoping to bring light and information to others walking a similar path. My website was growing, and so was my mission. I began partnering with hepatitis awareness organizations, contributing to health outlets, and stepping into advisory roles. I knew the power of a patient’s voice—but I had no idea how big that voice could become until I met Donna Cryer.
One day, I opened an email from Donna. She had recently founded the Global Liver Institute (GLI) and invited me to attend a patient advocacy training event in Washington, DC. I immediately emailed her back with my phone number. When she called within an hour, I was surprised, but also – something clicked. She spoke with passion and clarity about her vision for a new movement—*one that started with patients*. This inaugural training would be held at Georgetown University, where Donna earned her law degree after surviving her own liver transplant. That moment, a connection was made—and a lifelong friendship was born.
It All Starts with a Patient
Donna’s phrase, *“It All Starts with a Patient,”* became more than a theme. It became a movement.
A3: Advanced Advocacy Academy
GLI’s Advanced Advocacy Academy (A3) is now a powerhouse of patient empowerment. What started as a small, passionate training has grown into a global force. Hundreds of graduates have passed through the A3 program, each leaving with more than just knowledge—they leave with purpose. They also leave with connections. There is instant empathy between all the liver disease patients from the first meeting, and it grows through the years.
From that first class to now, I’ve seen firsthand how A3 transforms patients. They come in feeling overwhelmed, unsure of how to share their story or make a difference. They leave as leaders. These are people who’ve lived through unimaginable diagnoses—often still sick, still healing—and yet they rise. They use their voices on social media, in policy meetings, and at medical conferences to change the narrative around liver disease.
We represent every type of liver disease at A3:
– Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E
– Cirrhosis
– Fatty liver disease (NAFLD/NASH)
– Autoimmune hepatitis
– Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
– Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)
– Hemochromatosis
– Wilson’s disease
– Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
– Biliary atresia
– Liver cancer
– Transplant recipients and those still waiting
No matter the diagnosis, we stand together. We come from all over the world, and A3 has become our home base—a launching pad for action, advocacy, and lifelong friendship.
A Global Movement
Under Donna’s leadership, GLI has blossomed into a truly global organization. She brings together the medical community, AASLD, industry partners, and patients with one unified goal: to improve liver health outcomes everywhere. This isn’t just a U.S.-based initiative—it’s a *worldwide* movement.
GLI has created impactful campaigns that have changed the way we talk about liver health:
– **October is for Livers**
– **Liver Health is Public Health**
– **Beyond the Biopsy**
– **Rare Liver Disease Month**
Each one shines a spotlight on the patient journey, the science, and the urgency for change. Donna and her growing staff continue to push boundaries—and I am so proud to continue teaching and leading A3 events, helping new advocates find their voice and their power.
The Power of Patient Experience
Living with liver disease isn’t easy. Many patients are too sick or discouraged to bring their story into the public arena. That’s where GLI steps in. Under Donna’s guidance, patients are supported, uplifted, and trained. They learn how to speak clearly, confidently, and truthfully about their experience—and in doing so, they change lives.
We come together as strangers, but leave as family. We cheer for each other’s wins, support each other through setbacks, and stay connected for a lifetime. No one is ever truly alone in the GLI community. This family is growing, and every year I’m honored to invite new people into advocacy through GLI—because when one of us rises, we all rise.
How It All Started with a Friend
“It All Starts with a Patient” wasn’t just a clever slogan. It was Donna Cryer’s way of saying *this is personal*. And it all started with a friend—Donna—reaching out to someone like me. That spark grew into a fire that now burns around the world, lighting the way for others to follow.
From one patient’s story came a movement that spans continents, crosses barriers, and saves lives. That’s the power of connection, the power of community, and the power of believing that every patient has something to give.
And I’m just getting started.
With love,
XO Karen Hoyt
ihelpc.com | Global Liver Institute Advocate | Transplant Survivor
