Haddonfield Artist Lets One Painting Say a Thousand Words of Thanks

Award-winning artist and painting instructor Phyllis Hewitt was healthy all her life until the 62-year-old Haddonfield resident, wife and mother of two started experiencing a chronic fever, exhaustion and nausea in spring 2009. 

After extensive testing, Hewitt was told she had liver cancer. Hewitt came to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital after doctors at another facility were unable to pinpoint where Hewitt’s cancer originated. Dr. Victor Navarro deduced that, in fact, Hewitt didn’t have cancer, but rather liver damage caused by herbal supplements she had taken. 

Hewitt’s only hope was a liver transplant. She was added to the transplant list and waited five months until she was transplanted in the spring of 2010.

“I am grateful Dr. Navarro was my doctor,” says Hewitt. “He is a world expert.  He diagnosed me, rallied for me and ultimately saved my life. I wanted to honor him somehow and thought what better way than with one of my paintings.”   

“Phyllis’ strength and depth of character show through in her artistic work,”  Navarro says. “I am honored to receive her painting. I see it as a gift to every patient who faces liver disease, no matter what the cause.”

Hewitt plans on painting her medical experience month by month and calling it the “Transplant Series.” View more of her work at her online gallery.