06 Oct 2026
A care worker from Harpenden has credited the residents he looks after with giving him hope as he navigates life with Stage 4 cancer.
AJ Villagracia was diagnosed with metatastic pheochromocytoma in 2024, an extremely rare cancer that affects the adrenal glands.
As hospitality team leader at Harpenden Springs, which opened on Grove Road in March, AJ makes sure residents at the 75-bedroomed care home are entertained and able to enjoy the lifestyles they choose.
While it is AJ’s job to make residents happy, the 31 year old says they give him just as much back.
“It’s important for me to give the residents here a great experience,” he said. “In return, they give me hope. We have cancer-survivors here, people limited by age or other health conditions and they remind me to make the best of every day. I might be living with cancer, but I feel very blessed.”
AJ moved to the UK from Seattle in the United States after marrying his partner, Toby. He started having abdominal pains in 2024, but initial scans and blood tests showed nothing of concern. When the pain wouldn’t go away, he was referred for a CT scan which revealed a 10cm tumour on his adrenal gland. He had surgery but just two months later, the cancer had returned. He underwent a second operation and was in remission for several months before being told the cancer has now spread to his bones and liver.
A programme of chemotherapy has seen significant improvements in AJ’s condition, so much so that he’s no longer suitable for a clinical trial to develop a new drug treatment. His manager at Harpenden Spring, Luciana Dobos, said despite his health issues, AJ is a ray of light around the home.
“He has such a bubbly personality and always comes into work with a smile on his face,” she said. “He approaches everything with a positive attitude and when he’s here, the residents are his priority, he wants to make their day as good as it can be. We give him time to attend appointments and get the support that he needs because he’s a hugely valuable member of our team.”
AJ lives in Harpenden and has found great support in the community. He regularly attends Harpenden Trust’s Cancer Ribbon Support group on a Wednesday afternoon, where he’s the youngest member by several decades.
“There are no words for how lucky I feel I am,” said AJ. “I have a great husband, the NHS, friends and a wonderful family. They live in America, but they still make the effort to visit me here in the UK whenever they can and call me almost every day. Their support has inspired me in my work, especially in the care home sector, where we strive to create a warm, family-like environment for our residents.
“I was an administration officer for a private hospital, but it was too much of a constant reminder of other people’s cancer journeys, and I wanted my role to have more meaning. Here, I’m excited to come in every day. There are rainbows and sparkles, not the grey and sad environment I thought elderly care would be.
“I am really blessed.”
