I’ll never forget the moments I was told the news of my loved ones having cancer. It’s the truest definition of helpless- all priorities change, perspective immediately shifts, and time suddenly becomes a hyper fixation. We want to help, I want to help, but there's only so much we can do.



My Saba Sami was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer when I was 16 years old, nearly 9 months later, he was gone. Nothing prepares you for losing a key link in a family, and nothing will ever replace it. The physical pain he endured is immeasurable, and the emotional pain myself and all those close to him feel will never dissipate.



I fight because my story is not unique. It’s not rare or even remotely uncommon. Give or take a few details, it has been lived many times over and variations of it will continue to be experienced. Cancer should not be our great unifier, nor our common thread. So while I dedicate my fight to Saba Sami and Aunt Smadar, I fight in hope and belief there will be one less story like mine in the future.