02/26/2026
We would like to thank a very special advocate for speaking to our event attendees. Thank you, Jordan, for your support of the Cancer Gala & Co! In case you were not present at the event on Saturday, we have included her reflection below.
“I don’t want to believe this, but you are presenting with Stage 4 incurable cancer.
Those were the hardest words I have ever been told as a wife, a mother, and as a 28 year old woman. In an instant, my world shifted. Life became divided into before and after, and nothing felt certain anymore. Appointments replaced plans. Scans replaced milestones. And suddenly my days were measured in treatments and waiting rooms instead of ordinary moments.
In the middle of that overwhelming reality, Cancer Gala became a steady presence for me.
From tangible support like grants that help ease financial stress, to the broader sense of community and care they cultivate, Cancer Gala brought comfort into a season filled with fear and uncertainty. They help in the in-between moments, the moments people do not always see. In less than a year of fighting cancer, I have already had four surgeries, one of them just two days ago. In seasons like that, when your body is tired and your heart is heavy, knowing that support exists, and that it shows up, makes a meaningful difference.
What Cancer Gala offers goes beyond resources. They remind you that you are more than a diagnosis. More than charts and scans. More than the hardest news you have ever received. Through intentional support and genuine care, they remind patients that their story, their life, and their identity still matter.
The help from Cancer Gala, paired with the incredible support of our community, has taken weight off my shoulders in ways I cannot fully put into words. That support gave me the space and the confidence to share my story, to advocate, and to raise awareness. It helped turn something isolating into something purposeful, allowing me to speak up and fight back in the ways I can.
From the recipient side, Cancer Gala represents hope that shows up. Not just once a year. Not just in words. But in action. In community. And in a deep understanding of what cancer patients truly need.
Your presence here tonight matters. You being here and supporting patients like me brings light into places that often feel very heavy. It matters in waiting rooms. It matters in homes filled with uncertainty, like mine, where we are learning how to live fully while facing a life expectancy of 2.5 to 3 years, already nearly a year into that journey, alongside my incredible husband of almost eight years and our children, including our youngest who is four.
I am deeply grateful for the way Cancer Gala continues to turn compassion into impact. Because when cancer tries to take so much, Cancer Gala gives something powerful back: dignity, comfort, hope, and the reminder that none of us fight alone."
If you would like to contribute to the Hope Fund, our patient grant program, or to the Cancer Gala & Co., we invite you to visit our website.
www.cancergala.com
