The Chemo Noir Story.

Cancer impacts everyone.  

We have all had that friend or family or colleague or child that has battled Cancer.  Some of us win, and for some of us Cancer wins. And fuck Cancer…it’s non-discriminant, unfair, ugly and takes everything.  It takes your body, your mind, your work, your money…but it can never take your soul, and Cancer will NEVER win that battle.

When Cancer strikes, you are fighting for your life, you are fighting for your support group and you are fighting the financial struggle.

For me Cancer all started on June 24, 2014.  

I embraced that morning, just like any other day.  A run on the beach and then as I was getting ready for a business lunch…it all changed. 

I woke up after a shower passed out on my condo floor…alone and confused. I was rapidly feeling indescribable pain, was having trouble breathing, was violently ill, and moments later…E.R. bound.

They revealed to me that I was internally bleeding and was being rushed into what would be a 5 hour surgery,  Next morning, my surgeon came in and told me what would change my world forever.  “You have Cancer.” 

I turned to my mom, and said “I got this,” and I would be starting chemo in 30 days.  No choice, my surgeon removed Stage 3 colon cancer from me and I trusted that this was the only next step. Go beat it. 

Days later I experienced a saddle pulmonary embolism…as if this all wasn’t enough, and was then in ICU for another couple weeks.  Release day was appropriately, July 4th, Independence Day.  

Chemo was 9 months long, every other week.  I had to give myself shots every day, I was on steroids, and I was essentially home bound.  It was next level surreal. This was all very much out of my control, but I tried to make the best of it.  I would call my chemo cocktails “martinis,” I called my oncology appointments “booty calls,” and during my 3 days infusions I would designate a night for comfort food and wine...these were my “Chemo Noir” nights. 

So even with insurance, I had NO idea how expensive this journey would be, and years later and I am still rebalancing from it all. 

I also knew I wanted to do something with Chemo Noir.  So I thought to take something that brought me such comfort in my journey, and try to provide some to other friends, families and fighters in their battle with Cancer. 

This fight is hard enough, on everyone involved, and money is stressful in life, so we want to provide some financial relief so that the focus is on the FIGHT and not the stress of finances. 

As a survivor, you still continue to fight Cancer the rest of your life.  I would love it if within my lifetime, we finish Cancer. But until then your involvement in Chemo Noir will help SO many and significantly impact lives that have been unjustly affected by Cancer.  Cheers!