Everything changed in 2018 when my dad told me he had colon cancer. I was only ten years old, and suddenly my life looked very different. There were trips back and forth to M.D. Anderson, difficult conversations I didn’t always understand, and emotions I had never experienced before. My parents were navigating a new and uncertain reality, and I often felt caught somewhere in the middle—scared, confused, and alone.

 

My family has now been on this cancer journey for eight years. Growing up alongside my dad’s illness has shaped so much of who I am. It has taught me resilience, empathy, and perhaps most importantly, the power of community. I have learned that during the hardest seasons of life, having people who understand—and simply knowing you are not alone—can make all the difference.

 

My story is not unique. So many children and teenagers are growing up with a parent, sibling, or loved one facing a serious illness. I created Together We Will Be for them: a community where young people can find support, encouragement, understanding, and a safe place to share what they are experiencing. What began from my own need to feel less alone has grown into a mission to make sure other kids don’t have to feel that way either.