Cancer Boo-Boo

My mom loved to write. I remember how she always kept a journal documenting each day. Writing was an escape for her. It was a way for her to remember the little things and a chance to express herself. While she is no longer here, my mom still has a way of surprising me. I remember the first time I discovered the transcript to Cancer Boo-Boo. It was always a dream of my mom's to publish a book and when I realized she had written the transcript from my perspective, I could not believe it. It was the greatest gift I have ever received and I knew I had to fulfill her dream and publish the book. I think in a lot of ways, my mom was ahead of her time. She wrote this book to be used as a tool and a vessel for parents with young children dealing with a cancer diagnosis. In her mind, this book could open the dialogue and encourage children to talk about their experience with their loved one's diagnosis. Cancer impacts the entire family, and it is so important that children feel safe enough to share their stories.

My parents created the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research after my mom's initial diagnosis in 1998. Since then, the Spielman Fund has raised millions of dollars to support breast cancer research at The James Comprehensive Cancer Center and Solove Research Institute. The Spielman Fund helps us keep our mom's legacy alive every single day. We will not stop until we achieve her goal of a cancer-free world. We will continue to fight and continue to live every day in honor of her.