James' Story
Our Why
Since then, most of our time has been spent at the hospital. We’ve faced hurdle after hurdle, from complications from chemotherapy to recently a serious fungal infection, something that will take additional time and patience to recover from. Our current plan is to complete the chemotherapy in May 2026, but after all we've faced, we are taking things one day at a time.
In November 2025, our seven-year old son, James, was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma. Since that day, life has looked very different for our family. Our new normal became long hospital stays, chemotherapy treatments, and navigating the many side effects that come with cancer treatment.
While James and Mom are constantly at the hospital, Dad and James’s four older siblings (10-16 years old) are holding down the fort at home. The whole family has been taking this journey together, even when not all in the same place. His siblings have been incredibly supportive of their little brother, but as can be expected, this experience has been hard on all of us.
Early in our cancer journey, during one particularly difficult night when everything just hurt, James said something that perfectly summed up how he was feeling.
He said, “Cancer is stupid.
It was honest. It was simple. And coming from a seven-year-old, it was also a little bit funny in the middle of something incredibly hard.
So, we captured the sentiment — in James's own handwriting.
At first, we made a shirt just for ourselves and our family. Then we started sharing it with friends. Soon doctors, nurses, and even other patients at the hospital began asking for one. It brought smiles, laughter, and a moment of lightness in places that can feel very heavy
That’s how this started!
We have learned through this journey is that it’s okay to feel frustrated sometimes. When you are facing something as hard as cancer, you go through a lot of emotions. You can’t be positive every moment— and that’s okay.
Part of processing difficult experiences can be recognizing those feelings and giving them a name.
For James, that name is simple:
Cancer is stupid.
Those words are how he overcomes the hard moments.
We created this store to help cover the expenses accompanying the long hospital stays —medical bills, meals, parking, transportation, and other unexpected costs from living in and out of a hospital. We wanted to do something in lieu of starting a go fund me, by creating something meaningful for others to wear and share.
Our hope is that these shirts, bags, shoes, and other items bring people a small moment of humor, hope, or encouragement — whether they are patients, family members, doctors, nurses, or supporters.
We hope that when our needs have been taken care of, we can continue this brand to further support others. We want to use the money received to assist other nonprofits and organizations that that are helping other children and families experiencing cancer.
To help them find the words to say exactly how we all feel.
Cancer is stupid.
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James: What is the stupidest thing in the world? It starts with 'Cans' and ends with 'cer'
