Seeking heartfelt, memorable stories from cancer patients, survivors about the most meaningful gift received during the holidays while going through treatment or recovery. The gift can be emotional, practical, handmade, funny, or unexpected. Please include: What the gift was and who gave it Why it was so meaningful or memorable (Optional) A brief sentence about the cancer journey (type, stage, or year diagnosed) Quotes may be used in an upcoming article. Anonymous submissions are welcome — initials, first name only, or a general descriptor (e.g., “lung cancer caregiver, Ohio”) is completely fine. Caregivers may also submit stories on behalf of a loved one who cannot share their own experience. Requirements: Must be a current or former cancer patient, survivor, or caregiver Gift must have been received during a holiday season Short paragraphs or bullet points are fine

Hello Growing To Give - I am a 13 year rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor. In response to your query... Christmas 2011 was only 3 weeks after I was originally diagnosed with rare enlarged B-Cell, Burkitt's-like Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma stage 1B. I had already been through one round of chemo, and my life was slowly starting to crumble around me. However, I love Christmas; I love the holidays and considering my current circumstances I was SO excited to go home and see family and get away from hospitals, and needles, and chemo. For some background - my little sister, angel she is, had been through some really rough times the year before. I always told her 'listen to Hold On from The Secret Garden musical - it has gotten me through, it can get you through too. Find strength, and courage in music.' Little did I know she took heed in this suggestion as I was about to find out. Christmas morning came, and my whole family gathered around the Christmas tree as we have for our entire lives. My little sister was so excited to go first in the present distribution line. She dove under the tree and grabbed a thin square wrapped package and handed it to me. She smiled and said 'open it'. So I did. The wrapping came off revealing a black and white picture of the two of us at the beach the last time I came to visit her before chemo started. Around the photo itself, beautifully painted on by an artist friend of hers were the lyrics to the song Hold On from The Secret Garden musical. It read 'It's this storm not you that's bound to blow away; Hold On!'. Not only were these lyrics ones that I had encouraged her to live by, but it was in that moment that I realized she had abided by my guidance, and was passing on the sentiment as I faced my hurricane of an experience in cancer. To this day - 13 years later - I still have this piece of art framed in my apartment, prominently displaced as a reminder not only to press on, to hold on, but the ever enduring love and support I have not only from my little sister, but my family as a whole. --- Thank you for amplifying voices of those who have been through cancer. I am constantly looking for ways to support those who are impacted by cancer. It is why I am launching The Remission Film Festival with Blood Cancer United in 2026. It is the first festival of it's kind, featuring creators who have been impacted by cancer. Much love, Edward www.remissionfilmfest.com