Our Personal Journey

The year 2024 started off like any other year that I can remember… completely normal. My wife and I celebrated the new year fast asleep, we walked the dog, we watched the Super Bowl, spent time with family and friends, and fell into our work routines.

And then, just like that, our life slowed down to a crawl. My wife, Vicky, was diagnosed with breast cancer in June. And as anyone that has faced cancer directly or through a loved one can attest, this began the involved process of fighting the disease.

As her partner, I supported her through the process. We went to countless doctors and treatments and she was a champ through it all. In five months we received the amazing news she was cancer free. Then, a week after Vicky’s last infusion, we received the news that I had pancreatic cancer. My battle was beginning as hers was ending.

Through our experiences, I was struck by the business-like approach of beating cancer. It is a demanding, complicated, and tiresome battle. It feels very much like a job on top of a job; that is if you are able to continue working through it all.

We learned through experience that just like taking time off from work for helps our mental health, taking a vacation from fighting cancer has great benefits. I don’t mean that a patient should skip treatments or appointments, but rather schedule time to rest, rejuvenate, and reset.

We feel so strongly about this that The GotCancerFightBack.org Foundation has been formed to support cancer patients with one- to two-night discounted getaways. The GotCancerFightBack.org Foundation is partnering with hotels, resorts, campgrounds, short-term rental owners, and others to help launch and support this initiative. It is our goal to compile a list of sponsors to support patients starting in Orange County, California and eventually spread this initiative as far and wide as possible.

• Please reach out to GotCancerFightBack.org if you are interested in supporting this initiative.

• Sign up for our email list if you are a cancer patient looking for an escape.

• Please keep an eye on lodging and hotel deals via this website and emails.