Author, Speaker, Advocate, & Consultant

When i first decided that i wanted to write a book about my story, I reached out to a local publisher in late July of 2022 to inquire about doing so. I had a 15-minute meeting with the CEO and founder of the publisher to discuss the opportunity to work together. I was told at this 15-minute phone call meeting that due to the subject matter surrounding a extremely rare type of cancer of my story as well as the therapy of which was not well known, they did not think it would sell and therefore declined to partner. I was told that if the subbject matter was more familiar such as "Breast Cancer", then that would sell and be different. Our conversation did not last long enough for me to explain that the 1-time treatment that saved my life is also available for other  solid tumors which includes breast cancer and that 90% of all cancers are solid tumors. We did not get to the part that there are currently has clinical trials ongoing for this and it will also be a approved therapy some day.

I went the Self-Publishing route and did so in March of 2024 

"Killing Cancer with TILs"

Available for order on Amazon 

In the spring of 2021, I felt like I was hit from a lightning bolt. The more I continued to talk and share about my cancer experience, the more I realized how rare and inspiring it was, I could feel the impact of it in my core. I could see the importance of what it meant to patients, caregivers, and the different cancer communities abroad including those within the industry. Being a advocate and sharing my experiences part time or on the side was never going to cut it. It dawned on me that being a full-time speaker could be a career and so the challenge began, how do I get my start? There was no blueprint or anyone "taking me under their wing". Everywhere I looked or asked had the same answer which was, "I'm going to have to figure it out." Well, for every niche there is a audience, and with that I'll say, I found my audience.

TIL Talks is dedicated to educating and bringing awareness to TILs and ALL CELL & GENE Therapies. Aimed to reach ALL demographics, ages, and on multiple platforms, this program provides direct one-on-one conversations with patient recipients, caregivers, and industry leaders who have borne witness to the curative abilities of these novel modalities 1st hand. No matter what the diagnoses of a patient, the goal is always to eradicate and rid the disease while also preserving quality of life. Problem is, most people don't know to ask because they don't know they exist. That's all about to change

In 2018 I was diagnosed with a terminal disease and given a very grim prognosis, I was terrifying. I learned that the 5 years survival rate was less than 14% of those diagnosed. As scared as I was, the way I saw it was that there was still a chance and as long as that exists, then someone has to be that 14% and therefore that someone could be me. I remember telling myself that WHEN, not if but WHEN, I defeated this terminal disease and became a part of that 14%, I would give back and pay it forward somehow, someway and provide more knowledge, resources, and testimonials then I had.

As I started engaging more and more into advocacy toward the end of 2022, I entered a whole new world and found a sense of community that was more therapeutic than therapy itself.  Attending in person conferences, summits, and symposia events has given me a way to connect, share, learn about the latest and greatest in all the advancements being made. I have become a sponge for cancer, rare diseases, clinical trials, and Advanced Cell and Gene Therapies and sharing what I've learn is how I pay it forward.

From guest blog publications, podcast appearances, and sharing resources relating to my experience, I do this full-time. Surviving cancer will change a person and it has changed me. Additional resources specific to Mucosal Melanoma, Melanoma, clinical trials, TILs and other advanced CGT's can be found here.

From an early age, I have always been a very expressional person. I remember my art teacher in the second grade in 1989 specifically saying, "There Are NO Mistakes in Art". That one sentence has literally defined my life in so many ways because at it's core, right or wrong, good, bad, or ugly it's all an opinion and will always be open and subject to interpretation. 

Over the years, my self-confidence and insecurities have gone up and down like a rollercoaster and life as a Cancer Survivor has left me reserved to some degree of what I often say. As soon the phrase "my opinion or how I feel", is said, no matter what the setting, there is a semi-automatic reply of often of "I'm sorry you FEEL that way" and therefore I am very careful when asked MY OPINION.

On the flipside to this is one of my greatest complements I have ever received which is that "I do what I want and IDGAF too much into the thoughts and opinions of the perceptions" because how can I ask someone who has never worn my shoes about how to tie my laces?

With all that being said I have committed to releasing more blogs and just letting it all out. In order to read these you need to subscribe.

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Coming Soon