We met in high school nearly 20 years ago and spent every night for a year on the phone before we started dating. We've now been married almost 13 years, raising 3 kids, owning 2 homes, making career changes, buying a business, and building a beautiful life. Through infertility and 8 miscarriages, Jon-David was my rock. Now, as he battles stage IV Thymoma, a rare cancer, I stand by his side. Our love has endured many trials and continues to grow stronger through them all.

When I think of my favorite memory as a couple, it’s hard to choose just one—there are so many. But a few highlights come to mind: the day our oldest was born, a moment we once feared might never come. Traveling to Houston for appointments, yet finding joy and connection as if it were a second honeymoon. And most of all, laughing together—just laughing. Always.

After two and a half years of battling cancer, Jon-David now travels from Upstate New York to MD Anderson in Houston every 21 days to participate in a clinical trial—our final option. Throughout it all, we’ve worked hard to maintain a sense of normalcy for our three kids, ages 4, 7, and 9. If we won, we’d use some of the funds to help with travel/medical expenses, but we’d also invest in our family, finally taking the Disney trip we’ve postponed for years or surprising the kids with a pool.