Giving Cancer the Middle Finger: How I Found Strength and Laughter Through Designing Greeting Cards

It all started 15 years ago, in 2008. Just as I touched down from a business trip to China, I got hit with a cancer diagnosis: leukemia. Suddenly, I was faced with the horrifying thought of not being around to watch my 2-year-old daughter grow. It felt like a bad joke but, unfortunately, it was my reality.

First came treatment. This was when the fun really started. Cue the endless hospital stays and all those rounds of chemo. The lone bright spot in that time was the lifesaving bone marrow transplant I received from my superhero sister. Those first three months were a blur. Physically, mentally, emotionally – that shit was tough. But, I was determined. My sole purpose was to kick cancer's ass and get back to normalcy. And I did, finally. Or so I thought.

You'd think surviving leukemia would be the end, right? Wrong. Now, it was time for the recovery phase. And let me tell you, it was no picnic. Simple tasks felt like climbing Mount Everest, and every day was a new obstacle course. This is where humor became my saving grace. I mean, how else was I supposed to deal with the wacky rollercoaster of emotions that cancer and recovery brought?

And that's when the magic happened. I had an epiphany: Laughter and connection can be the ultimate weapons in the battle against cancer. So, I decided to create cancer greeting cards – but not your typical sappy, sympathy-filled crap. No, my cards would be irreverent, unapologetically funny and a huge middle finger to cancer.

I poured my heart and soul into designing my very first cancer greeting card and opened up my shop, Press & Pour, on Etsy. And let me tell you, the response was epic. People loved the humor, but more important, they found solace in knowing that they weren't alone in this fight. Cancer might have upended their life, but at least we could laugh in its stupid face – together.

Since that fateful day, I have continued to expand my collection of cancer greeting cards. I now have more than 60 designs that cater to all kinds of cancers, treatment journeys and emotions. The love and support I receive from my customers humbles me. My heart is warmed every time I receive a heartfelt review.

My cancer journey was anything but easy. But amidst the chaos and darkness, I found strength, resilience and a way to give cancer exactly what it deserves: scorn, derision and the biggest of middle fingers. My greeting cards are meant to remind us all that laughter can be a source of light in the darkest times. So yeah, cancer, bring it on. We’re armed with humor, resilience and a whole lot of swear words. Who's laughing now?

plan it