Meet Bill and His Family
Bill is a father living with Stage IV neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that he has been battling since his early 30s.
Over the years, his journey has been filled with countless treatments, surgeries, and the emotional weight of living with a terminal diagnosis. More recently, he has also been navigating a divorce, making time with his daughter, Alanna, even more limited and complex.
Through everything, one truth has remained constant. His daughter is his world.
As a father facing the reality of limited time, Bill has become deeply focused on creating meaningful moments with Alanna. Moments she can carry with her, not just now, but in the years ahead. Moments that remind her how deeply she is loved.
Their One Day to Remember
On August 9th, Bill and Alanna experienced a day centered entirely on creativity, connection, and joy in Houston.
They began at Shot of Art, where they participated in the Art Boom experience. Together, they created colorful, expressive artwork through hands-on activities that invited them to be playful, messy, and fully immersed in the moment.
They poured paint onto canvases, spun them into vibrant patterns, and created pieces that were uniquely theirs. In one of the most joyful parts of the day, Alanna was given the freedom to paint without limits, covering the space with her imagination and creativity.
The experience was captured by photographer Julia, preserving both posed portraits and candid moments of laughter, color, and connection.
After their time creating, they continued the day with dinner at Via 313 Pizzeria, sharing a meal and reflecting on a day that felt light, joyful, and completely theirs.
More Than Just One Day
For Bill, the most meaningful part of the experience was watching the excitement build in his daughter’s eyes as she created, explored, and shared those moments with him.
He described the day as something truly special. For those precious hours, cancer was not part of the conversation. There were no appointments, no treatments, and no overwhelming realities to manage.
There was just a father and his daughter. Laughing, creating, and being wonderfully present together.
The artwork they created now hangs in their home, not just as paintings, but as reminders of joy, connection, and time spent fully in the moment.
Bill shared that living with terminal cancer changes how you see time. It becomes something deeply precious, something you want to use intentionally.
This day gave him the opportunity to do exactly that.
To pause everything else.
To step away from treatments, stress, and uncertainty.
To simply be a dad.
More than anything, Bill hoped to create something lasting for his daughter. A memory she could carry with her through the hard days. A reminder of their love, their laughter, and the time they shared.
He described the experience as adding to a memory box for Alanna. Something she can hold onto long after the day has passed.
For Bill, this was not just an outing. It was a moment of legacy. A reflection of resilience, strength, and unconditional love.
At One Day to Remember, this is why we exist. To give families like Bill’s the opportunity to create memories that outlive the hardest realities and stay with them for a lifetime.
Why This Day Mattered
“Living with terminal cancer means understanding that time is both precious and limited. One Day to Remember didn't just give us an activity—they gave us a memory that will last far beyond my diagnosis. They reminded me that even in the midst of medical battles, there are still moments of pure happiness to be discovered and shared. I was able to forget about being a cancer patient for a while and simply be a dad creating something beautiful with his daughter.
Thank you One Day to Remember for understanding that some of life's most meaningful moments happen when we're covered in paint, laughing with the people we love most. You've given us a treasure that no treatment can take away.”
- Bill