Meet Lisa and Her Family
Lisa is a wife, a mother, and a fighter living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. She shares her life with her wife and their two young sons, Leo and Jack.
Her journey began in 2020 when she was first diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer at just 38 years old. Years later, after navigating treatment and continuing to build her life and family, Lisa was faced with the devastating news that her cancer had progressed to Stage IV.
In the midst of this diagnosis, Lisa has also had to let go of a career she loved. For more than a decade, she worked as a pilot, a role that shaped her identity and purpose. Losing that part of her life has been incredibly difficult, but she continues to redefine herself with strength and resilience, showing her children what it means to keep moving forward even when life changes in unimaginable ways.
Through it all, her focus has remained on her family. On showing her boys that even in the hardest moments, there is still love, connection, and joy to be found.
Their One Day to Remember
For their One Day to Remember, Lisa and her family spent a special day together in New York City, beginning with breakfast at Mottley Kitchen before heading to the Bronx Zoo.
The highlight of the day was a giraffe encounter, where they were able to meet and feed giraffes up close. For Lisa, it was an unforgettable experience, but what made it truly meaningful was watching her son Leo light up with excitement as he fed the animals and took in the moment.
The day felt like a VIP experience from start to finish. With everything taken care of, including tickets, meals, and logistics, Lisa and her family were able to simply enjoy being together without the stress that had become part of their everyday life.
Their time together was beautifully captured by photographer Charles Bullard, preserving moments that had been missing from their lives for far too long.
More Than Just One Day
For Lisa, the most meaningful part of the day was not just the experience itself, but having uninterrupted time together as a family.
She shared that for those hours, the worries faded. There was no thinking about finances, no stress about appointments, no need to say no to anything. It was simply a day where they could focus on each other.
Seeing the joy on her son’s face, watching him experience something new and exciting, meant everything.
It was a reminder that even in the midst of a heavy diagnosis, there are still moments of pure happiness waiting to be found.
Lisa shared that living with metastatic cancer is not just something she carries, it is something her children feel too. Even when not spoken, the weight of it is present in their world.
This day gave them something different.
It gave them a chance to step away from the reality of illness and into something lighter. A day filled with laughter, connection, and memories they will hold onto.
For Lisa, this experience was about more than a single outing. It was about showing her children that resilience is not just about surviving, but about continuing to find joy, even when life is uncertain.
She described the day as something that meant everything to her family. A reminder that they are still able to create beautiful moments together.
And a memory that will carry them through whatever comes next.
At One Day to Remember, this is why we exist. To give families like Lisa’s the opportunity to step away from the weight of illness and step into moments of joy, connection, and lasting memory.
“Due to financial difficulties, we haven't been able to take our boys on fun outings lately. However, thanks to One Day to Remember, we were given a much-needed break from our daily struggles. They allowed us to leave behind the stress and simply enjoy each other’s company for a day.
One Day to Remember took care of everything—their generosity even included gas money and a personal photographer to capture the day.”
- Lisa