It feels like in life we’re always waiting for something. We’re waiting for all the stars to align, for things to make sense, for the path to be clear, and things to be perfect. Trust me, I’m guilty...big time. It's hard being in the waiting season. Painfully hard. But by constantly waiting for this season to change...are we missing what’s happening right now? Are we so focused on our future lives that we don’t embrace the beauty of today? Changing perspective helps to shake things up for me personally. My life is by no means perfect or where I want it to be. I have felt like I’ve been waiting for things for a long time. Truthfully, it’s only...
Last week I received a call from someone wanting to buy a Fighter Tee™ for a 12-year-old girl, Molly, who had been in Children’s Hospital for 14 days with discharge weeks away. In order to get the shirt to her quickly, I offered to deliver it myself. But how I thought that would look and what actually happened were very different. I expected to drive to the hospital, call her mom, Michelle, to come down, and she would meet me at my car to receive the shirt. I thought surely they don’t want some stranger coming up to Molly’s room. I didn’t know what the situation was or how Molly or anyone else was feeling. But to my surprise, when...
Ashley Fink Rehage is a 35 year old mother of one and wife. She is also my cousin. While getting vulnerable about such a scary time is not easy, she agreed that sharing her experience is important. It helps show people they aren't alone. She told me when she found out (keep reading to know exactly what she found out) she googled in search for others who went through similar experiences. So, hopefully, someone who reads this finds comfort for that reason. Ashley and all you other fighters are not alone. Keep going. - Victoria RouxFIYA's Designer and Creative Ashley Fink Rehage's Story Last year my paternal grandmother and my sister who was only 29 at the time were both diagnosed...
Hi FIYA Fighters, It’s been a little while since you’ve heard from me or seen anything regarding FIYA. Almost 2 years actually. So where have I been?! I don’t really know how to be anything but honest. So here goes…I love FIYA. I love what it represents, I love the community it creates, I love the hope and energy it evokes in me and all of you. But with all of the goodness, FIYA has been so complicated for me. There is a really deep and sometimes painful side that I just couldn’t ignore any longer. I worked really hard for three years in therapy to get to a new normal after Jonathan’s passing. Once I got there in my...
When a Fighter Tee is mailed, I often know why the recipient needs it, but it is rare that I hear how their journey continues. A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a fighter’s wife - her husband received one of our first prototype shirts two years ago. Sadly, she and I now share the title of widow. She shared with me that her husband had received his shirt, and passed away while wearing it a short time later. Overcome with emotion, the tears started flowing! It is a pain I know...a memory I share. I felt humbled, saddened, and yet so grateful that she reached out to tell me her story. She explained to me that...
