056: Grief, Grit, and the Power of Storytelling - A Mother’s Cancer Journey with Justin Wineburgh

Your support matters! Take action to propel progress in cancer science and medicine: - Donate to the AACR: Fuel lifesaving innovation by supporting cutting-edge cancer research at https://AACR.org/Give - Share this episode: Help amplify Justin’s story and advance research for the benefit of caregivers, survivors, and all those impacted by cancer - Subscribe to Believe in Progress: Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen Episode Summary: How far would you go to protect the person you love most in the world? In this emotional and inspiring episode, Justin Wineburgh, President and CEO of Alkemy X, sits down with host Mitch Stoller to share the extraordinary story of his mother Iris: a single mom of three, a “force of nature,” and a woman whose love defined his world. Justin reflects on the moment everything changed: Iris’s ovarian cancer diagnosis on December 30, 1999. From that day forward, he became not just her son, but her advocate, her caregiver, and her anchor. Together, they navigated hospital rooms, treatment plans, and the emotional landmines of uncertainty, while holding tightly to moments of laughter, love, and connection. Faced with heartbreak after hearing about his mother's diagnosis, Justin found purpose: immersing himself in cancer research, standing fiercely by his mother’s side, and eventually becoming a father himself just weeks after her death in 2024. Today, he carries her legacy forward through storytelling, empathy, and relentless hope. Episode Highlights: - Meeting Iris: A single mom of three boys and a fierce, vibrant woman remembered as “a force of nature” - The Diagnosis: How a flip phone call from a young resident changed their lives forever - The Cancer Journey: Chemotherapy, second opinions, and choosing to get care close to home in Philadelphia - Caregiver Realities: Rage, love, exhaustion, and learning that “no one knows nothing” - Life After Loss: Navigating grief, becoming a father, and wearing Iris’s belt as a daily reminder of love - Why Research Matters: The drug that helped in her final year didn’t exist when she was first diagnosed - A Son’s Message: “If you can get one extra day with your loved one because of research, it’s worth everything” Production Credits: Host: Mitch Stoller Guest: Justin Wineburgh Executive Producer: Anthony Lopes Executive Producer: Michael Leary Director: Anthony Lopes Creative Director / Director of Photography: Michael Leary Writer: Anthony Lopes Editor: Michael Leary Associate Producer: Heather Holland Believe in Progress is produced by CollegeCast LLC

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