ROUND THREE • MAKING ORAYA HAPPY 101
Since you can’t really gift me life, here’s the next best thing — my wish list. You don’t have to get me anything. Really. But if you want to, these are the things that would bring me absolute joy.
A little practical. A little beautiful. Occasionally completely unhinged.
“People are already sending me so much love, and I’m incredibly grateful. Gifts are never expected. But if you’d like to send something, I made this little list so your kindness can become something I’ll genuinely use and enjoy.”
— Oraya, with love and a very specific listChoose a thing that makes you think of her.
02Shop directly from the maker or store.
03Come back, mark it gifted, and add a little love to the jar.
THE GOOD LIST · THINGS, CARE & DREAMS
Start with something she can open, or keep going to an experience she can look forward to.
Loading Oraya’s current gift list…
THE GOOD LIST · GIFTS THAT DON’T COME IN A BOX
The list keeps going—these are thoughtful ways to add love, light, and delight to my day-to-day, and give me something beautiful to look forward to.
The big one 01
A babymoon is probably not in the cards, given that my organs have already filed several formal complaints. So: a cancer moon. A soft, ridiculous, beautiful vacation after round three. Moon optional. Joy non-negotiable.
Steady care 02
I’m working with a team of therapists to navigate some very big questions, very big feelings, and the small administrative matter of being alive through all of this.
2 of 20 sessions funded Owner-confirmed
Making room for it all 03
I’m finding a lot of release and joy through art. Working with an art therapist gives the grief, anger, fear, and everything else somewhere colourful to go when words are simply not doing the job.
1 of 10 sessions funded Owner-confirmed
Rest for every cell 04
A restorative sound bath, a little nervous-system quiet, and—if everything goes according to plan—a very good nap after.
Hands busy, brain quieter 05
A pottery class—or a few slow retreat days—with clay, colour, and absolutely no requirement to make anything useful. Just somewhere beautiful to put all the feelings.
Deep rest 06
A doctor-led, deeply restorative stay with Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, nourishing food, and room to let my body be cared for.
Pass the joy forward 07
Support children facing critical illness—the kids walking a version of this road far earlier than anyone ever should.
THREE ROUNDS · ONE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
Round one
She was barely a teenager when cancer first arrived. Treatment meant chemotherapy and surgery—an enormous thing to ask of someone so young.
Chemotherapy + surgeryRound two
At 25, it came back. Another stage-two diagnosis. More chemotherapy. Another surgery. A second round nobody should have needed.
Chemotherapy + surgeryRound three · now
This round is metastatic and complicated, and it is hard. There is also a great deal of hope—and a team pursuing the best treatment available to her.
In chemotherapyFROM ME, WITH LOVE
Every message, prayer, visit, gift, and small act of care has made the hard days feel a little lighter. Your love helps me feel held, hopeful, and more like myself. It has become part of how I heal—and that means more to me than I can say.