A Moment Does Not Have to Be Big to Matter
• Jason Pohlonski, Founder & Executive Director

A Moment Does Not Have to Be Big to Matter

Some of the most meaningful wishes are simple.

They may not involve a long trip, a large event, or a complicated plan. They may look like dinner around a table, a visit from someone who lives far away, time at a favorite place, a short getaway close to home, a conversation that finally has room to happen, or one peaceful day with the people who matter most.

At One More Moment, we call these wish experiences Moments.

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love. A Moment does not have to be large, expensive, or elaborate to matter deeply. It only has to be meaningful to the person and family receiving it.

For a broader overview of adult cancer wishes in Michigan, visit our guide to wish granting for adults with cancer in Michigan.

Simple Moments Can Carry Deep Meaning

When people hear the word “wish,” they may picture something big. But for many adults facing late-stage cancer, the most meaningful request may be something quieter.

A Moment might be:

  • A favorite meal with family
  • A visit with children, siblings, parents, friends, or grandchildren
  • Time at a lake, park, restaurant, cabin, church, or other meaningful place
  • A short getaway that gives everyone a change of scenery
  • A conversation with someone important
  • A day when loved ones can gather without the usual pressure of planning

These Moments may look ordinary from the outside. For the person and family, they may feel anything but ordinary.

The value of a Moment is not measured by how big it looks, how much it costs, or whether it becomes a public story. The value is found in what it means to the person facing cancer and to the people who love them.

Why Simple Moments Matter During Late-Stage Cancer

Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer can make everyday life feel complicated. Families may be managing appointments, symptoms, treatment decisions, travel limits, work schedules, caregiving needs, and financial strain. Even a simple gathering can become hard to arrange.

That is one reason a simple Moment can matter so much.

It can give a family a reason to pause. It can help remove a practical barrier. It can make space for a meal, a visit, a shared memory, or a day that feels less centered on cancer and more centered on love.

A simple Moment can also give people something to hold onto. Families often remember the details: where everyone sat, what was said, what made someone laugh, what food was served, what song played in the car, or how it felt to be together without rushing.

Those details may not be dramatic, but they can stay with a family for a long time.

If someone you love may qualify, you can learn more in Who Qualifies for a One More Moment Wish?. You can also read How to Request a Wish for an Adult With Stage 4 Cancer in Michigan for a plain-language overview of the request process.

Dignity Means Being Seen as More Than a Diagnosis

A meaningful Moment should honor the whole person.

An adult facing late-stage cancer is still a parent, spouse, partner, sibling, child, friend, neighbor, coworker, storyteller, caregiver, or person with favorite foods, favorite places, inside jokes, memories, routines, and hopes for the people they love.

That matters.

One More Moment is not only about creating an experience. It is about helping someone feel seen as more than a diagnosis. A Moment can reflect who they are, what they value, and who they want near them.

For one person, dignity may look like a private dinner. For another, it may look like returning to a place filled with memories. For someone else, it may mean having loved ones close for a quiet day with no pressure to explain, perform, or make anything perfect.

The right Moment is the one that feels personal, respectful, and meaningful to the person at the center of it.

Some Simple Moments Stay Private

Not every Moment is shared publicly.

Some families are comfortable sharing photos, names, and stories. Others are not. Some Moments happen during an emotional or medically sensitive time. Some are meant to stay within the family. Some are simple enough that the most meaningful part cannot be captured in a photo or caption.

One More Moment respects that privacy.

A private Moment is not less meaningful because fewer people see it. Sometimes privacy is what allows the experience to feel safe, honest, and fully theirs.

Families should never feel pressured to turn a personal Moment into public content. One More Moment may share stories only when permission has been given, and families can review the organization’s Privacy Policy to better understand how information is used.

Donors Help Make Even Simple Moments Possible

Simple does not always mean easy.

A dinner may require coordination. A visit may require travel support. A short getaway may involve timing, lodging, transportation, accessibility, and communication with family members. A quiet day together may still require thoughtful planning so the person facing cancer can be comfortable and respected.

Donors and supporters help make that possible.

Their generosity helps One More Moment create meaningful Moments for adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer. Sometimes the result is visible. Sometimes it remains private. Either way, the support matters.

Because corporate donors and generous families/supporters help cover overhead, 100% of public donations go directly toward wish granting.

To help create future Moments, visit Donate to One More Moment.

How to Request a Moment

If you know an adult in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer, you can begin with the Request a Moment form.

The request does not need to be perfectly written. It should simply help One More Moment understand the person, the situation, and the Moment being requested. Every request is reviewed with care, but submitting a request does not guarantee approval, funding, timing, or availability.

If you are unsure where to begin, read How to Request a Wish for an Adult With Stage 4 Cancer in Michigan or contact One More Moment at contactus@onemoremoment.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a One More Moment wish have to be large or expensive?

No. A Moment does not have to be large, expensive, public, or elaborate to be meaningful. A meal, visit, conversation, favorite place, short getaway, or quiet day together can matter deeply.

What kinds of simple Moments can someone request?

A Moment might include dinner with loved ones, a visit from family or friends, time at a favorite place, a short local getaway, a meaningful conversation, or a day centered on connection.

Who does One More Moment help?

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love. Every request is reviewed individually.

Are simple Moments shared publicly?

Not always. Some Moments are shared publicly only with permission. Others remain private because the person or family chooses to keep the experience within their own circle.

Can a family member or friend request a Moment?

Yes. A request may begin with the person facing cancer, a family member, friend, caregiver, oncology team member, hospice worker, social worker, church contact, or community contact. The person facing cancer should remain central to the Moment being requested.

How can donors support simple Moments?

Donors can support One More Moment by giving through the Donate page. Public donations go directly toward wish granting because overhead is covered separately by corporate donors and generous families/supporters.

About the Author

Jason Pohlonski is the Founder and Executive Director of One More Moment, a Michigan-based nonprofit created to help adults facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer experience meaningful Moments with the people they love.

One More Moment was inspired by Jason’s personal experience with his mother’s cancer journey and the realization that, near the end of life, even a simple moment together can mean everything. Through One More Moment, Jason and the organization work to provide dignity, connection, and meaningful experiences for adults and families navigating late-stage cancer.

About One More Moment

One More Moment grants meaningful wish experiences for adults in Michigan who are facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer and who lack the resources to create that Moment on their own.

Every request is reviewed with care. Eligibility may include Michigan residency, a qualifying cancer diagnosis, financial or logistical need, and confirmation from an oncology provider.

Nonprofit Verification

One More Moment is a registered nonprofit organization. Visitors can verify the organization through official nonprofit resources, including the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search and Candid/GuideStar.

Privacy and Medical Information

One More Moment respects the privacy of every applicant, family, and referral partner. Medical and personal information submitted through a Moment request is used only to review eligibility and coordinate the request.

For more details, please review our Privacy Policy.

Contact

One More Moment
Founder & Executive Director: Jason Pohlonski
Website: https://www.onemoremoment.org