Why Meaningful Moments Matter for Families Facing Late-Stage Cancer
• Jason Pohlonski, Founder & Executive Director

Why Meaningful Moments Matter for Families Facing Late-Stage Cancer

When someone is facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer, families often find themselves living in two worlds at once.

There are appointments, decisions, symptoms, schedules, medications, paperwork, and practical needs. And then there is the quieter part: wanting more time together, wanting one more conversation, wanting a day that feels like family instead of cancer.

That is where a meaningful Moment can matter.

One More Moment helps adults in Michigan facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer create meaningful Moments with the people they love. These Moments are not about pretending everything is easy. They are about making room for connection, dignity, and memory in the middle of something deeply difficult.

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

A Moment Gives Families Something to Hold

Families do not always need something elaborate. Sometimes they need a reason to gather. Sometimes they need help removing the cost, travel, timing, or planning barriers that make one meaningful day feel out of reach.

A Moment may be:

  • A family meal
  • A short trip to a favorite place
  • A visit with loved ones
  • A quiet day together
  • A special outing
  • A chance to return somewhere filled with memories

The Moment itself may look simple from the outside. But for the family, it can become something they hold onto: a story, a photo, a familiar laugh, a shared meal, or the feeling of being together without everything revolving around illness.

Connection Can Be Practical, Too

Late-stage cancer can make ordinary things harder. Energy may be limited. Travel may take planning. Families may be stretched financially or emotionally. Even a simple experience can become complicated when health, timing, and logistics are involved.

One More Moment exists to help with those barriers when possible.

That support might help create a visit, coordinate a meaningful experience, cover practical costs tied to an approved Moment, or make it easier for loved ones to be together. The goal is not to create pressure or make the Moment perfect. The goal is to help families protect time together when it matters.

If someone you love may qualify, you can learn more in Who Qualifies for a One More Moment Wish?.

Dignity Matters

A meaningful Moment should honor the person facing cancer, not turn them into a story they did not choose.

That means listening to what matters to them. It means respecting their comfort, energy, privacy, family dynamics, and boundaries. It means remembering that the person is more than a diagnosis.

For some people, dignity may mean gathering with family. For others, it may mean visiting a favorite place, sharing a private meal, or having one peaceful day without needing to explain anything to anyone.

The right Moment is the one that feels meaningful to the person and their loved ones.

Memories Do Not Have to Be Big to Last

Families often remember small details.

They remember who sat where. They remember the song that played in the car. They remember a hand held across a table, a familiar joke, a favorite meal, or a quiet conversation that finally had enough space.

Those details may not look dramatic from the outside, but they can mean everything later.

Not every Moment has to be public. Not every Moment has to be photographed. Some families choose to keep their experience private, and One More Moment respects that. You can review the organization’s Privacy Policy to learn more about how submitted information is used.

Donors Help Create These Moments

Donors help make meaningful Moments possible for adults in Michigan facing late-stage cancer and the families who love them.

Some donor-supported Moments may be shared publicly with permission. Others may stay private because a family chooses to hold that experience close. Both can be meaningful. Both can be part of the mission.

One More Moment is committed to using public donations for wish granting. 100% of public donations go directly toward wish granting because overhead is covered separately by corporate donors and generous supporters.

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 have 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.

You can also read How to Request a Wish for an Adult With Stage 4 Cancer in Michigan for a plain-English overview of the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a meaningful Moment?

A meaningful Moment is a wish experience that helps an adult facing Stage IV, advanced, or metastatic cancer spend meaningful time with the people they love. It may be simple or more involved.

Does a Moment have to be expensive?

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

Who does One More Moment help?

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

Can a family member request a Moment?

Yes. A family member, friend, caregiver, oncology team member, hospice worker, social worker, church contact, or community contact may help begin a request.

Are all Moments shared publicly?

No. Some Moments are shared publicly only with permission. Other Moments remain private because the person or family chooses privacy.

How can someone support One More Moment?

The most direct way to help is to donate. Public donations go directly toward wish granting because overhead is covered separately by corporate donors and generous 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