STORIES WRAPPED IN HOPE

One person. One story. One act of kindness. And a whole lot of Hope.

Stories Wrapped in Hope is a collection of real stories that remind us of the extraordinary power of kindness.

Whether it is a handmade pendant, a painting, a heartfelt letter, or a simple act of compassion, every story begins with one person who chose to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Our hope is that these stories will inspire others to share their own acts of kindness, because every ripple starts with a single drop.

We invite you to share your story and become part of Wrapped in Hope. Because every act of kindness has the power to inspire another.

💜 Julie’s Story

Maris — wearing her Simply Wrapped Jewelry necklace 💙

When Maris took over the Canadian Glioblastoma Group page, I knew she was someone special.

She had already been fighting glioblastoma for two years and was incredibly knowledgeable about the disease. At the time, I had my own page, Hope for Inoperable Glioblastoma. My sister, Becky, had been fighting for four years, and her son, Skyler, for two.

We began messaging and quickly got to know each other’s stories. I fell in love with Maris immediately. She was caring, open, genuine, and absolutely hilarious.

She had left her high-tech career in Seattle and moved to a tiny farm in British Columbia to spend precious time with her husband and their five-year-old son. Her stories became a welcome distraction from the seriousness we all faced—learning how to milk a goat, sharing adventures with her chickens, embracing life as a stay-at-home mom, and finding joy in everyday moments.

Maris is an ultramarathon runner, rock climber, forager, naturalist, writer, lover of God, and remains deeply connected to her Estonian roots.

As our friendship grew, my nephew, Skyler, came to live with my sister and me. We lost him two and a half years into his glioblastoma journey. During that heartbreaking time, Maris was the one person who talked with me virtually every single day. She supported both Becky and me, helping us process our grief. No subject was ever off limits.

A few months after we lost Skyler, Maris ran a 50K ultramarathon in honor of Skyler, Becky, and me. Words cannot express what that meant to us.

Today, Maris is facing a recurrence of glioblastoma.

When Elena created a beautiful handmade necklace, I knew it was the perfect way to let Maris know she is loved, remembered, and never walking this journey alone.

— Julie

💜 Carrying the Hope

Becky — carrying her Hope 💜

I have been volunteering for pediatric cancer for 10 years. I met Elena shortly after when she was painting portraits of children with cancer — gifts for them, created with every detail perfect. She is a self-taught artist, and these portraits are time-consuming labors of love. They are such beautiful, personal tributes that families treasure forever.

Elena devotes her life to spreading awareness — making jewelry, designing clothes for the dolls she gifts to the littlest warriors, designing purses. Whenever I let her know I am helping with a fundraiser, she always generously sends items for the silent auction. She will do anything to help anyone — children and adults with cancer alike.

My sister Becky was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and so I joined the world of brain cancer in addition to pediatric cancer. Becky and I have only met Elena in person once — but she has been family to us.

For Becky’s birthday, Elena sent her one of her beautiful “Carrying the Hope” purses and jewelry. Her generosity knows no bounds. She is the single most prolific supporter of cancer fighters I have ever known.

I love you, Elena.

— Julie

Share Your Story

Have a story to share?

We would love to hear how an act of kindness made a difference in your life.

Send your story and a photo (if you’d like to include one) to:
canvasforhope@hotmail.com

If you prefer to remain anonymous, simply let us know.

By submitting your story and any photos, you give Simply Wrapped Jewelry permission to share them as part of the Wrapped in Hope initiative. If you would like your story shared anonymously or with limited information, please tell us in your email, and we will gladly honor your request.

Together, one person, one story, one act of kindness… and a whole lot of Hope. 💜