A Rare Cancer Diagnosis Nearly Broke Me, And This Is How A Board Game Helped Me Fight Back
This is the story of how a simple family board game helped me heal through cancer—literally one pun and one laugh at a time.
Back in late 2022, I was sitting in my car crying after hearing the words no one ever wants to hear: you have Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia. It’s a rare form of blood cancer—a type of lymphoma. I was just 46, a dad, an ex-swimmer, and a college water polo guy. Suddenly, all I could think about was how much time I had left.
The cancer treatment options weren’t easy—brutal rounds of chemotherapy, nerve damage, endless fatigue. Most days even walking felt like climbing a mountain. My career, goals, ambitions—all of it just faded. The only thing that mattered was my daughters. I wanted to see them grow up. I wanted memories. But honestly, I felt scared and painfully alone despite the cancer support groups I read about online.
Then something unexpected shifted. We started playing board games. At first, it was just a distraction from screens, but slowly it turned into a ritual. A small, silly ritual that brought laughter back into the house. In between the puns, the giggles, and the competitive banter, I realized this was more healing than any pill. It reminded me that even when chemotherapy side effects steal your energy, joy can still sneak in. And that’s what kept me going.
Playing games with my daughters gave me something to look forward to. Something small and silly that felt normal
Games gave me back a piece of myself. A piece of connection
When we moved to Chapel Hill to be closer to family, I finally got to be the kind of uncle I’d always wanted to be. Not just the holiday visitor, but someone who shows up
Now I’m surrounded by five girls, from 2nd through 9th grade. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made
During recovery, I tried designing games myself
Turns out, I’m not much of a designer. But at a local game night, I heard a group of creators venting about how hard publishing was, and something clicked. I’ve built companies. I know how to manage complexity. Maybe this was where I could help.
That’s when I discovered Making Monsters, a hilarious, family-friendly game from two of the best designers in the business
The game had been sitting on the shelf with another publisher, and nothing was moving. I reached out. We licensed it. And from there, my daughters, nieces, and I jumped in headfirst.
We tested the game. Rewrote parts. Invented new monster names. It became our project – a shared creative escape during one of the hardest years of my life
My girls laughed so hard at the pun-monsters
My niece once asked me if she could “work for me someday,” which honestly melted my heart. My nephew proudly called it his “favorite game ever,” and my oldest daughter told me something that hit me hard—she feels closer to me this year than ever before, even though I’ve been battling cancer and still struggle just to walk. It made me realize that sometimes the best family bonding activities aren’t big vacations or expensive toys—they’re the little rituals, like board games, that bring genuine laughter and connection. For me, this simple routine became part of my cancer recovery journey and a reminder that even when health isn’t on your side, quality time with kids is the most powerful medicine.
That’s when I realized something bigger was happening. And it wasn’t just me
My mom decided to join the board of the International Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) to push forward much-needed cancer research funding. She keeps me updated with reports from scientists who say we might finally be close to some real breakthrough treatments for blood cancer. The exciting part is, if doctors figure out how to crack Waldenström’s—which sits at the crossroads of many slow-growing cancers—it could also unlock new options for lymphoma therapy, multiple myeloma research, and even leukemia treatment breakthroughs. It’s turned into a family mission. While I’ve been creating board game “monsters” to cope, my mom’s been helping support the kind of oncology research that could save countless lives.
I’m not fully recovered. I still live with pain. But this project, with my daughters, my nieces, my family, has given me something to fight for
Something that brings joy and purpose and a whole lot of ridiculous laughter
If you’re going through something brutal, I just want to say: I get it. I’ve been there. In pain. Scared. Not sure what tomorrow will look like
What helped me wasn’t a miracle cure. It was something weird and joyful and ours. For us, it was building monsters
For you, maybe it’s baking as stress relief, or birdwatching as a form of mindfulness practice. Maybe it’s storytelling, crafting, or some little family bonding activity you do with your kids. Honestly, what the hobby is doesn’t even matter—it could be gardening, cooking, or painting. What matters is that it’s yours, it brings you a sense of emotional wellness, and most importantly, you do it together. Those small moments are what really help with mental health support and create memories that last way longer than the tough days.
That’s how you get through the darkness: tiny moments, dumb jokes, real time
That’s what saved me, and that’s what’s keeping me going
Joe isn’t just a dad—he’s a cancer survivor and the heart behind Sky Lion Games. His very first board game, Making Monsters, was created alongside his daughters during treatment, and now it’s finally launching on Kickstarter this September, right in time for Blood Cancer Awareness Month. If you love family board games or want to support a meaningful crowdfunding project, this is one worth checking out.
You can sign up now to get notified when the Kickstarter campaign goes live and back the project to show your support. On top of that, Joe has promised to donate at least 500 games to pediatric cancer patients in partnership with the Starlight Foundation—because for him, it’s not just about making a game, it’s about making a difference.
