Holly and Jill Shakoor
“People often think that grief diminishes over time, but in reality, we grow around our grief. It never truly goes away. On this journey of learning to live with our grief, we’ve found that connection is one of the most powerful remedies.” – Holly and Jill Shakoor
Following a summer vacation to the Caribbean, 39 year-old Adam Shakoor developed a persistent stomachache upon returning to his home in New Jersey. “We all assumed it was just a result of eating or drinking something his body didn’t agree with while traveling,” says his older sister, Holly. After inconclusive tests and continual pain, Adam insisted on a colonoscopy despite being below the recommended age of 45. “When the results came back, our world was turned upside down,” his younger sister Jill adds. Adam had stage IV colorectal cancer, which had already spread to his liver and lungs.
Adam went through 11 months of treatments. “Those 11 months were filled with challenges, including Adam undergoing a life-or-death colostomy surgery that delayed the start of his chemotherapy by six weeks. He had to adjust to living with an ostomy bag indefinitely, which was a huge shock for him and all of us. Through it all, we rallied together as a family, doing everything we could to support him.” Sadly, Adam passed away at age 40 in September 2023, less than a year after his diagnosis.
“Our family isn’t one that openly talks about emotions, but our sister Jill, Adam, and I have always been able to communicate with each other. We shared a strong sibling bond that only deepened over time,” Holly explains. The two sisters had joked about starting a podcast, but it wasn’t until after Adam’s passing that their motivation shifted toward something meaningful that they decided to move forward. Holly and Jill hope to use their platform to not only honor their brother Adam but also “to encourage others to advocate for their health, shed light on a global health issue that is claiming far too many lives too soon, and ultimately offer support to others who may also be grieving a loved one.”
Today, Holly and Jill continue celebrating their love for Adam and each other while spreading awareness through their podcast. They are nonetheless grateful for organizations like Stand Up To Cancer. “Cancer research is more important than ever, especially as the disease increasingly affects younger people,” Holly says. “Organizations like SU2C not only fund vital research and play a crucial role in raising awareness but also provide a sense of community for those impacted by cancer, whether directly or indirectly.”
Holly and Jill’s advice to those who have lost loved ones to cancer is to keep celebrating their memory: “Don’t be afraid to talk about the person you’ve lost. Share their story with anyone who will listen—you never know whose life it might touch.”
Our Mission
Stand Up To Cancer raises awareness and funds research to detect and treat cancers with the aspiration to cure all patients. Find out how you can get involved.
