Digging In - Bring Hope Home

Listen to this conversation with Paul Isenberg, the Co-Founder and CEO, of @bringinghopehome (BHH), a non-profit dedicated to providing “Unexpected Amazingness to local Families with cancer through financial and emotional support.” In the Fall of 1983, Paul Isenberg was a senior at West Chester University when he met the love of his life, Nicole Makowski. Paul and Nicole dated for a few years and married in 1991. They had their first child Christopher in 1995 and shortly after, Nicole became pregnant with their second child, Gabrielle. During her pregnancy with Gabby, Nicole wasn’t feeling well and finally decided to go to the doctor to see what was going on. Nicole then heard three words that changed her life forever: “you have cancer.” While she was nine months pregnant, and at the age of only 32, Nicole was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Soon after her diagnosis, Nicole gave birth to a healthy baby girl and immediately started intense chemotherapy. Not only were the Isenberg’s faced with a whole new set of challenges with raising a newborn and a toddler, they now needed to make sure Nicole was getting the best treatment possible…all while still making sure the bills were somehow being paid. Even though this was an extremely difficult time, the Isenberg’s were astonished by the love and support from family, friends, and strangers alike. They felt so blessed to have such great people in their lives. Nicole endured six years of intense chemotherapy and two bone marrow transplants. Her fight ended in 2003 at the young age of 39, but her legacy lives on through the special work BHH does in her honor. Paul is determined to make an impact in the lives of Families battling cancer. Every day he upholds his late wife Nicole’s vision of delivering Unexpected Amazingness to local Families with cancer through financial and emotional support. Paul Isenberg is the most enthusiastic person you have ever wanted to meet. His passion and dedication for BHH is contagious, growing HOPE Nation with every person he meets.