Our Story

My name is Naomi Herman and I am a Junior at the Latin School of Chicago! Twenty-one years ago, my mom, Kerri, was diagnosed with stage four cancer, which nearly took her life. After I was born, she was diagnosed again with breast cancer and endometrial pre-cancer, having to get a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. Cancer has been a presence in my family's life throughout my childhood and has deeply shaped who I am today. My mom has shown me what it means to be a strong individual and how to persevere through the hardest challenges.

Inspired by her resilience and by witnessing the impact cancer has on individuals and families, I created Carrying Hope to support others going through similar experiences. I then partnered with my talented designer friend, Myles Antelis, to help create meaningful, thoughtfully designed bags, and together launched the project. 

Since then, Carrying Hope has grown beyond anything we initially imagined. What started as a small idea has expanded rapidly, allowing us to reach more patients and communities in need. We have already raised over $8,000 to support this mission, and we are incredibly excited about the opportunity to continue expanding our impact and bringing comfort to even more individuals going through cancer.