In this Good Grief episode, Dr. Christine Malone welcomes Elissa Kalver, founder of the world’s first nonprofit cancer gift registry We Got This, Stage IV metastatic breast cancer thriver, Good Morning America guest, and upcoming author of We Got This. Elissa shares her journey from the shock of diagnosis to finding unexpected sources of support, and how her own needs inspired the creation of a registry that brings practical help and comfort to others facing cancer. She opens up about experiencing grief not just in loss, but in illness, identity shifts, and altered life plans—while still finding ways to live fully. The conversation explores the power of community, the birth of her book, and the role of joy, humor, and hope as daily survival tools. Elissa offers heartfelt advice for friends and family of those battling illness and reflects on her evolving sense of legacy, love, and purpose, closing with her moving answer to the question, “If grief could talk, what would it say to you today?”

Elissa's non-profit, We Got This: https://wegotthis.org/

Elissa's website: https://www.elissakalver.com/we-got-this