Our Story

My name is Aaron Wickersham, and I live with Neurofibromatosis (NF) Type 1, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along the nervous system. I was diagnosed at just six months old and have been navigating life with NF ever since. My journey began with a diagnosis of optic glioma, which caused me to lose most of my vision. Thanks to clinical trials through the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) and other research studies, doctors were able to develop treatments that restored my sight.

During that same time, however, I developed a spinal tumor that caused my spine to collapse when I was just six years old. The clinical trial I participated in helped pause the tumor’s growth, though not shrink it completely — a pattern I’ve seen across many of the drug trials I’ve joined since. While I haven’t experienced dramatic tumor reduction, these treatments have often slowed growth and helped ease difficult symptoms such as chronic pain and itchiness.

Because of the aggressive nature of my tumors, I’ve undergone more than 15 surgeries on my back, including three full spinal rod and cage placements as well as multiple repairs for broken rods.

In addition to the support and care I have received from CTF, I was able to make connections/friendships within the NF community. In 2019, I began working with those friends to establish the Junior Board at the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Our vision was to bring together young professionals who could use their talents, energy, and voices to extend the mission of CTF. As we grew, I realized awareness only thrives when it’s paired with connection.

There are so many other wonderful causes have powerful products that carry their stories into the world — but for NF, there was nothing that truly amplified the voices of those impacted. That gap became my inspiration. I wanted to create something as diverse and meaningful as the NF community itself. Just as no two coffees are the same, no two NF journeys are alike. Coffee, however, has a remarkable way of bringing people together — across cultures, conversations, and communities. That’s why I launched this project: a space where coffee becomes more than a beverage. It’s a platform for storytelling, connection, and hope. So please, pour yourself a cup, and join me as we share the journeys of NF Heros whose strength and resilience inspire us all. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Neurofibromatosis research.