crash & bloom

Sara Machnik's foray into writing poetry connected her with cancer patients worldwide. Diagnosed with breast cancer at age thirtyone, she completed surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation alone in the midst of the pandemic. Strict mandates during the global pandemic made it difficult to connect with other cancer rebels, friends, and family. In her own words, "My first poem I ever wrote was during chemotherapy. I've always had a love of words, yet I never considered writing poetry myself. I feel like it just poured out of me in the midst of chemotherapy and losing my hair, losing a lot of friends, losing what I felt like was my entire future."

Sara remains active in the cancer advocacy space and spends much of her time orchestrating events through Bloom Club. Co-founded alongside her friend Shanna, this charity is dedicated to fostering joy among self-identifying women who have encountered the challenges of cancer at a young age.

Nestled in a serene waterfront haven on the shores of Lake Erie, Sara finds sanctuary alongside her partner, Mike, their cherished cat, Maui, and their adored rescue pup, Hudson. As she continues to navigate the ebbs and flow of life, Sara's spirit and creative mind serve as a guiding light, inspiring countless souls along the way.