Meet a Mom: Meet Cancer Survivor Laura Hendricks, Founder of Luminaries Cancer Survivorship

Chicago North Shore Moms is honored to pass along to you a powerful and inspiring Meet a Mom Spotlight with Northfield mom of three, Laura Hendricks. A leukemia survivor and passionate advocate, Laura has transformed her personal health journey into a mission to help others heal through her nonprofit, Luminaries Cancer Survivorship. After facing a rare leukemia diagnosis in 2018, Laura and her husband Brock co-founded Luminaries to support fellow survivors navigating life after cancer treatment emotionally, physically, and mentally.

In this heartfelt interview, Laura opens up about motherhood, healing, and the deep gratitude she carries with her every day. She also shares how her kids keep her grounded (and laughing with their snake pranks!), and how small rituals help her find joy and strength. Her story is one of resilience, love, and purpose. Welcome, Laura!

 

Laura and her kiddos when first diagnosed with leukemia.

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Hi Laura! Please introduce yourself. Where do you live?

My name is Laura Hendricks. I am originally from The North Shore – Wilmette – and feel grateful to be raising my kids in the same area, in Northfield.

We are proud parents to three wonderful children, two boys and a girl ages 13, 11 and 10, who fill our lives with energy, laughter, and nonstop activity. Each of them has their own unique personality, but they share a love for staying active. Between football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and flag football, our calendar is always full, and our hearts even fuller. Watching them grow through sports has been one of our greatest joys.

 

 

What are one or two fun or special things to know about you?

Not sure if this counts as a fun fact, but I’m absolutely terrified of snakes and my kids think it’s hilarious. They love to prank me with rubber snakes and sneaky surprises, and yes, I fall for it every time.

On a more meaningful note, I’m a survivor of a rare form of leukemia. While that journey wasn’t exactly “fun,” it profoundly shaped who I am today—more intentional, more grounded, and endlessly grateful for the second chance to live, love, and laugh (even if it’s at snake pranks).

 

Being from the North Shore, what are your favorite local places, spaces and eats to frequent?

You can’t go wrong with a quick Starbucks run, grabbing a True Juice, or a cozy date night at Pomeroy or Sofia Steak. Time by the lake is always a favorite reset. And don’t even get me started on the biscuits at Town and Oak in Hubbard Woods—they’re worth the detour every time. For a good old-fashioned breakfast catch-up, Northfield Restaurant is my go-to with friends.

When it’s time for a little self-care, I’ve been loving Restore in Northbrook. Every time I pop in for a treatment, I walk out feeling like I’ve done something truly good for myself—and that feeling is hard to beat.

 

 

What gets you through a challenging day?

A strong cup of coffee in the morning sets the tone for a great day. But when life gets tough, I turn to what grounds me, whether it’s a walk, a yoga flow, a Peloton ride, a few moments with my gratitude journal, or a spirited game of Rummikub with my kids. These little rituals remind me where joy and strength live.

 

You are no stranger to tough times, any words of wisdom to share?

You are stronger than you know. This came to life in full force when I was facing my leukemia battle in 2018.

 

I’m so sorry you have gone through such retched journey. Tell us more about your battle with leukemia in 2018 and how you’ve turned to helping others with your nonprofit Luminaries. 

Luminaries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping cancer survivors rebuild their lives after treatment. We provide structured, evidence-based wellness programs that support emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Luminaries was born out of my own experience where navigating diagnosis and survivorship often felt isolating and unsupported. Through that journey, I realized that many others felt the same. I knew there had to be a more compassionate, empowering path forward—and that’s why I created Luminaries with my husband, and caretaker, Brock.

 

How are you doing today?

I am now seven years post-stem cell transplant and remain in remission. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel immense gratitude for this second chance at life – a chance to be present for my children, to witness their milestones, and to guide them as they grow. This journey has deepened my purpose and passion for supporting others. Having experienced firsthand the emotional and physical toll of survivorship, I am committed to helping fellow survivors not just recover, but truly thrive physically, emotionally, and mentally.

 

How does the program work for those who are currently undergoing treatments?

Luminaries offers flexible, personalized support designed to meet survivors wherever they are in their journey whether they are undergoing active treatment, navigating post-treatment recovery, in full remission, or years into survivorship.

For individuals in active treatment, Luminaries provides either a digital program or thoughtfully curated kits delivered directly to their homes. Both formats offer comprehensive wellness resources focused on stress management, hydration, emotional resilience, restorative sleep, and gentle movement.

Survivors are encouraged to engage at their own pace, without pressure, only compassionate, evidence-based guidance.

 

Laura at a hospital event for Luminaries.

Everyone is different but what do you think is one of the best ways we can support a loved one going through cancer treatments?

Be there without needing to fix.
Offer your presence, not solutions. Whether it’s a simple text, a meal left at the doorstep, or just quietly showing up, your consistent care matters. And most importantly, remind your loved one they don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to simply be.

At Luminaries, we offer thoughtful, comforting items paired with messages of encouragement, which is perfect for anyone wanting to show love and support to someone affected by cancer. Every purchase from Luminaries.life directly funds our programs, helping not just your loved one, but countless other survivors on their healing journey.

 

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your very personal story or Luminaries?

Survivorship is hard. Even on the days when a survivor appears to be thriving, it often takes immense effort just to get there. Behind the smiles are ongoing challenges – physical, emotional, mental, and financial – that are rarely visible and too often overlooked by our healthcare system and society at large.

Today, there are 18.1 million cancer survivors in the U.S., and that number is projected to grow to 22 million by 2035. The need for meaningful, ongoing support has never been greater.

Luminaries is here to change that. We’re building a future where survivorship is personalized, supported, and centered on helping every survivor truly thrive, not just survive.

I’m making the most of my second chance at life, and I’d be honored to have your support in helping others do the same.
Visit www.luminaries.life to donate and join our mission. And thank you for taking your time to learn more about my journey and how Luminaries can support someone in your life undergoing cancer treatments.