Storm

Introduce yourself

My name is Adrienne San Nicolas, but I prefer to be called Storm! I attended Surf Camp 38 as a camper and then returned to Maui as a camp counselor for Camp 43. 

Power name story

My power name is a culmination of a few things: My sister got me a sweatshirt when I was going through cancer with a very powerful saying on it:

"The devil whispered in my ear, you are not strong enough to withstand the storm. I whispered to the devil, I am the storm!”.

Then, my surgical oncologist’s last name was Storm, and she is referred to as just that. She is one badass woman who reminded me of my strength often when I was in the midst of treatment! Also, as a child, I always LOVED to watch the storms pass over. The power and fierceness of a good storm is just so calming. 

And finally, if you know me, I kinda roll in like a storm; big and loud. So, being called Storm just brings a power and strength to my being that is indescribable! 

A fun fact about you

My favorite thing to do on treatment days was to throw themed parties for all the people in the infusion room. I would purchase 25-30 trinkets from the dollar store and hand them out to the staff and patients sharing the chemo suite with me for the day! I connected with others who understood right where I was and those relationships ultimately helped me appreciate every moment of the journey.

Talk about your involvement with Project Koru

I currently lead Ohana Hangouts where we gather to play games, chat, and laugh! I attend campfire regularly to get my much-needed dose of Ohana love and support and the Friday Fitness classes every chance I get. I also participated in KB4C 2019 and ran in the virtual PK5K. Honestly, any time I can hang with my Ohana I try to take advantage of it! 

Why did you choose to be a leader? What does being a leader mean to you? 

From the date of my diagnosis, I knew I had a purpose through cancer. Throughout my journey, I have found great pleasure in connecting with and mentoring others. After attending surf camp in 2018, I knew being a leader for this organization was exactly where I wanted to be! 

I was beyond blessed to be called back to lead camp the next year. Though leading is tough work, it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. I can only pray that my presence brought joy and healing to the campers of 43, and will also do so for many camps to come!

What does empowerment mean to you and how does it show up in your life? 

Empowerment is what comes when you take the reins of all that life throws at you and make something positive and powerful from it. Let's be honest, cancer is shitty, but I have found so many ways to make it beautiful. 

I have met some pretty amazing people and built lifelong relationships that are deeper and more meaningful than I ever knew possible. I have also gained purpose through the experience and found a renewed faith - which all make life so much more enjoyable!

What does being part of the Ohana mean to you? 

Having such a fantastic group of others who "get it" in my life brings me so much joy! There is never a moment where I feel alone or judged for my thoughts or feelings around cancer. I can't possibly express how much having the Ohana has positively impacted my life. 

What advice would you give to new survivors?

Seek connection with others every step of the way. I promise you won't regret it!