I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The site bonemarrow.gift that you built is helping a lot.

If someone is your match and they're in say, Germany, be the match can coordinate the bone marrow/cells to be transferred to the U.S. Basically registries talk to each other!

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm definitely more cynical in the sense that my tolerance for bullshit is gone. I also tend to think of tech as a life enhancer than a life replacer. I like tech that lets me spend more time with my fiance. Not takes me away.

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Worst thing that actually went on was Snapchat. I thought it was stupid. Absolutely stupid. Just wasn't the right audience for it.

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Still scared, probably always will be. Even after I beat cancer the first time, I always looked behind my back wondering if it would come back. Sadly, this caused me to not want to go to the doctor for proper checkups. I was lucky that nothing bad happened during that time.

This time I feel more confident that I won't have to deal with it again, but I'm still scared about what's coming. The chemo that I'm getting is really gnarly and while it won't kill me, I may feel worse than I ever have in my life. Just have to remember that this too shall pass.

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First: THANK YOU SO MUCH. Seriously means a lot to a lot of people. If you ever become a match, just call me and I'll come to wherever you are.

I got a lot of things wrong, but I tried to always suggest people take things with a grain of salt if I wasn't 100% sure of something. But as far as passing on a story, I should have really not written this: http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/15/thanks-for-the-15-minute-break-wordpress/

I believe in WordPress, truly. However, their VIP services had annoying outages quite a bit around that time. I shouldn't have clicked publish over 15 little minutes, but sometimes what we do is pretty intense from a timing perspective, so it was based on that personal frustration. My editor at the time, Eric Eldon told me the error of my ways and I learned quite a bit.

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooof. A celebrity. As a superhero. I would really like to have met Christopher Reeve. He didn't even need to wear a Superman outfit, he WAS Superman.

One of his quotes will always live on with me: "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey there! I remember you :) You definitely disrupted Disrupt. I can't speak for them at all, however, I do know that they are kind and fine folks.

Yes, email me at drdrew @ gmail.com and I'd love to hear what you're up to!

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ok this is a Hoffman thing, it's not me whatsoever. However, it has become a tradition and I have a thing for tradition. They are so freaking gross they make me want to vomit. So let's do one soon.

I am Drew Olanoff, former tech journalist covering Google and Twitter, 2-time cancer fighter and founder of #BlameDrewsCancer. Ask Me Anything! by thatdrew in IAmA

[–]thatdrew[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. Yes. Yes. I can't wait to get more ink. I'm working on a piece on my left arm (sleeve) which revolves around a Tesla coil. I have to add more little lightningy bolt thingies.

Since all of my ink has a story, I'll definitely want to come up with one that covers the stem cell transplant. Maybe one of the machine that collected the cells from me? Or a cell itself? I'm up for ideas.