Reporter Launched Substack Chronicling Father's Cancer Battle
Caroline Kucko created the newsletter to preserve her father's memories following his glioblastoma diagnosis in July.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Eldercare
Caroline Kucko launched a Substack newsletter on July 19, 2026, to document her father's health journey after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. The project, titled Sundays with Dad, features weekly interviews intended to preserve his voice and story.
Why it matters
The initiative serves as a personal archive for the Kucko family while also raising funds for the Translational Brain Mapping program at the University of Rochester Medical Center. It highlights the intersection of personal caregiving and public storytelling during a terminal illness.
The newsletter is available for $5 per month or $50 per year. Each weekly entry includes a column written by Caroline Kucko and six recurring interview questions posed to her father.
The players
Caroline Kucko
She is a 25-year-old former SiriusXM employee who launched the Substack to chronicle her father's health journey.
John Kucko
He is a Rochester-area figure with 750,000 social media followers who is currently undergoing treatment for glioblastoma.
University of Rochester Medical Center
This facility provided the diagnosis for John Kucko and serves as the beneficiary for the newsletter's proceeds.
The details
Caroline Kucko, 25, resigned from her position at SiriusXM to focus on the project after her father was diagnosed on July 10, 2026. The weekly interviews are conducted via Zoom and occasionally feature guest segments, including an upcoming appearance by a western New York sports figure.
Timeline
May 26, 2026: John Kucko was involved in a car crash on I-390 North.
June 8, 2026: John Kucko underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor.
July 10, 2026: John Kucko received a glioblastoma diagnosis.
July 19, 2026: Caroline Kucko launched the weekly interview project.
mid-October 2026: A new guest segment is scheduled for release.
Roadmap
This project reflects a growing trend of family members utilizing digital media platforms to navigate and fundraise for specialized medical care. It demonstrates how personal storytelling can be leveraged to support the Translational Brain Mapping program at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Readers in Rochester can support the Translational Brain Mapping program by subscribing to the newsletter at the monthly or annual rate. The project offers a practical template for families managing a medical crisis to preserve memories while raising awareness.
The takeaway
Documenting a loved one's story can provide a therapeutic outlet for caregivers during a health crisis. Implementing a structured interview format, such as recurring questions, helps ensure that personal history is preserved clearly for future reflection.
What happens next
A guest segment featuring a western New York sports figure will be released on the newsletter in mid-October 2026.
Further reading
For more information on local support, visit Eldercare.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Democrat and Chronicle.
