By Julia Nickerson
Noriel Cunanan lit up every room he entered. With his radiant smile and a generous, inspiring spirit, he brought energy and optimism wherever he went. A devoted friend, he always offered a helping hand, lifted spirits, and sparked fresh ideas.
His battle with myositis began suddenly with a rash in late February 2024, followed by shortness of breath just weeks later. Two emergency room visits led to an initial pneumonia diagnosis, but his condition escalated rapidly. By March 21, his oxygen needs grew so critical that he required intubation. Despite our greatest efforts, Noriel never learned of his diagnosis—anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis. Tragically, this disease took him from us in under three months.
Yet, Noriel’s journey sparked something extraordinary. His spirit, strength, and resilience brought friends, family, and even strangers together, forming an incredible network of support. Though we couldn’t overcome this disease, his journey inspired a shared mission to fight it with compassion and purpose.
In his honor, we created Nori’s Fight—a foundation dedicated to funding research, education, and support for those battling anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis. We envision a future where those affected by this disease have better resources, effective treatments, and, one day, a cure.
Noriel’s legacy powerfully reminds us of the resilience and strength found in community. Through Nori’s Fight, we honor his memory by building a brighter future for everyone affected by this rare condition. We invite you to join us in this journey—to spread hope, raise awareness, and support advancements that will make a difference.
To kick off this mission, Nori’s Fight recently held its first fundraising event: a golf tournament honoring Noriel and his favorite pastime. We plan to make this an annual tradition and look forward to expanding with new events that raise essential funds and bring us closer to overcoming this disease.
Julia Nickerson is the beloved partner of Noriel Cunanan and President and Cofounder of Nori’s Fight, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, promoting early detection, and furthering advancements in treatments for anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis and interstitial lung disease. Among Nori’s Fight’s first projects is support for TMA’s myositis visiting professor program to educate clinicians about anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis.
Thank you for this story and I want to do everything in power to fight and continue the awareness of the disease
Nori’s smile in pictures bring a smile to my face. Thank you to Julia and Nori’s family & friends for sharing his Myositis journey with us. We appreciate your partnership with TMA as we raise awareness and provide educational opportunities for this rare disease. I too lost my brother to DM with MDA5 & receiving support from others and carrying on our loved ones legacy is truly heartwarming. Thank YOU!
A sad story. Such a quick lost. My son is battling something similar but he has painful nodes that come on his body. We treat with antibiotics but it’s not a permanent fix. We live oversees and there is no one who seems to nderstand his situation and pain. He is 18 now and om
Moving from a top athlete to an almost sedentary life because he also encounters Rhabdomyolysis with the same time has taken a toll on his mental health. Keep Nori’sfaith alive! You’re not fighting alone.