It may sound like a cliché, but it really is the little things in life that matter most. But more than that, it’s the people behind these little things that can have the biggest and most profound impact. 

If you know Marquis Gonzalez, then you know that he is a hair stylist extraordinaire. And for the women whose lives he’s touched—and some whose lives he’s changed—the small act of washing, cutting, coloring, and styling a woman’s hair can be profound.

Marquis is masterful in the salon. He has been the conduit for women to walk confidently in the world…to ace that test…to get that new job…to slay that interview…to dance until the sun comes up…to see your man do a double take…to live life fully and fiercely.

And it all starts with a small gesture from a man with a big heart and a bit of magic.

The magic of Marquis is obvious in every head that he’s touched, in every smile that he’s flashed, in the very way that he lives his life. Last year, that man who has given so much to so many, who has shared his magic with the world, began a journey that he couldn’t have planned for. 

In November 2019, he underwent surgery to remove a tumor. When the tumor was tested, he was diagnosed with cancer—two forms of lymphoma. He felt his foundation shake, but he stood tall. He felt some fear, but he trusted his faith. He questioned why, but remembered that how he would beat cancer was more important. 

With two months to digest his diagnosis, Marquis continued to work his magic. He stayed connected to his family, relied on his faith, and let his closest friends and some of his clients be his support. He started his journey one step at a time. He didn’t make grand announcements. He didn’t immediately share his story. He didn’t feel sorry for himself. He kept working and living and believing. And preparing to fight, 

In January 2020, Marquis began a series of chemotherapy treatments that would last six months. He starts a new round of treatments every three weeks, and the combination of therapies are strong and debilitating at times. When he was told that the side effects would last a few days, he believed. When the side effects instead lasted weeks, he endured. When he developed a blood clot in his abdomen, he began taking blood thinners and he endured. When the side effects became too much to handle, he was hospitalized three times for relief, and still, he endured. 

Now, nearly halfway through his treatments, he has had two revelations: fighting cancer requires energy and that he didn’t have to fight alone.

Marquis is a fighter, but even fighters need to rest. Marquis is independent, but everybody needs somebody sometimes. Marquis is a good person with a big heart, and he is fighting for his life. 

As an entrepreneur and hair stylist, when Marquis doesn’t work, he doesn’t have any income. He is fortunate to have health insurance and some savings, but he could use some help. 

We’ve created this Go Fund Me page to give back to someone who has given us so much, and who needs a chance to heal with some peace of mind. It starts small, a simple act of kindness that can cause a ripple effect in a person’s life and translate into emotional prosperity. 

It's so rare that we get an opportunity to demonstrate a small act of kindness and have a massive impact in one person’s life. Your generosity can only be measured in the peace that Marquis will have, and in the life that he will continue to live, forever grateful for each of the small gestures that we make on his behalf. 

Marquis thanks you, and we thank you for taking the time to read his story, for giving whatever you can, and for returning to him a measure of the magic that he’s shared with so many.