Hutch Warren is a chubby, empathetic, and kind “Two Time Cancer Survivor” who tries to make the world a little brighter by making people laugh. Some achievements/awards he has been given are student of the month, A-B Honor Roll, letter of reference by Alabama State Police Lieutenant, and student varsity basketball manager.
HI! THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CHAT WITH US! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHO IS HUTCH WARREN IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
I am a chubby, empathetic, and kind individual who takes life one day at a time. Someone who tries to bring laughter to others around me. I use my personal life situations to be relatable and crack jokes to make others laugh. The best word to describe me is “Socializer”.
WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOU LEARNED YOU HAD CANCER?
When I first realized I had Cancer (The first time) I was 3 years old and was not sure what or how to handle the news “You have Cancer”. However, I was struck at the facial and body language both my parents exuded. Even at 3 years old, I knew that my parents were broken-hearted. I tried comforting my parents right after being given the news “You have Cancer”. At 3 years old I was more concerned with my parents being ok than with having to fight what would soon be a 7½ year uphill battle for my life. Being empathic is something that has been within me since a child.
HOW AND WHEN EXACTLY DID YOU REALIZE YOU HAD THE PASSION FOR ACTING?
I realized my passion for acting when I was 12 years old and performed stand-up comedy at Camp Smile a Mile, which is a camp for cancer patients located near Auburn, Alabama. I have continued my passion since then by taking theater through middle and high school as well as continuing to perform stand-up at Camp Smile a Mile. I have also recently started uploading short videos and skits online in the hopes of taking my dream to higher grounds.
HOW DID OTHERS CLOSE TO YOU REACTED WHEN THEY CAME TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR AILMENT?
People close to me became very worried for my life. Being unsure whether I would beat Cancer brought my close family and friends even closer.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME YOUR APPREHENSION ABOUT TREATMENTS? OF SIDE EFFECTS? OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DEATH?
Overcoming apprehension was not easy. As I was going through all my treatment at St.Jude I was always told by the Doctors around me that a positive attitude is half the battle. My family and I took that to heart and tried to always look at the positives. Most people would say: “What in the world can be positive when you have been diagnosed with Cancer” and to those people I would say “Change the way you look at things”. For example, when I lost my hair for the first time I was a little boy and was very sad about my hair falling out. However, my mom said “Lets just shave it off and think about all the money you can save not having to buy shampoo”. That comment made me laugh, and from that day on, that was the joke me and my family would say to cheer me/myself up. I never again felt upset or insecure about losing my hair because my family and I stayed positive.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN A SUPPORT GROUP? IF SO, HOW DID IT ASSIST YOU?
My support group was my family! They were, and still are, what gets me through life today. To this day, I still have a lot of side effects from my body having Cancer, not once but twice, and they are the ones who keep me going!
NOW THAT YOU ARE A TWO-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
Now that I am a Two-Time Cancer Survivor, I live my life in the present. In just 17 years, I have experienced what some people have not experienced in a lifetime. I truly try to live each day by living in the moment and enjoying the present!
WHAT ARE THE THREE CRITICAL THINGS YOU WOULD WANT TO TELL SOMEONE WHO HAD JUST GOTTEN NEWS OF THEIR CANCER DIAGNOSIS?
The things I would tell someone who just received the news “You have Cancer” are be with who you love, enjoy every moment that you can by doing what makes you happy, and never ever give up!
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES?
My biggest influences are Jason Bateman, Jonah Hill, and Jim Gaffigan.
WHAT’S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE US?
You might be surprised . . . but I do not have a six-pack!
WHAT IS ONE MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO YOUR FANS?
Be 100% unapologetically yourself!
WHERE CAN OUR READERS FIND YOU ONLINE?
You can find me online through my Instagram and YouTube.
