A few years ago, while waiting for my yoga class to start at the local community center, I overheard some children expressing joy over free snack bars they received from the desk attendant: “We’re the luckiest kids in the world!” they yelled. I laughed to myself and thought “they
Dogs have always held a special place in my heart and in my home. When I left to attend college, I felt incomplete without the company of my two dogs, Sherlock and Agatha. I volunteered at the local animal shelter and on a farm that had multiple horses, twelve dogs,
Music is magical. It can inspire, it can soothe, it can energize. For patients, music can serve as a vital outlet, a medium to express your anger, frustration, fear and joy. It has even been found to have a physical benefit for patients. Throughout my treatment for leukemia, music was
July 25th marks four years since my brother died at the age of 35. It was an acute illness: he went into the hospital on Thursday and died Monday evening. My grief was all-encompassing. As I wrote in a personal blog, "I was so angry at the medical personnel
When I think spring, I think green. The various shades of green dazzle the eyes, but nothing signals the start of spring like the clean-cut outfield in a baseball stadium, the bright green a stark contrast to the brown dirt infield. I wasn’t always a baseball fan. I mean,
Developing A Bond I first met Dr. Kales on the ninth floor of Fairfax Hospital in January, 2005. He explained my diagnosis and outlined the treatment I would receive in the months to come. He was serious yet kind, concerned but hopeful. He directed his comments and questions to me
Originally published April 29, 2010 According to the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), a cancer survivor is “anyone with a history of cancer, from the time of diagnosis and for the remainder of life, whether that is days or decades”. I recently learned that the phrase “cancer survivor” was
When I think spring, I think green. The various shades of green dazzle the eyes, but nothing signals the start of spring like the clean-cut outfield in a baseball stadium, the bright green a stark contrast to the brown dirt infield. I wasn’t always a baseball fan. I mean,
The isolation of illness is real. Not only because you don’t feel well enough to go out in public, but because some treatments suppress a patient’s immune system, making it physically unsafe for them to be around large crowds and even family and friends. Every time I was
You are so brave. I’ve realized over the years that those four words grate on the nerves of many cancer patients. I’m always up for a compliment, so I wasn’t quite sure why others were bothered by the phrase. Their explanation: “I’m not brave, I’m
Even if you achieve remission from cancer, the worry often lingers. In two months, I will celebrate five years since my stem cell transplant, five years leukemia-free. Five years is a major milestone in cancer terms; some even consider it to signify that you are cured. I will celebrate October
Meet Julie Kerbaugh, one of the patients in the Side-Out Protocol, the pilot study funded entirely by volleyball. Julie and the other patients who benefit from the research Side-Out supports are the reason we Dig Pink! New pilot study at Scottsdale Healthcare gives cancer patient hope
