A friend is sick....what to say in a card, when you call, in person? How do you show empathy? “If you need anything, call me. And if you don’t call me, I promise I’ll call you. And I’ll keep calling,” – bestguess, N.Y. “Don’t feel like talking? Me either. Let’s sit here and not [...]
My three minutes of podium time was preceded with an introduction by CNN anchor Chris Cuomo. His introduction was about the power of story, and specifically my expertise on the subject. He didn't just do research on me. He admitted to me that he was aware of my work years ago. I was surprised to [...]
At the St Barnabas Hospital Survivorship event at which I was the keynote speaker, I sat next to the Reverend Dr. Valerie Griffin who gave the convocation. After hearing my talk that included some messages about faith, she wished me a happy new year (Jewish). She told me at the hospital, the shofar was sounded. [...]
My frequent hoarseness drove me to see a specialist to rule out cancer with a laryngoscopy. Then, I had 8 sessions with a speech pathologist who specialized in 'Vocal Hygiene,' (I love that title) for preservation and healthy maintenance of the voice. My hoarseness improved even on days when I went in with a hoarse [...]
If you ask a cancer survivor what HOPE means to them, their answer may not necessarily be 'a CURE.' It may be 'feeling well enough to attend a family event in two months,' or 'accomplish a task within the week', or 'have a pain-free moment'. After my presentation at Grand Rounds, I had a tour [...]
So many people have said to me, “You look fantastic!” Why focus on how I look? You probably have little idea about my quality of life compromises that you cannot see on the outside. For me, I had bilateral vocal chord polyps and nodules, basal cell carcinoma in my radiated field, ringing in my ears, [...]
“I am lucky enough to have a front row seat for Humanitarian Acts,” proclaimed my new friend Ida Huneault who chaired the dental hygiene conference in Ottawa at which I was the keynote speaker. Her 15 year old son Tyler Huneault has Sialidosis, a very rare enzyme disorder from which few children survive more than [...]
This commercial tells a compelling story. They are not selling services. They are selling their passion to make a difference through STORY. No better vehicle to engage listeners and be memorable than through a story. It certainly worked with me! It's a story about a healthy active woman diagnosed with cancer but survives well due [...]
Canada is a huge country and not too populated so they open their doors to loads of people from all corners of the world who are young enough to add to the work force and hopefully add to the population by starting a family there. My taxi driver from downtown Saskatoon to the airport told [...]
Two years ago, after my lecture for the National Oral Health Conference in Huntsville Alabama, I grabbed some dinner at the hotel restaurant. When I went to pay my bill, the server told me it was taken care of. I inquired by whom. I walked over to the 'lady over there.' Shelly Spoeth, currently a [...]
