Chicken soup for the cancer survivor's soul : 101 healing stories about those who have survived cancer

332 Pages·1996·1.88 MB·English

by  Mark Victor

“Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul will not only comfort and inspire
cancer survivors and their loved ones, it will comfort and inspire anyone
breathing. It’s mandatory reading!”
Wally Amos
“The Cookie Man”
“Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul is a great pick-me-up book. We
all go through tough times in our lives. The inspiring stories in this book show us
all that we can get through these events and even learn from them— that is the
secret of surviving!”
Dan Jansen
Olympic gold-medal speed skater
“Yes! This wonderful book teaches us that one can make cancer a triumph
instead of a tragedy! We can find the blessings... the lessons to be learned...the
strength we never knew we had. I know... cancer was one of the most
empowering ‘gifts’ in my life.”
Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
author, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and
End the Struggle and Dance with Life
“Over the past 14 years of providing psychological and emotional support to
thousands of cancer patients, we have discovered that there are significant
therapeutic benefits from interacting with other cancer patients. Chicken Soup
for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul, a wonderfully inspirational book, introduces the
cancer patient to many others who understand every nuance of the cancer
experience.”
Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D.
founder and president, The Wellness Community
“These stories will take you by the hand and take you by the heart, and show you
how much each of us can do.”
W. Mitchell, CPAE
author, The Man Who Would Not Be Defeated and
internationally recognized expert on change
“I loved this wonderful, heartwarming book. It reminded me of all the people I
have worked with since 1974. Reading it was like sitting in a hundred support
groups. You leave feeling you’ve shared something important, something of
yourself.”
Elise NeeDell Babcock
founder, Cancer Counseling Inc.
and author, When Life Becomes Precious
“Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul shows us what all the blood tests,
X rays and MRIs cannot possibly reveal—the true nature of the surviving soul.
Through the horror of cancer, these heroes have found the honor of everyday
life. By sharing their stories with us, they fill us with the power not only to
survive but, indeed, to thrive. Besides cancer patients, their families and health-
care givers, anyone who’s had so much as a broken nail or a broken heart should
read this book.”
Robert Wollman, M.D.
Holy Cross Hospital Cancer Center
“This book is a godsend for anyone who needs some inspiration—as we all do.
The stories in Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul are from people who
have a special insight into how to live life more fully and, in doing so, improve
their health.”
O. Carl Simonton, M.D.
Simonton Cancer Center
CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE
CANCER
SURVIVOR’S SOUL
101 Healing Stories About Those
Who Have Survived Cancer
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Patty Aubery
Nancy Mitchell, R.N.
Beverly Kirkhart
Health Communications, Inc.
Deerfield Beach, Florida
www.hcibooks.com
www.chickensoup.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
is on file with the Library of Congress.
© 1996 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC
eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9738-7 (ebook) eISNB-10: 0-7573-9738-7 (ebook) All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise without the written permission of the publisher.
HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.
Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
R-09-07
Cover design by Andrea Perrine Brower
With love we dedicate
Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul to
Linda Mitchell—a survivor, and Patty and
Nancy’s mother—who originally suggested that
we compile it. She spent hundreds of hours
reading over a thousand stories and poems
in the creation of it and gave us the
encouragement to continue when we thought
it would never come to completion.
Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor’s Soul
would not exist without you!
We also dedicate it to
Jeff Aubery, Patty’s husband, who
spent the last six months of this project as
virtually a single parent with their son J.T.
while Patty worked to complete it.
No Road Too Steep
There is no path
so dark, nor road so steep,
nor hill so slippery
that other people have
not been there
before me
and survived.
May my dark times
teach me to help
the people I love
on similar journeys.
Maggie Bedrosian
Contents
Foreword Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. ON HOPE
What Cancer Cannot Do Source Unknown
The Soul Menders Susan Chernak McElroy
From on Chemo to on Camera Kristine Kirsten
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks Howard J. Fuerst, M.D.
The Boy and the Billionaire John Pekkanen
Hope William M. Buchholz, M.D.
Amy Graham Mark Victor Hansen
Wild Bill Mary L. Rapp
Kids with Cansur Geralyn Gaes
Cancer Has Been a Blessing Kimberly A. Stoliker
Cancer and Career Choices Robert H. Doss
It Is the Best of Times Joanne P. Freeman
2. ON COURAGE AND DETERMINATION
Up the Down Slope Adrienne Rivera
“Never Give Up!” Speaker’s Sourcebook II
Not Without a Fight Mary Helen Brindell
Nintendo Master Katie Gill
Fighting Back—One Man’s Battle with a Brain Tumor Reverend Robert Craig
Dare to Dream Manuel Diotte
Fulfilling My Dreams Marilyn R. Moody
Chris—One Special Fifth-Grader! Louise Biggs
My Hero Katie Gill
Keep on Keeping On Erik Olesen
The Container Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
3. ON ATTITUDE
The Best Day of My Life Gregory M. Lousig-Nont, Ph.D.
Love Is Stronger... John Wayne Schlatter
The Power to Choose Sharon Bruckman
Laugh! Peter McWilliams
The “Wee” Nurse Norman Cousins
Until Tomorrow Comes Wanda Kelly
Two Things Not to Worry About Source Unknown
Head First Norman Cousins
I’ve Just Got to Make That Man Laugh! Meladee and Hanoch McCarty
The Prosthesis Intruder Maureen J. Khan-Lacoss
The Value of Laughter Norman Cousins
The Choice Is Yours Beverly Kirkhart
Having an Attitude Robert Lipsyte
Reaching for the Best Norman Cousins
The Centerfold Allen Klein
The Power of Laughter Allen Klein
Victim or Survivor Paula (Bachleda) Koskey
4. ON FAITH
Going for the Prize Paul Azinger
Say a Prayer Bob Westenberg
On Faith Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
The Holy Water Kathy LaTour
Great Expectations Jeanette Doyle Parr
I Said a Prayer for You Today Source Unknown
Don’t Worry—Be Happy Paul Santaro
All the Necessary Supplies Dianne Clark
5. ON LOVE
Eileen Brown’s Story Eileen Brown O’Riley
A Pocket Full of Quarters Anne C. Washburn
Manuel Garcia David Roth
Hairs Jaime Rosenthal
Dear Mommy Alexi Thomas
Saint Christopher’s Protection Cynthia Bonney Mannering
Our Hero Brian Norma Yamamoto
Happy Anniversary Allen Klein
Love and Support Christine M. Creley
Love Cures People Janine Crawford
Out in the Open Michelle
“You Are Going to Need a Surgeon” Delva Seavy-Rebin
I Believe in Miracles Chris King
6. ON SUPPORT
“Pete, You Have Cancer!” Pete Legge
Teens Launch Campaign to Save Dying Baby’s Life Jeff Leeland
Judy Nancy Richard-Guilford
Mrs. G in 3B Linda Neukrug
The Wellness Community Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D.
The Corporate Angel Network The Corporate Angel Network
To Climb a Mountain Diana L. Chapman
An Affair to Remember Linda Mitchell
Simply Hold a Hand Bernie S. Siegel, M.D.
You’ve Got a Friend Carole King
Dear Dr. Terebelo Paula (Bachleda) Koskey
To the Nurses of the World John Wayne Schlatter
The Healing Sybil Taylor
Kindest Cut People Magazine
Taking Time for Tenderness Mary Vaughn Armstrong
Practical Tips to Help the Seriously III Saint Anthony’s Health Center
How to Make a Sick Child Smile Marilyn Phillips
The Way Back Doris Knight