Read Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor's Soul Online
Authors: Jack Canfield
Nancy has recently relocated to Santa Barbara with The Canfield Group and can be reached at:
The Canfield Group
P.O. Box 30880
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
800-237-8336
fax: 805-563-2945
Beverly Kirkhart knows what it means to live everyday to its fullest. Facing personal and professional hardships, as well as overcoming breast cancer eight years ago, she now shares the wisdom of her experiences in her heart-to-heart speaking engagements. Beverly has been a keynote speaker at universities and colleges, nonprofit organizations, corporations and hospitals across the country. She’s been on national radio and television delivering her message of “tuning setbacks into comebacks!” She is the author of the wildly acclaimed,
My Healing Companion
, a revealing self-guided journal designed to help those dealing with cancer become their own heroes.
Beverly delivers a powerful message with a personal touch. She identifies ways a person can stay strong, productive and upbeat during challenging times and beyond. From self-discovery to meditation, to asking for and giving support—and more—Beverly offers practical and proven ways professionals, caregivers, cancer patients, and others can turn their setbacks into comebacks and emerge as strong more positive people.
Beverly is the president and a founding member of the Breast Resource Center of Santa Barbara, along with Dr. Susan Love, a renowned surgeon and author of
Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book
. She has dedicated her time in the development of several projects, which give hope and inspiration to those struggling with life-threatening disease. These include the first “Body-Mind-Spirit” program, sponsored by Cottage Hospital, featuring Dr. Carl Simonton and “The Looking Good, Feeling Good,” fashion show sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Nordstrom.
Beverly, a Santa Barbara residence, loves life and finds enjoyment in both her work and play. She is an avid bicyclist, equestrian rider and skier.
To invite Beverly Kirkhart to speak for your conference or event, write or call:
32 W. Anapamu Street, Ste. #246
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 966-1249, Fax: (805) 962-7269
E-mail:
[email protected]
Many of the stories in this book were taken from books we have read. These sources are acknowledged in the Permissions section. Most of the stories and poems were contributed by cancer survivors, many of whom are professional speakers. If you would like to contact them for information on their books, tapes and seminars, you can reach them at the address and phone numbers provided below.
Many of the stories were also contributed by readers like yourself, who responded to our request for stories. We have included information about them as well.
Roberta Andresen
has been active in the business world her whole adult life, holding positions ranging from clerical to managerial. She is the author of
My Daddy Died.
She is available to speak to any size group and can be reached by calling 800-749-2550.
Maggie Bedrosian
is a business owner and executive coach, specializing in helping people produce focused results with natural ease. She is the author of three books, including
Life Is More Than Your To-Do List: Blending Business Success with Personal Satisfaction.
Maggie is the past president of the American Society for Training and Development, Washington, D.C., chapter, and also chaired the Writing/Publishing Group of the National Speakers Association. You can contact Maggie by calling 301-460-3408.
Harold H. Benjamin, Ph.D.,
conceived of the breakthrough “patient active” concept based on his experience in dealing with psychological and emotional aspects of cancer. He founded The Wellness Community in 1982 as a no-cost program for cancer patients. Harold can be reached at The Wellness Community—National, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 1040, Santa Monica, CA 90405, 310-314-2555
Louise Biggs
is married and has three sons. When her older sons were in college, she decided to join them and received her teaching degree in 1982 at the age of 42. She has been teaching fifth grade for 13 years. She enjoys an active church life, camping, hiking, quilting, basket weaving, and doll-making. She can be reached at 4616 Old Stage Rd., Pulaski, VA 24301, or call 540-980-4016.
Linda Blackman
is president of Executive Image, Inc. She is a former national television anchor, reporter and talk show host. Today she is a sought-after professional speaker and trainer to businesses and associations. Linda uses her unique methods to show you how to enhance your image by winning every audience. Contact her at 5020 Castleman St., Pittsburgh, PA 15232, or call 412-682-2200.
William M. Buchholz, M.D.,
is an oncologist and a graduate of Harvard and Stanford. William is in practice with his wife, Susan, a clinical psychologist, in Mountain View, California. He is a consultant to the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Bolinas, California. In his oncology practice he combines conventional and complementary therapies, with an emphasis on empowering patients and their families. He has found that a little hope goes a long way.
Diana L. Chapman
has been a newspaper journalist for more than 11 years, having worked at
The Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union
and Los Angeles Copley Newspapers. She specializes in touching human interest stories and, after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1993, began working on a book involving health issues. She has been married for seven years and has one son, Herbert Ryan Hart. She can be reached by calling 310-548-1192 or writing to 837 Elberon #3A, San Pedro, CA 90731.
Dianne Clark
is a business education teacher at Castleford High School in Castleford, Idaho. She lives on the family farm with her husband, Ted, and teenage sons, Russ and Nic. Dianne enjoys making various craft items and is committed to Twelve-Step Recovery. You can contact Dianne at 1000 E. 3211 N., Buhl, ID 83316, or call 208-537-6821.
Reverend Robert Craig
is a United Methodist minister. From 1980 to 1994, he was a chaplain at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois, where he served as a surgical chaplain and worked with the open-heart team. Reverend Craig can be reached at 102 South Niles, Metamora, IL 61548.
Janine Crawford
is a bookkeeper for a real estate firm in Arcadia, California. Her first love is children; she loves creating children’s clothing and baby quilts. After graduating from high school, she attended the Institute for Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Her artwork is now an enjoyable hobby. This is her first attempt at writing.
Christine M. Creley
is a first-grade teacher and lives with her husband, Terry, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her interests include travel, reading and aerobics. She can be reached by writing 3904 Robin Hill Dr., Bartlett, TN 38135.
Sally deLipkau
is the oncology patient representative for Washoe Medical Center and assists cancer patients and families both individually and in group settings. She provides communitywide presentations for the early detection of breast cancer as well as inspirational presentations. Sally trains volunteers and coordinates programs for the American Cancer Society and is a hospice volunteer.
Manuel Diotte
contracted cancer at the age of seven and was given six months to live. After 26 operations, two years of chemotherapy and several months of radiation treatment, Manuel overcame these seemingly insurmountable odds. He is 27 years old today and considers himself a walking miracle. Through radio and TV, Manuel has inspired countless individuals with his stories about love, hope, faith and courage. Manuel is now a professional speaker and businessman who resides in San Antonio with his wife, Heather. You can contact Manuel at 314 Cypressfox, San Antonio, TX 78245, or call 210-681-7527.
Joanne P. Freeman
is an attorney and a writer. She holds a B.A. in literature from the University of Arizona and a law degree from the University of California, Davis. She has previously published essays, film critiques and book reviews in
The Los Angeles Daily News, The Los Angeles Daily Journal
and
The Wall Street Journal’s National Business Employment Weekly.
Joanne can be reached at 2220 Miraval Tercero, Tucson, AZ 85718, or call 520-2996172.
Howard J. Fuerst, M.D.,
received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. He spent two years in the U.S. Air Force and then entered the practice of internal medicine in Hollywood, Florida. He retired from this practice in 1986. In 1991, he became interested in alternative medicine and today conducts a cancer support group. He has and will continue to espouse alternative medicine modalities to any forum.
Katherine Stephens Gallagher
was employed in the human resources department of Harris Methodist Hospital when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 1992. She underwent a double mastectomy with reconstruction. She dedicates a majority of her time to working with the American Cancer Society, serving on the Doris Kupferele Advisory Board at Harris Methodist Hospital and also as a Reach to Recovery volunteer. Katherine finds working with other women who face this disease to be most rewarding and gratifying. She can be reached at 7120 Serrano Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76126, or call 817-731-0526.
Katie Gill
is a senior English major at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, and will be graduating in May 1996. She plans to pursue a career in writing and eventually wants to write a book about what it was like having cancer at the age of 16, in order to offer hope to other teenagers with cancer. Katie can be reached at 4520 Ashbury Park Dr., North Olmstead, OH 44070, or call 216-777-7726.
Katie Griffler
is 14 years old and loves art, writing, drawing and acting. She especially loves dance and helping others. She has three brothers, two dogs and a three-legged cat. Katie says her mother is her inspiration for everything and her dad is a great guy who spoils her rotten.
Jane Hill
is a breast cancer survivor and a member of the 1995-96 National Cancer Survivors’ Speakers Bureau. A comedienne, she delivers keynote speeches and presents workshops on humor and health. She has performed nationwide for thousands of cancer survivors and healthcare professionals, and has been featured on various television programs on humor and healing. Jane also serves on the board of the Orange County chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Additionally, she and her 15-year-old daughter, Kelly, helped to start the Komen Kids’ program in 1993—a friendship and support network for kids who have a parent with cancer, and now a national program sponsored by the Komen Foundation. Jane can be reached by writing 3941 South “E” Bristol St., Suite 337, Santa Ana, CA 92704 or by calling 714-546-2339.
Sally P. Karioth, Ph.D., R.N.,
is a professor at Florida State University, where she teaches “Death, the Individual Family.” For more than 20 years she has been a counselor, helping people cope with the death of loved ones, particularly parents who have lost a child to death. You can contact Sally by writing Living Is Fun Enterprises, 2406 Mexia Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32304 or by calling 904-575-9394.
Wanda Kelly,
together with her late husband, Orville Kelly, founded two national organizations: Make Today Count, a grass-roots, self-help organization for persons with life-threatening illnesses; and the National Association of Atomic Veterans, to help those sickened by exposure to atomic testing. After her husband’s death in 1980, she continued their shared mission of helping others by traveling on behalf of both organizations. Wanda lives in Osage Beach, Missouri. She received her Realtor’s license and sells property in the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks for Four Seasons Shores Realty.
Maureen Khan-Lacoss
is the mother of the two most wonderful blessings in her life, Matthew and Johnathan, to whom she would like to dedicate her story for their May birthdays. Maureen says the reason for her being positive in the face of losing her leg to cancer 25 years ago is due to her mom and dad, Maureen and Duran, who are the reason she is who she is! Maureen can be reached by writing P.O. Box 212, Quaker Hill, CT 06375.
Chris King
is a human-development specialist, artist, storyteller, trainer, consultant, TV announcer, aerobics instructor, model, mathematician, salesperson, waitress, newspaper editor, writer, speaker and mother of five. Chris’ mission is to help others exercise their innate creativity in order to improve the quality of their personal and work lives. “Creativity is not only a necessity today, it is fun, energizing and rewarding!” she tells us. Chris can be reached at P.O. Box 221255, Beachwood, OH 44122, or call 216-991-8428.
Kristine Kirsten
grew up in Los Angeles and was raised by her mother. She likes to read, write, play acoustic and electric guitars, and work out at the gym. Besides pursuing an acting career and writing a book about her battle with cancer, she would like to attend nursing school so that she can comfort patients the way nurses have comforted her.
Allen Klein
(a.k.a. Mr. Jollytologist) is a professional speaker and bestselling author. As a recipient of a Toastmasters award and a Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, he shows audiences nationwide how to find humor in not-so-funny stuff. Allen is also the author of
The Healing Power of Humor, Quotations to Cheer You Up When the World Is Getting You Down
and
Wing Tips.
His mother is very proud of him. Allen can be reached by writing 1034 Page St., San Francisco, CA 94117 or by calling 415-431-1913.