Doug Manuel is a mathematician who writes poetry as a balance to stressful situations. His wife, Josie, is a breast-cancer survivor of four years. They have two daughters and two grandchildren and enjoy them all very much. He lives on five acres in Gig Harbor, Washington, with two cats, a dog and a goose.
Tina Wagner Mattern, a Portland, Oregon, writer, is a healthy five-year survivor. Foregoing conventional treatments, she put her faith in God. He prescribed love, good nutrition, natural hormones and humor. This story is excerpted from her upcoming book, When Good Boobs Go Bad. . . . E-mail her at
[email protected] Lorna Maxwell is a native southern Californian. She has been an elementary-school teacher for seventeen years. Lorna likes to spend time with her wonderful husband, precocious daughter, two funny cats and their very energetic Jack Russell terriers. She also enjoys singing, playing piano and directing the children’s choir at church.
Maria McNaught attended Northeastern University. She is married and has two children. She enjoys writing and has published a children’s book called Grandma’s Ashanti Cloth. Please contact her at
[email protected] For twenty-one years,Dr. Suzanne Metzger has been captivating audiences with her keynote addresses. Her goal is to help people understand the incredible power of soft skills. She is the author of Learning Through Living . . . Some Assembly Required and coauthor of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Living with Breast Cancer. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] or visit www.corporatemasters.com.
Lori Misicka is a professional speaker who helps people bounce back from all kinds of adversity. Her down-to-earth techniques were developed during twenty years of managing customers and staff in the broadcast industry and put to the test when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Contact Lori at
[email protected] Sherrie Page Najarian received her bachelor of science in nursing with honors at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her master of science in nursing from Yale University. Sherrie enjoys writing personal essays and is currently working on a young-adult novel.
Jennie Nash is the author of The Victoria’s Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming and Other Lessons I Learned from Breast Cancer (Scribner, 2001). A five-year breast-cancer survivor at the age of forty-one, she is a popular speaker at breast-cancer survival celebrations across the country.
Joan Persky received her bachelor of arts degree in English literature in 1967. She is a substitute teacher in Calabasas, California, and especially enjoys helping children with their writing assignments. She has been a volunteer in the Los Angeles Unified School District for the Reading by Nines program. Joan enjoys reading novels and short stories, traveling worldwide, and playing the piano. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] Pamela Pierce has been married to her high-school sweetheart for thirty-four years. She has two wonderful children and three beautiful grandchildren. She enjoys reading, sewing and interior decorating. You can e-mail her at
[email protected] Stephaine Piro lives in New Hampshire with her husband, daughter and three cats. She is one of King Features’ team of women cartoonists, “Six Chix” (she is the Saturday chick!). Her single panel “Fair Game” apears in newspapers and on her Web site www.stephaniepiro.com. She also designs gift items for her company Strip T’s. Contact her at
[email protected] Michele V. Price is the director of study abroad and international exchanges at Western Oregon University. She has lived and worked in Oregon since 1979. She is an eighteen-year breast-cancer survivor who learned during her healing process that literature, writing and the creative imagination can transform people and teach them to live well and to die well. She was a winner in the Oregon State Poetry Association’s Fall 2001 contest, and her poems have appeared in Manzanita Quarterly and Verseweavers.
Rhonda Richards-Cohen, a graduate of Greenville College and Stanford University, resides in Dallas with her stepchildren and husband Todd. His motto—“no more somedays”—changed the way they live with metastatic disease. An eight-year survivor, Rhonda retired from producing instructional multimedia to write her memoirs, pursue health and practice parenting.
Lee Scheinman attended Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Her career involved many phases of the music business and later advertising. She currently lives in St. Simons Island, Georgia. There she continues cancer fundraising. Lee is an active Rotarian and volunteers teaching math to high-school dropouts.
Bonnie Seibert was raised in Merrillville, Indiana. She went to Hammond Junior College and studied IBM Keypunch. Bonnie is married to Harry Seibert and is a housewife. They have one son, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Bonnie enjoys reading, sewing and quilting.
Pamela Shandel is an imagist and adventuress. She writes and photographs stories, and she plays tournament poker internationally. She has a master’s of professional writing from USC. She was the first of three females to graduate Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus Clown College, opening the way for women to become clowns in America. Pamela is finishing her first novel about thriving even if one is not a “normal” kind of person. Pamela loves laughing and celebrations.
Kathryn O. Sharr trained at Hartford Secretarial School in the late 1930s and greatly enjoyed her career as an executive secretary. After raising her two children, she traveled extensively with her husband in the U.S., Europe, and
Central and South America. Kathryn has two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who consider her their “second mom.” She credits her family, friends and faith as sustaining forces in her life.
Lillie Shockney is author of Breast Cancer Survivors’ Club: A Nurse’s Experience and Journey of Hope. She is director of the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. She is a national speaker on this disease and an oncology nurse. E-mail her at
[email protected] Myra Shostak is a writer and teacher with master’s degrees in child development and social work. She is the author of Rainbow Candles: A Chanukah Counting Book. Myra enjoys calligraphy, bookbinding, writing, quilting, working with children and learning new things. She can be reached at
[email protected] Nanci L. Stroupe has been writing for many years and has had numerous stories printed on various Web sites. Three of her stories have been published in Heartwarmers of Love, Half Full and Stories for a Woman’s Heart. She enjoys reading and spending time with her husband, Douglas, of forty-six years, the love of her life. She also enjoys her two daughters, son-in-law and six wonderful grandchildren. She would love to write an inspirational book of her life to give hope when there seems to be none.
An actress, Lolly Susi has worked in London’s West End, on BBC-TV/Radio, and in such films as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Proof and The Jacket. Lolly’s first play was produced by the Hampstead Theatre, and her book about the Central School of Speech and Drama will be published in 2006.
Karen Theis is a hairstylist, wife, mother and two-time cancer survivor. She says, “My stories are my own cancer experiences. I write from my heart. My mission is to reach out and encourage ladies with cancer.” Karen has been awarded the Valley True Award and the Community Builders Award. She speaks to various groups about living a positive life.
Kathy Vancura was raised in Hamtramck, Michigan, along with six brothers and sisters. She currently resides in Orange County, California, with husband Tony and children Christopher (11) and Emily (8). Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 within weeks of her older sister, MaryAnn. Both are now eight-year survivors. E-mail Kathy at
[email protected] Diana von Welenetz Wentworth, a popular public speaker and television host, is the author of many award-winning books and coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Soul Cookbook and Chicken Soup to Inspire the Body and Soul. Her romantic memoir, Send Me Someone, is soon to be a feature film.
Beverly Vote is a Certified Healing Images specialist. She facilitates workshops that teach how to empower mind, body and spirit for a deeper healing experience. She is completing a program for breast cancer to hel
p women reclaim their healing and feminine spirit. Contact her at
[email protected] or www.breastcancerwellness.org.
Paula Young received her bachelor of arts from Lone Mountain College and later earned her California teaching credential. She is the mother of two grown daughters and grandmother of four. Currently retired, she enjoys volunteering in her community, her walking group, needlework and traveling. Please e-mail her at
[email protected] Elaine Zalar works in the medical field. Breast cancer has struck six members of her family. She speaks openly about the experience and continues to be an inspiration to her family and friends. She has a son and enjoys traveling with her husband on their Harley. E-mail her at
[email protected] Permissions
We would like to acknowledge the many publishers and individuals who granted us permission to reprint the cited material. (Note: The stories that were written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, or Mary Olsen Kelly are not included in this listing.)
She’s My Hero. Reprinted by permission of Anthony Burton. ©2004 Anthony Burton.
Night School. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Cawthon. ©2000 Kathy Cawthon.
Sooner or Later. Reprinted by permission of Lori Misicka. ©2002 Lori Misicka.
Family. Reprinted by permission of Lowell Gere. ©2003 Lowell Gere.
You’ll Never Feel So Loved. Reprinted by permission of Sharon Bomgaars. ©2004 Sharon Bomgaars.
Food Is Love. Reprinted by permission of Barbara Curtis. ©2005 Barbara Curtis.
All You Need Is Love. Reprinted by permission of ChristinaMariaMattern. ©2003 Christina Maria Mattern.
Reading Charlotte’s Web. Reprinted by permission of Jennie Nash. ©2005 Jennie Nash.
Locks of Love. Reprinted by permission of Leah Cano and Mamm Magazine. ©2002 Leah Cano and Mamm Magazine.
He Doesn’t Take “No” for an Answer. Reprinted by permission of Maurice J. Leavitt. ©2002 Maurice J. Leavitt.
Giving and Receiving. Reprinted by permission of Jennie Nash. ©2001 Jennie Nash.
Little Man Christopher. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Vancura. ©2003 Kathy Vancura.
Debbie’s Story. Reprinted by permission of Yvonne Lolly Susi. ©2003 Yvonne Lolly Susi.
Enjoy Life! Reprinted by permission of Regina Dodson. ©2003 Regina Dodson.
Filler. Reprinted by permission of Bonnie Seibert. ©2003 Bonnie Seibert.
Heart Massage. Reprinted by permission of Pandora Kurth. ©2001 Pandora Kurth.
My Heroes. Reprinted by permission of Maria McNaught. ©2002 Maria McNaught.
“Tweety Conquers That Mean Old Bweast Cancer.” Reprinted by permission of Susan Darke. ©2003 Susan Darke.
Blessed by Friends. Reprinted by permission of Judy Hague. ©2003 Judy Hague.
The Glow Girls. Reprinted by permission of Karen Theis. ©1999 Karen Theis.
Bring on the Lasagna! Reprinted by permission of Lorna Maxwell. ©2003 Lorna Maxwell.
Family Scenes. Reprinted by permission of Ruth Kotler. ©2003 Ruth Kotler.
Joining the Race. Reprinted by permission of Ryan Matthew Landis. ©2002 Ryan Matthew Landis.
The First Time’s Always the Worst. Reprinted by permission of Leigh Anne Jasheway. ©2003 Leigh Anne Jasheway.
The Hardest Mile. Reprinted by permission of Jacqueline M. Hickey. ©1994 Jacqueline M. Hickey.
One Is Enough. Reprinted by permission of Mary Ellen “Barney” LaFavers.
©2004 Mary Ellen “Barney” LaFavers.
Blessings Beyond Belief! Reprinted by permission of Denise Blunk. ©2003 Denise Blunk.
The Gift of Photography and a Beautiful Breast. Reprinted by permission of Pamela Shandel. ©2005 Pamela Shandel.
For Richer or Poorer. Reprinted by permission of Beverly Vote. ©2005 Beverly Vote.
Sometimes You Just Get Lucky. Reprinted by permission of Arlette Braman. ©2003 Arlette Braman.
Laundry Soap. Reprinted by permission of Lolly Susi. ©2003 Lolly Susi.
The Esther Bunny Lives Here. Reprinted by permission of Ron Lando-Brown. ©2002 Ron Lando-Brown.
Crooked Wigs and Guinea Pigs. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Cawthon. ©2000 Kathy Cawthon.
Sixty Miles. Reprinted by permission of Sherrie Page Najarian. ©2004 Sherrie Page Najarian.
Angels. Reprinted by permission of Pamela Pierce. ©2005 Pamela Pierce.
From Stressed to Blessed. Reprinted by permission of Carol Ross Edmonston. ©2005 Carol Ross Edmonston.
Becoming a Transformed Woman. Reprinted by permission of Lillian Shockney. ©2005 Lillian Shockney.
The Graduation. Reprinted by permission of Heather Haldeman. ©2004 Heather Haldeman.
Spirit Undaunted! Reprinted by permission of Susan Caruso. ©2005 Susan Caruso.
Women Who Bare Their Breasts. Reprinted with the permission of Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, from The Victoria’s Secret Catalog Never Stops Coming and Other Lessons I Learned from Breast Cancer by Jennie Nash. ©2001 by Jennie Nash.
Things Are Looking Up! Reprinted by permission of Teri Reath D’Ignazio. ©2003 Teri Reath D’Ignazio.
Divine Inspiration. Reprinted by permission of Mary Anne Breen. ©2004 Mary Anne Breen.
The Seasons of Our Lives. Reprinted by permission of Diana von Welenetz Wentworth. ©2004 Diana von Welenetz Wentworth.
You’ve Got to Play If You Want to Win. Reprinted by permission of Lori Elise Misicka. ©2002 Lori Elise Misicka.
A “Gift of Healing” Journey. Reprinted by permission of Betsy Ludwig. ©2005 Betsy Ludwig.
Isabelle and Her Dollies’ Hair. Reprinted by permission of Paula Young. ©2005 Paula Young.
The Bus Ride. Reprinted by permission of John de Strakosch. ©2003 John de Strakosch.
He Does Not Live in Vain. Reprinted by permission of Dr. Suzanne Metzger. ©2003 Dr. Suzanne Metzger.
Stop Changing! Reprinted by permission of Rhonda Richards-Cohen. ©2005 Rhonda Richards-Cohen.
“Shoot the Messengers.” Reprinted by permission of Don Kelly. ©2003 Don Kelly.
Angel Hugh. Reprinted by permission of Yvonne Lolly Susi. ©2003 Yvonne Lolly Susi.
Knowing What Your Rope Is. Reprinted by permission of Myra Shostak. ©1988 Myra Shostak.
A Message from My Marine. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Cawthon. ©2002 Kathy Cawthon.
My Red Badges of Courage. Reprinted by permission of Donna St. Jean Conti. ©2004 Donna St. Jean Conti.
Courage Comes in All Colors. Reprinted by permission of Jennie Nash. ©2001 Jennie Nash.
Courage to Climb. Reprinted by permission of Michele V. Price. ©2002 Michele V. Price.
Abreast in a Dragon Boat. Reprinted by permission of Susan Harris and Mamm Magazine. ©2000 Susan Harris and Mamm Magazine.
Racing for the Cure. Reprinted by permission of Ellen Ann Callahan. ©2003 Ellen Ann Callahan.
For Josie. Reprinted by permission of Doug Manuel. ©2001 Doug Manuel.
Fifty-One-Year Survivor!. Reprinted by permission of Kathryn O. Sharr. ©2003 Kathryn O. Sharr.
All the Gifts. Reprinted by permission of Pam Arciero. ©2003 Pam Arciero.
Dancing at Evan’s Wedding. Reprinted by permission of Nancy Jaynes and Ida Chipman. ©2000 Nancy Jaynes and Ida Chipman.
Joy Is the Simplest Form of Gratitude. Reprinted by permission of Karen Theis. ©2005 Karen Theis.
A Time to Listen. Reprinted by permission of Donna Andres. ©2003 Donna Andres.
Laughter Is Bubbly! Reprinted by permission of Judith Averitt Hayes. ©1992 Judith Averitt Hayes.
Diagnosis: Canceritis. Reprinted by permission of Lorraine Elise Misicka. ©2002 Lorraine Elise Misicka.
The Twelve Gifts of Chemo. Reprinted by permission of Sally Fouché. ©2005 Sally Fouché.
My Life. Reprinted by permission of Kathy Chamberlin. ©2000 Kathy Chamberlin.
Payback Time. Reprinted by permission of Lee Scheinman. ©2001 Lee Scheinman.
You’re Gonna Eat That? Reprinted by permission of Jami
Bernard and Mamm Magazine. ©2000 Jami Bernard and Mamm Magazine.
Another Kind of Miracle. Reprinted by permission of Jennifer Basye Sander. ©2003 Jennifer Basye Sander.
The Snapshot. Reprinted by permission of Elaine Zalar. ©2003 Elaine Zalar.
My Guardian Angel. Reprinted by permission of Nanci L. Stroupe. ©2001 Nanci L. Stroupe.
Hearts and Flowers. Reprinted by permission of Joan Persky. ©2003 Joan Persky. Light. Reprinted by permission of Harper Collins. Bald in the Land of Big Hair by Joni Rodgers ©2001.
I Can’t Believe You. Reprinted by permission of T. Suzanne Eller. ©2001 T. Suzanne Eller.
The Big “C.” Reprinted by permission of Kathy Cawthon. ©1997 Kathy Cawthon.
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