The Wings of Hope: Rising to Meet the Challenge of Cancer

Healing begins with hope.

Without hope, your doctor wouldn’t bother treating you. Without hope,
you’d never start treatment.

No one says hope shrinks tumors. But it does support action. It also
inspires courage and resilience and improves our mood.

Medicine and spirituality are two important sources of hope when we’re
facing cancer.

On the medical side, we may draw hope from:

*Our doctor’s achievements.

*Our hospital’s reputation.

*Contact with survivors who share our diagnosis.

*Ongoing research and the possibility of a breakthrough.

On the spiritual side, hope can spring from a conviction that our lives
have meaning and purpose.

We may hope in the unfailing presence of a loving higher power, as
expressed in the famous Bible verse: “Even though I walk through a
valley dark as death I fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy staff and thy
crook are my comfort” (Psalm 23:4, NEB).

Knowing that others are praying for us can powerfully support hope.

A young woman was once receiving cancer treatment as an inpatient.
She and her husband eagerly told how people from their church had
gathered in their home, encircled the woman and prayed for her
healing.

The wave of love that the couple felt from this gathering gave a strong lift
to their hope.

TIP: What are your most powerful sources of hope? If you wish, create a
visual reminder of whatever gives you hope and display it where you’ll
see it often.

(c) 2005 Norma Schmidt, LLC

Visit http://www.MyCancerSupportCoach.com RIGHT NOW to get your free report, “45 Strategies for Living Well With Cancer.”

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Infertility: Heartbreak to Hope

Infertility can be a shock and heart wrenching to some couples trying to conceive.  Often, fertility is not something many people dwell on, until they are attempting to have a child.  Infertility can begin to be diagnosed if an older couple has had unprotected sex for a year and have not conceived.  If the couple is younger, infertility can be diagnosed earlier since the conception rate is higher for younger people. Read more

Stopping the Spread of Colon Cancer - Hope in Treatment

Whenever you have been diagnosed with colon cancer your physician will wish to order various examinations and tests to check the degree or what they call the “stage” that it has progressed to. Naturally, as with any cancer, the earlier it’s discovered the less problematic it will be to treat. Your medical prognosis will depend upon factors such as Read more

A Little Hope Can Go a Long Way

One afternoon as I taught my second grade math class, I was blessed with the usual winter distraction….snow flurries.  As I began to watch these 7-year-olds fleeing from their chairs, I knew my lesson was basically over.  I mean, who could compete?

One after another they ran to the window, eyes wider than saucers, smiles from ear to ear and even some high-fives.  I had to smile myself as I too, walked to the window, but was astounded by what I saw.  I looked carefully at the sky and the wide open field to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, and then looked back at the children again. Unable to contain their giddiness, I continued looking puzzled.

Didn’t they see what I saw?  I looked toward the window again and watched teeny tiny snowflakes gently floating from the sky. The ground, obviously not ready for snow, absorbed each flake like droplets of water landing in moist soil.  The children ignored the fact that it wasn’t in fact sticking and remained excited for the rest of the hour. At dismissal, I walked with them into the hall and could feel that same excitement all throughout the primary wing of the school.  I noticed less of an excitement coming from the upper part of the wing, though and spent the rest of the day analyzing those tiny flakes.

My perspective as I looked out into what appeared to be condensation from a cold, cloudy day, was that I hadn’t heard anything about snowfall in the news.  In addition, given my lack of enthusiasm about snow in general, was not looking forward to being surprised by a snowfall and was relieved it wasn’t really sticking to the ground.

My classroom filled with seven-year-olds was very different, though.  They loved snow and the idea of being able to play in the snow, rather than having to sit in school. And they loved what those snow flakes represented. Those tiny flakes brought back memories of them speeding down mountains on their sleds, spending hours building up snowmen and then coming in to warm their little bodies with hot chocolate…marshmallows piled high.

Was it hope that created that excitement?  Did they see those flakes and simply ‘hope’ it would turn into a blizzard?  It surely didn’t appear that way.  There didn’t appear to be any hope involved at all.  These were high-fives given with great confidence.  Cheers that you’d hear from the winning basketball team, not from the team simply hoping to win.
What I realized was that I could relate to this hopefulness that didn’t show up like ‘hope’ at all, as I made my way through the dating world.  And this was made clear when a friend of mine, also recently divorced, began questioning my positive outlook.

“It’s just that you are so hopeful,” she said.

Hopeful?  I didn’t see it that way at all.  I didn’t see myself as sitting around with my hands locked together, just hoping to find Mr. Right.
 
“I’m not hoping at all,” I said.

“You’re not?  Then how do you stay so optimistic about finding someone?”

“I didn’t leave my marriage because I wanted to be alone, so, in my heart, I know I will be with someone.  It’s just the ‘when’ that I’m not sure of.”

I am not sure she was comfortable with my answer, but I certainly understood where my seven year old class was coming from.
 
They weren’t hoping either. They were fully aware that in New Jersey, in the middle of winter, we were bound to get a blizzard that would lock us in for a few days…it was just a matter of ‘when.’

So, the next time you think you are merely wishing on a rainbow, or hoping for a change, try thinking about those flakes, gently making their way to the ground and begin to cheer.  Your excitement will surely make you feel better and the positive attitude will no doubt, point you in the right direction.

Lesley Geller is a Business Coach. She helps successful professionals exceed their expectations of growth. She works with small business owners, as well as individuals in large corporations looking to reach the next level.  Lesley graduated from the University of Maryland is certified as a Coach through the Coach Training Alliance, which is recognized by the International Coach Federation.  She is also a Freelance Writer and co-author of: 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life.  For more information about how to reach the potential you’re capable of, visit her website at http://www.LesleyGeller.com or
e-mail her at  [mailto:Lesley@LesleyGeller.com]Lesley@LesleyGeller.com

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Yoga this morning

I am still struggling this morning to shake the reality of the real world.  Its unscripted and unexpected comments from innocent bystanders shake my wobbly legs on this chillier Feb morning as I am undressing for yoga class….it is not even 7 AM!

As I peel the layers of outerwear off my own body, remove my shoes and start to go into the “cave”, next to me is this woman - happy spirit, normal from appearances - she is smiling broadly. She has no idea my only son is dead. She is one of these faces I see in the morning in this yoga cave where I retreat to breathe and challenge myself and try to stay present with life, doing positive things, starting my day in a positive way by coming to be present and push myself to stand on one leg and wobble and practice how to balance and use this metaphor in my real day to day life…. and instantly shares “how hard it was to get out of her warm bed this morning with 2 children cuddling up around her.” Read more

Camp Erin - Because No Child Should Grieve Alone

Camp Erin is an initiative created and funded by The Moyer Foundation in Seattle , WA – a non-profit organization established by Major League All-Star pitcher Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen.  Camp Erin is a bereavement camp designed for children ages 6-17 who have experienced the loss of a family member or friend. It is a traditional, fun, high-energy camp combined with grief education and emotional support. Camp Erin is named in memory of Erin Metcalf, a friend of the Moyers who lost her battle to cancer at age 17.  Erin ’s wish was to help other children. Through The Moyer Foundation, Camp Erin has been established across the country, making it the largest network of bereavement camps in the country.  Each Camp Erin is facilitated through a partnership with a local hospice or grief support agency. Together, these organizations and The Moyer Foundation raise funds to help establish new camps, bringing the healing experience of Camp Erin to children in more communities each year. For more information visit www.moyerfoundation.org

****Kara’s “ Camp Erin ” is coming to the Bay Area for children ages 6-17 who are grieving the death of a family member or friend. Funded by The Moyer Foundation, the camp combines fun, high-energy activities with grief education and emotional support. The camp will take place May 16-18, 2008 at Camp Arroyo in Livermore .  There is no cost to families to participate. Applications are due by Feb. 5 and can be found online by visiting www.kara-grief.org or by calling the Kara office at 650-321-5272.****

How Do You Lose Your Brother?

What at? Did you say he shot himself? When did this…my head just started to spin. It was like I was having a very bad nightmare that I just needed to wake up from. February 7, 2006 was a day that I will not forget. My older brother took his gun and shot and killed himself in his bed that morning. The call had come from a niece of Sonny’s wife…and I couldn’t believe her words. On the way to his house my mind kept screaming that if I would just wake up this nightmare would end. If I could just wake up. But I was awake and this was true. Read more