Cancer Survivor's Day

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A "big thank you" to my doctor, Dr. Richard L. Friedman and my nurse Helen Zandourian, for inviting me to speak at Cancer Survivors’ Day.

Cancer Survivor's Day
June 14, 2008
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center Healing Garden
Burbank, California

Survivor Speech

You bet I was beyond excited when I was invited to speak at this event! It was my first official speaking engagement on surviving ovarian cancer. What an honor. I thought a lot about what I could say to the crowd… and I wondered how I could provide inspiration to so many people touched by this heavy burden.

I feel like we are all in this together. It's a cruel sort of bond that brings us closer to all humanity while at the same time, forcing us to remember just how miraculous life really is… The fact that we are alive and conscious is itself a miracle!

The one thing you'll notice - at all cancer events – is the undeniable feelings of hope that seem to penetrate everything. Faces are filled with hope, there are stories of hope and new discoveries bring even more hope. There is hardly a feeling so wonderful as genuine hope. This is the greatest gift these events provide.

So, I spoke to the crowd… telling my story and explaining some of my coping and survival strategies. I provided encouragement those struggling with cancer and recognition to those precious people who support us through this struggle. I wanted the family members, friends, caregivers and others to know just how much their care means to us. Most importantly how their love and attention assists us with our healing.

Ultimately, I wanted my message to be one of faith rather than hope. Hope was everywhere - you could feel it and you could see it - but faith seemed scarce. I emphasized how powerful the role of faith is in our healing.

This means having faith in your medical team – faith that you are in the right hands. Your doctors are highly educated and unbelievably skilled. Have faith in them.

Have faith in your treatments. Know that they are working in you. Have faith that these treatments are doing exactly what they are intended to do. And finally…

Have faith in your family, friends and caregivers. Have faith in those who love and support you. It is these people who will wrap their arms around you when you need it most.

Keep the Faith!

There were other speakers too. Their messages were inspiring and beautiful. Survivor stories were told and all gave encouragement. It was a day filled with beauty.

Cancer Ribbons

Mary Ann Madden told us about “turning the ribbon around”. She explained that we survivors should wear our cancer ribbons upside down. This way the ribbon looks like a "V" on top. The "V" represents our victory over cancer. I now wear my teal ribbon in this fashion. When people tell me my ribbon is upside down, I explain that I wear it that way to bring awareness of my victory over this deadly disease.

If you are a survivor, wear your ribbon upside down. It brings even more awareness to cancer and more importantly, it provides hope for others who are currently undergoing cancer treatments. The more people see us victors, the more encouraging it is to others - not just those with cancer, but for those who are supporting folks with cancer!

Butterfly Release

Jo-Ann Sermon told us about the "American Indian Butterfly Legend". If you want a wish to come true, you capture a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. Since the butterfly cannot speak, it cannot tell your secret to anyone – only the Great Spirit who sees and hears everything. When you release the butterfly, in gratitude for it’s freedom, your wish is granted.

I hope I have recalled the story correctly. It was so touching when everyone whispered his or her secret wishes to the butterflies. Once the butterflies were released, the healing garden was filled with beauty as these delicate creatures fluttered all about.

Walking the Labyrinth

I wish I could remember the name of the wonderful lady who spoke on the Labyrinth. I believe she is a Nun because I heard people referring to her as Sister… The one thing that could have improved this event greatly was a better sound system. If you weren’t directly in front of the sound system, it was almost impossible to hear the speakers. Everyone had to move around and crowd together to find a spot where they could hear. Even so, this did little to dampen spirits of attendees.

The Labyrinth is the most beautiful feature of the healing gardens at Providence St. Joseph's Medical Center. Walking the Labyrinth is likened to a Pilgrimage...a meditation tool that is used to go to inward, to God.

We learned that Labyrinths date back 4,500 years and it is an ancient symbol that represents a journey to our own center, and then back out again into the world. It has long been used as a meditation and prayer tool. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place taking us out of our ego to "that which is within". The Labyrinth has only one path. The way in is the way out.

There is no wrong way to walk the path. If you follow the path, you cannot get lost. As you walk the winding path, allow it to become a metaphor, a mirror for where you are in your life. Walk with an open mind and an open heart, allowing the labyrinth to reveal sorrow, insights, joy, peace and healing.

I walked the Labyrinth with two of my Grandsons. As you can see there were flowers placed along the walk and my three-year old Grandson could not resist picking up one of these bouquets. He ran across the path to give these to me. He wanted his Grandma to have flowers. The Sister who spoke was helping the Labyrinth walkers, giving guidance and slips of paper with various words for meditation during the walk. She noticed my Grandson had done this and she saw me trying to explain to him that we had to put these flowers back. She was obviously touched by this and insisted that I keep the flowers! I still have that bouquet right here next to my computer.

Booths and Tables

There were lots of booths and tables offering loads of information on cancer. There are many types of cancers and information was abundant.
I particularly appreciated the information on "Life After Cancer Treatment". Most cancer patients have no idea what to do once treatments end.

We got all sorts of goodies, such as tote bags, key chains, pins, cancer ribbons and much more. Each table had something special to offer those struggling with this disease.

One booth even had a Nintendo Wii. The Wii was used to demonstrate various exercise and fitness programs available. Lots of people tried this out! It was great fun.

Although the weather was extremely hot, the event was a big success.

The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center

This Cancer Center is scheduled to open early 2009. This center will build on the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center legacy of compassionate care and superior outcomes in a comforting, healing environment.

The four-story center brings many cancer care services all under one roof. Patients will benefit from a standard of excellence in integrated cancer care that focuses on the whole person – body, mind and spirit.

A multidisciplinary team of outstanding specialists, combined with the latest technology and scientific resources, equates to a more successful outcome for patients, and survival rates that surpass national averages.

You can help support the dream by calling the Providence St. Joseph Foundation at (818) 847-HOPE-4673. For more information or to make a secure online donation please visit the Providence St. Joseph Foundation website.