Tami Boehmer - Miracle Survivors: Beating the Odds of Incurable Cancer

Copyright 2014 by Tami Boehmer

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Jane Sheppard

Cover photo credit Thinkstock

Print ISBN: 978-1-62914-569-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63220-048-8

Printed in the United States of America

Please note: The information contained in this book is based on personal experience and research and is not, and should not be taken or construed to be, specific legal, medical, or professional advice of any kind or a replacement for professional medical or legal consultation. For legal or medical advice about a specific topic or situation, please consult an attorney or your health care provider. The publisher, author, and contributors shall not have any liability or responsibility for any adverse effects or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by any information included in this book.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the two most important people in my life: my husband Mike and daughter Chrissy. You have stuck by and supported me through so many ups and downs. I love you dearly and would not be here today to write this book if it werent for you.

In Memory of

E leanor Alston, Linda Croucher, Debbi Dempsey, Peter Devereaux, Christine Dittmann, Sally Hawkins, Nevine Latif, Evan Mattingly, Susan Meyers, Pattie Noel, Nancy Oliverias, Lisa Quintana, Vanessa Tiemeier, Ashley Oehler, Buzz Sheffield, Cyndi Wenck, and the many other wonderful individuals with whom I traveled this cancer journey.

And my brother Mitch Greenfield, father Irv Greenfield, stepmother Jean, and my grandmother Shirley ReisI know you are with me and guiding me every day. I love you and know you would be proud of this work.

Acknowledgements

M y deepest gratitude goes to all of the amazing people who shared their stories for this book. You are an inspiration to me and so many others.

I owe so much to my husband Mike Boehmer, who patiently helped proofread each story after long days of work. I also want to thank my agent Cynthia Zigmund, who believed in my vision, gave me excellent direction, and worked diligently to find a publishing home. And to my editor, Marianna Dworak, and the rest of the people at Skyhorse Publishing: Thank you for taking a chance on me and bringing Miracle Survivors to fruition.

Thanks to Mary Beth Bauer who quickly and proficiently helped transcribe hours and hours of interviews with no complaint. And to Lori Schulte and Patricia Scriveri who each graciously transcribed a story free of charge.

I wanted to give a shout-out to Beth Franks, who continues to encourage me and offer her sage advice. And last but not least, to my daughter Chrissy, who understood when Mom was on the phone or busily writing when she came from school.

There are so many people in my life who have supported and encouraged me along the way. If I havent put your names on this page, know that youre always in my heart.

Table of Contents

5. My Story: Tami Boehmer.
Living with stage IV estrogen-receptor breast cancer since 2008.

6. Turning Triple-Negative Into a Positive: Brenda Beguin.
Living with stage IV triple-negative breast cancer since 2010

7. The Miracle Kid: Brittany Ross.
Diagnosed in 2000 with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), subtype M1

8. Still Making It Work... Sixteen Years Later: Carole Kubrin.
Living with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer since 1998

9. Breaking Down Barriers: Dakota Neal.
Diagnosed in 2009 with stage IV leiomyosarcoma

10. Helping and Healing: Dikla Benzeevi.
Living with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer since 2002

11. Going with the Flow: Flo Singer.
Diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer in 2002 and stage II lung cancer in 2012

12. A Stage Is for Tap Dancing: Glenine Gregory-Ryan.
Diagnosed with Hodgkin Disease in 1977 and stage IV metaplastic carcinoma (a rare form of breast cancer) in 2001

13. The Power of Positivity: Greg Cantwell.
Diagnosed in 2004 with stage IV glioblastoma multiforme (most aggressive form of brain cancer)

14. Everything Happens for a Reason: Heather Rodriguez.
Diagnosed in 2010 with stage 3C ovarian cancer with germ cell and epithelial tumors

15. Filling My Cup: Heidi Bright.
Diagnosed in 2009 with stage IV, highly undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma

16. Driven to Thrive: Ken Falhaber.
Living with stage IV pancreatic cancer since 2010

17. No Expiration Date: Krysti Hughett.
Living with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer since 2004

18. Invent Your Own Miracle: Laurie Beck.
Diagnosed in 2006 with incurable Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and marginal cell leukemia

19. Adventures at Camp Chemo: Lynda DeWitt.
Diagnosed in 2002 with stage IV, HER2- and estrogen/progesterone-positive breast cancer

20. Lifelines to Cancer Survival: Mark Roby.
Diagnosed in 2002 with stage IV epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (rare type of liver cancer)

21. Dont Stop Believing: Mark Williams.
Diagnosed in 2007 with stage IV melanoma

22. Becoming Friends with My Cancer: Nancy Simpson.
Living with stage IV lymphocytic leukemia since 2005

23. Getting in the Ring with Cancer: Peter Devereaux.
Diagnosed with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer in 2008

24. A Rare Calling: Susan Thornton.
Diagnosed in 1991 with advanced cutaneous lymphoma

25. Writing Hope in the Sand: Suzanne Lindley.
Living with stage IV colon cancer since 1998

26. Self-Care Is Job Number One: Terri Dilts.
Living with stage IV, estrogen/progesterone- and HER2-positive breast cancer since 2005

A Word from Bernie Siegel, MD

B estselling author of Love, Medicine and Miracles: The Art of Healing , and dozens of other books.

Miracle Survivors is a book that everyone should read because it is filled with the wisdom of those who have confronted their mortality and let it become their teacher. When we are willing to ask of ourselves, What am I to learn from this journey through hell? we learn to nourish our lives and pay attention to our hunger for living. We use it to guide us and heal our lives. Healing our bodies is a side effect.

Self-induced healing is not an accident or a spontaneous lucky occurrence. It takes work, and the work is learning to love ourselves, our lives, and our bodies. When we do that, our bodies do the best they can to keep us alive.

As you read the stories shared here pay attention to the common themes because they are the lessons to be learned from survivors and the survivor personality.

Ive learned much as a physician who has counseled cancer patients for many decades. In all of my books, which feature inspiring lessons from people either living with or healed of cancer, I reflect upon what each story teaches us about not just surviving, but thriving. My latest book, The Art of Healing , demonstrates how our unconscious can both communicate with and assist us in healing through dreams and drawings.