Teal hearts dangled from my lighted mantle in honor of Galentine’s Day—a Zoom Valentine’s Day celebration with fellow ovarian cancer survivors, my teal sisters. The director of the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance (WOCA) invited me to read a few selections from my book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer and then share my writing […]
I love curling up with a steaming mug of soup on a chilly evening. Whether cooking in a crockpot or simmering on the stove, the aroma invites us to partake of winter’s ultimate comfort food. How appropriate January has been designated National Soup Month. Many years ago, I received an unusual Christmas present—a Taste of Home subscription. […]
My cry echoed the cries of many throughout the centuries, culminating in the haunting strains of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” In 2006, my treadmill of holiday festivities sputtered to a halt. Instead of my Christmas letter brimming with the clever antics of beloved children and pets, I announced, “I have ovarian cancer.” Chemotherapy had sapped my stamina, […]
How could anything good come from cancer? As an oncology nurse, I was familiar with the ravages of cancer and chemotherapy. But in 2006, ovarian cancer flung me to the other side of the bed. I dutifully exchanged my nursing scrubs for peekaboo gowns and skid free gripper socks. Instead of threading needles into the […]
I want to thank Tony Gambone for featuring my ovarian cancer story and book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer on Tough Talk Christian Radio September 30. For encouragement and inspiration, check out this program link. http://tobtr.com/s/11812639 In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer is now available in an audiobook […]
Interview with In Her Shoes Narrator Julie Stein
Self-care is often last on the list of priorities for busy women. Bucky, the UW mascot, would like to share a few thoughts on this subject since July is self-care month. He is assisted by a few of his comrades displayed throughout the Madison area during Bucky on Parade. Let’s help Broadcaster Bucky get the […]
Frightened, bewildered, and shut away—the hallmarks of this quarantined season. I don’t understand why we’ve been engulfed in a pandemic and why so many people suffered the loss of loved ones and livelihood. The following verse has challenged me: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV) “Trust […]
Have you heard the whispers of ovarian cancer? Stop. Listen. Despite my background in oncology nursing, I had missed an ovarian cancer whisper—nausea. Over the course of a few months in 2006, I experienced several bouts of nausea, but I dismissed them as the flu. Fleeting thoughts of ovarian cancer crept into my mind. But […]
It was time to organize, pitch, and clean. The disarray of my physical environment was interfering with my productivity. I’d start a writing project, but I couldn’t maintain my focus. So, I stuffed garbage bags with stacks of mail and magazines, deleted thousands of emails, shredded paper, and rearranged closets. But decluttering my physical surroundings […]
