Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul: Stories to Inspire, Support and Heal

by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen

Overview

Along with the shock, fear and loss many women face upon a breast cancer diagnosis comes unexpected strength, wisdom, and strong networks of sharing, support and healing. In Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul, survivors and their family members talk openly about how difficult their fight with breast cancer has been and how they made it through the dark times with a belief in a higher power and the support of those closest to them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781453279137
Publisher:	Chicken Soup for the Soul
Publication date:	08/07/2012
Series:	Chicken Soup for the Soul Series
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	328,943
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Jack Canfield is cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, which includes forty New York Times bestsellers, and coauthor of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. He is a leader in the field of personal transformation and peak performance and is currently CEO of the Canfield Training Group and Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Foundation for Self-Esteem. An internationally renowned corporate trainer and keynote speaker, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.
 Mark Victor Hansen is a co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Hometown:

Santa Barbara, California

Date of Birth:

August 19, 1944

Place of Birth:

Fort Worth, Texas

Education:

B.A. in History, Harvard University, 1966; M.A.T. Program, University of Chicago, 1968; M.Ed., U. of Massachusetts, 1973

Website:

http://www.jackcanfield.com

Read an Excerpt

You'll Never Feel So Loved

Where there is great love, there are always miracles.

-Willa Cather

A few days after hearing the devastating news that the shadow on the mammogram was indeed cancer, I received a call I'll never forget from an aunt who was a breast-cancer survivor. The only part of the conversation I remember was one simple line: "You'll never feel so loved."

At the time I had no clue what that could mean, but I thanked her for calling and began the journey that every cancer patient goes through.

I began to understand the power of these five little words a few days after my aunt's call, when I telephoned my daughter about the diagnosis and the upcoming surgery. Her first words were simple and direct: "I'm on my way!" Not, "What can I do?" Or, "I'll try to come," or even "Do you want me to come?" but simply, "I'm on my way!" With the support and encouragement from her husband,
my daughter was with me until I no longer needed her help. I felt so loved.

Later that same day, with only twenty minutes' notice,
a friend volunteered to meet my husband and me at the doctor's office to be the extra ears and note taker. Quietly,
in the background, she was the one who held it together when my husband left the room (sick), and I began crying.
She asked all the right questions and later went over the facts one by one, helping us comprehend all that was happening.
What a gift! I knew she cared about us, and I felt so loved.

In spite of all the frightening, horrific things that were taking place, I began to understand how the love of God and others would carry me through, and I knew I would be able to conquer this thing called cancer. The love was manifested in so many ways: cards, calls, prayers, meals and sometimes just one little sentence would carry me through a difficult day.

I remember my husband holding me in his arms, reading from a book given to me from a coworker of his, also a breast-cancer survivor, who was sure we would both enjoy reading it. I was too tired, so he read aloud every night, and we laughed and cried together. I not only felt his love, but also was touched by the fact that someone I had never met cared enough to think of me.

I had retired the year before my diagnosis, and one day a former coworker of mine stopped by with a basket full of thoughtful gifts from friends at the office: a warm hat to cover my thinning hair, inspirational books to lift my spirits,
aromatherapy candles and bubble bath to soothe my body, and much more. They cared enough to remember me, and I felt so loved!

In times of need, everyone knows that family will be there for you, but I was overwhelmed by the way my immediate and extended family came through. Parents,
sisters and in-laws joined together to provide support and encouragement in so many wonderful ways. They were with me every step of the way. In fact, my sister was there when I had my last chemotherapy session, and a niece planned a big surprise party to celebrate the end of my treatments!

A daughter-in-law, without being asked, came and cleaned our whole house; our sons provided hugs, teasing and comforting words; neighbors and friends brought meals. The prayers, flowers, calls and cards of countless others were all given in the name of love. These are the things I still remember today because they carried me through a difficult time, and I am filled with gratitude.

As I look back, I have experienced what my aunt meant when she said, "You'll never feel so loved." In great part because of this love I am a cancer survivor. Yes, the treatments and advice of wonderful doctors and the prayers of many helped save my life, but I also believe that if the soul is being fed, the body will heal.

If you are going through a journey like mine, look for all the love that is being sent your way, for you will be comforted and treasured. Believe me, you'll never feel so loved!

-Sharon Bomgaars

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

1 Love

She's My Hero Anthony Burton 2

Night School Kathy Cawthon 6

Sooner or Later Lori Misicka 8

Family Lowell Gere 11

You'll Never Feel So Loved Sharon Bomgaars 13

Food Is Love Barbara Curtis 16

All You Need Is Love Tina Wagner Mattern 20

Reading Charlotte's Web Jennie Nash 25

Locks of Love Leah Cano 28

2 Support

He Doesn't Take "No" for an Answer Ellen B. Leavitt 32

Giving and Receiving Jennie Nash 35

Little Man Christopher Kathy Vancura 39

Debbie's Story Lolly Susi 42

Science Mom Mary Olsen Kelly 45

Enjoy Life! Regina Dodson 47

Filler Bonnie Seibert 50

Heart Massage Pandora Kurth 52

My Heroes Maria McNaught 55

"Tweety Conquers That Mean Old Bweast Cancer" Susan Darke 57

Blessed by Friends Judy Hague 62

The Glow Girls Karen Theis 64

Bring on the Lasagna! Lorna Maxwell 67

Family Scenes Ruth Kotler 70

Joining the Race Ryan Matthew Landis 73

3 Challenges

The First Time's Always the Worst Leigh Anne Jasheway 76

The Hardest Mile Jacqueline M. Hickey 78

One Is Enough Mary Ellen "Barney" LaFavers 81

Blessings Beyond Belief Denise Blunk 82

The Gift of Photography and a Beautiful Breast Pamela Shandel 86

For Richer or Poorer Beverly Vote 88

Sometimes You Just Get Lucky Arlette Braman 92

I Am Not Alone Mary Olsen Kelly 95

4 Character

Laundry Soap Lolly Susi 100

The Esther Bunny Lives Here Ron Lando-Brown 105

Crooked Wigs and Guinea Pigs Kathy Cawthon 109

Sixty Miles Sherrie Page Najarian 113

Angels Pamela Pierce 116

From Stressed to Blessed Carol Ross Edmonston 118

Becoming a Transformed Woman Lillie Shockney 122

The Graduation Heather Haldeman 126

Chockwut Pudding Mary Olsen Kelly 129

Spirit Undaunted! Sue Caruso 132

Women Who Bare Their Breasts Jennie Nash 134

Things Are Looking Up! Teri Reath D'Ignazio 137

Divine Inspiration Mary Anne Breen 139

5 Healing

The Seasons of Our Lives Diana von Welenetz Wentworth 142

You've Got to Play If You Want to Win Lori Misicka 146

A "Gift of Healing" Journey Betsy Ludwig 150

Isabelle and Her Dollies' Hair Paula Young 153

The Bus Ride John de Strakosch 156

He Does Not Live in Vain Suzanne Metzger 160

Stop Changing! Rhonda Richards-Cohen 162

"Shoot the Messengers" Don Kelly 165

Angel Hugh Lolly Susi 171

6 Courage

Knowing What Your Rope Is Myra Shostak 176

A Message from My Marine Kathy Cawthon 179

My Red Badges of Courage Donna St. Jean Conti 181

Courage Comes in All Colors Jennie Nash 184

Courage to Climb Michele V. Price 189

Abreast in a Dragon Boat Susan R Harris 193

Racing for the Cure Ellen Ann Callahan 196

For Josie Doug Manuel 199

No More Fear Mary Olsen Kelly 202

7 Survival

Fifty-One-Year Survivor! Kathryn O. Sharr 207

All the Gifts Pam Arciero 210

Dancing at Evan's Wedding Nancy Jaynes Ida Chipman 214

Joy Is the Simplest Form of Gratitude Karen Theis 217

A Time to Listen Donna Andres 221

The Olsen Girls Mary Olsen Kelly 225

Laughter Is Bubbly! Judy Averitt Hayes 228

Diagnosis: Canceritis Lori Misicka 231

8 Gratitude

The Twelve Gifts of Chemo Sally Fouché 236

My Life Kathy Chamberlin 240

Payback Time Lee Scheinman 241

You're Gonna Eat That? Jami Bernard 245

Another Kind of Miracle Jennifer Basye Sander 248

The Snapshot Elaine Zalar 251

My Guardian Angel Nanci L. Stroupe 254

Hearts and Flowers Joan Persky 256

Light Joni Rodgers 260

I Can't Believe You T. Suzanne Eller 263

The Big "C" Kathy Cawthon 266

Who Is Jack Canfield? 269

Who Is Mark Victor Hansen? 270

Who Is Mary Olsen Kelly? 271

Contributors 272

Permissions 280