Empowered Healing
Creating Quality of Life While
Journeying with Cancer
Susanne M. Alexander and Craig A. Farnsworth
Foreword by Dr. Annaliisa McGlinn
Testimonials
There is a pattern to the personality of long-term survivors. They demonstrate action, wisdom, and devotion in their response to cancer and seek personal empowerment. Empowered Healing coaches and helps you to create a quality of life that gives your body the message to live. When you love your life, your body shows its love too.
~ Bernie Siegel, MD, best-selling author of Love, Medicine & Miracles, Faith, Hope & Healing and Help Me to Heal, www.berniesiegelmd.com
Empowered Healing is a remarkable resource for people who are dealing with a loved one/friend who has been diagnosed with the disease of cancer, especially a cancer that is long term. I am impressed with the insights and tools provided for those on such a journey.
~ Thenice Gall, American Cancer Society board of directors, Akron, Ohio, Chapter
I am very touched by this work and your thoroughness. I feel this book will help many and not just those with cancer. Great work.
~ Karen Schulman, photographic artist, owner of Focus Adventures, and breast cancer survivor
This is a helpful tool, with much practical information, helpful encouragement, and lovely personal stories.
~ Eileen Coan, MA, MLS, medical librarian, The Gathering Place, www.touchedbycancer.org
Empowered Healing is a superb read, heartfelt, and practical. It is a testimonial on becoming an authentic human being, which is one who assesses their circumstances or situation, makes a decision, and takes responsibility for it. I feel emboldened to continue the path I have chosen to pursue as I continue to live with the results of a lymphoma. I can affirm that many practical suggestions you offer work—at least for me in my circumstance. Others I had not tried but will incorporate within my routine. The range of your approach in your book offers both the pragmatist and the idealist a considerable range of options to incorporate in their life’s healing journey. While the locus of Empowered Healing grew from the authors’ co-journey with cancer, this book provides guidance, suggestions, and practices that can be applied to a variety of life-challenging experiences anyone may face on a daily basis. Empowered Healing shines a loving beacon of light and truth in mind and heart and allows us to walk the healing path with conscious dignity, honesty, care, gratitude, and enthusiasm.
~ Reggie Newkirk, author, diversity/equity trainer, motivational speaker, youth development coach, and lymphoma patient
Empowered Healing
Version: January 2012 (eBook conversion April 2012)
Published in English by Marriage Transformation LLC
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
www.marriagetransformation.com
216-255-9301
Published in eBook format by Marriage Transformation LLC
Converted by http://www.eBookIt.com
International Standard Book Number/ISBN-13: 978-0-9816-6665-5
© 2012 Marriage Transformation LLC. All international rights reserved for the book as a whole. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or by any other means, in the form of a photographic or digital recording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copied for public or private use, including on the Internet, or re-sold, without the written permission of Marriage Transformation, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Translations into other languages also require permission. Thank you for respecting this legal copyright. Your integrity with this process spreads a spirit of loving respect throughout the world and makes us very happy.
This publication is intended to provide helpful and educational information about responding to cancer. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and the authors are not engaged in rendering legal, clinical, or medical advice. No information, advice, or suggestions by the authors are intended to take the place of directly consulting with a medical or therapy professional. If expert assistance is required, the services of a competent licensed professional should be sought. The authors and publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this book.
Cover Design: Jeff Duckworth (www.duckofalltrades.com)
Dedication
To Lu and Bob Farnsworth:
Thank you for the gift of your son Craig
to my life, his family, and the world.
With love,
Susanne
Appreciation
Many people have helped with reviewing and giving feedback on Empowered Healing and contributed their expertise, support, and encouragement. Much appreciation to Roger Bascom, Shirley Bascom, Barry Bittman, Karen Bittman, Debbie Boyd Tressler, Dan Clark, Eileen Coan, Jennifer DeMaria, Thenice Gall, Arlene Nedd Green, Linda Gruenspan, Ellen Heyman, Bronwyn Jones, Kimberly Klein, Janet Lyon, Brenda Maxwell Zografov MD, AnnaLiisa McGlinn MD, Ed Muttart, Reggie Newkirk, Karen Schulman, Bernie Siegel MD, Michelle Farnsworth Tashakor, Holly Timberlake, Nancy Tolles, and Nik Tressler.
The staff and the volunteers at the Gathering Place (www.touchedbycancer.org) provided us amazing ongoing support, and their workshop on brain tumors provided the impetus for the creation of this book. The staff of University Hospitals of Cleveland (www.uhhospitals.org) were wonderful in partnering with us for Craig’s treatment and care. The staff of Hospice of the Western Reserve (www.hospicewr.org) was the absolute best team we could have had. Much appreciation to you all.
What is the Purpose of Empowered Healing?
This is a practical guide to empowered personal responsibility in healing and creating quality of life while experiencing cancer. It is primarily designed to help patients, especially those who are married. It also provides caregivers with new and effective tools for patient support and for their own well-being. Caregivers is a broad term that includes family members or hired personnel. The book may also be helpful for those concerned about a cancer patient, even if they are not involved in direct patient care, such as medical personnel
