My first NYTimes article focuses on the hope that helps me cope with missing my grandchildren.
Read moreHealing Hope for Ending Isolation
Are you hoping for this isolation to end as soon as possible? Not me, even though that’s what I desperately want. You see, that hope does not serve my top-priority hope: to survive.
Read moreThe Terrible Truth About True Anecdotes
Mr. Zee developed fevers and progressive shortness of breath, tested positive for Covid-19, and recovered after taking ICURECOV—a drug he ordered online. Yay! Right?
Read moreDuring This Pandemic, When Do You Call the Doctor?
In the setting of this pandemic, when is the right time to call the doctor about a symptom? That simple question stirred a lot of controversy when posed to a variety of physicians. I was seeking a realistic answer that worked as best as possible for patients and caregivers.
Read moreBest Hope for the Peak of the Pandemic
What are you hoping for as we anticipate the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic washing over Americans like a tsunami? I hear people sharing what they’re sad about. Angry about. Annoyed by. Afraid of. What I’m not hearing much of is a discussion of what they’re hoping for.
Read moreWise Health Decisions During the Pandemic
What’s the single best thing you can do to protect yourself, healthcare workers on the front lines, and fellow Americans during this pandemic? Minimize your risk of needing ER or in-hospital care. You do that by…
Read moreHelpful, Hopeful Handout on Managing the Stress of the Pandemic
Please share this with friends and family in the higher-risk groups (click for full handout).
I know it’s not Wednesday (as in, Wednesdays With Wendy), but Oncology Times just published the handout online, after fast-tracking it for early release. While written for oncology offices, the information applies to people living with any medical challenge and to everyone over 60 years old. I hope it helps. Take care, everyone. With hope, Wendy
A Neverending Work in Progress
Healthy Survivorship is always a work in progress. If that aphorism discourages you because it means you can never finish, let me suggest a different way to think of it.
Read moreA Healing Gift for a Grieving Friend
My heart aches whenever someone I care about loses a loved one. I’m always looking for a gift that might bring a bit of comfort, beyond the usual sympathy card with a handwritten note or donation to a worthy cause. Lately, I’ve been gifting a small book that stands apart from most books on grief.
Read moreCorona's Good and Bad News
It’s both good and bad how the evolving Corona story has put the dangers of viral infections center stage. As someone living with immunodeficiency, the good news is that now more people…
Read moreFree eBook on Finding Hope That Heals
…………………………………………… Order Your Free Download Today!………………………………………………….
Last fall I was invited to write a short e-book on hope that could be read on a mobile device. The task was challenging and exhilarating. Now, the book is available for free downloading. (from the press release)
Read moreMandy Harvey Encourages You to Try
Meet Mandy Harvey, an icon of Healthy Survivorship.
Read moreDoes Purpose Help You Live?
Against the odds, I’m still here. Some people tell me, “It’s because you had a purpose.”
Read moreEmbracing the New Normal for Now
After interviewing me and others, NYTimes health columnist Jane Brody wrote “I now fully understand that a successful life is…a life that rolls with the punches, adapts to changing circumstances, and makes the best of the here and now.” Exactly.
Read moreNo "Right" Thing to Say to Someone With Cancer
NYTimes health columnist Jane Brody interviewed me for a piece on what to say to someone with cancer. The criticisms in the comments section highlight the emotionality and contentiousness of this topic. They also encourage us to reflect on fundamental principles.
Read moreScared of the Tests
Screening tests sometimes scare me. No, not the discomforts. I’m used to needlesticks (ouch) and contrast (gag). Occasionally, I worry that the risks might not be worth the benefits. What’s a Healthy Survivor to do?
Read moreNew Year's Resolutions for Healthy Survivors
When dealing with medical challenges, New Year’s resolutions can help you become a Healthy Survivor. Firm decisions to do—or not do—something from now on helps motivate you to stick to a plan that challenges you in some way. (You don’t resolve to do things that come naturally, right?) Here’s the problem:
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