“Scars are Tattoos with Better Stories”

Posted July 21st, 2021

I actually saw this on a bumper sticker the other day:  “Scars are tattoos with better stories.”  Isn’t that great?!  Think about your own scars.  They do come with stories. We all bear scars from our life experiences. This includes our cancer experience.  They mean things to us.  We also bear emotional scars that are […]

Sing Anyway

Posted May 5th, 2021

“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” – Emory Austin I love this thought from Emory Austin. I am reminded of an experience with my grandmother. I called her Mom Mom. I loved her deeply. She lived far away from me, so it was always a celebration when she came […]

Beauty, Healing and Space

Posted January 27th, 2021

When we are dealing with the need to have space from others for health reasons, we learn a great deal. It is challenging. It gets old. We long for normalcy. We question our choices and yearn to just not have to be so physically isolated. Oh my, this may be the normal for this new […]

Spirituality Resources

Posted December 9th, 2020

As a chaplain, one of the most gratifying components of my job has been working with people of different religions and spiritual beliefs.  When we are living with cancer, we tap into a wide variety of resources to help us cope and deal with the changes in our living.  One such resource for many is […]

Bob Riter

The Post-Treatment Blahs

Posted August 22nd, 2017

For many people the months following cancer treatment are more difficult than the treatment itself.  During treatment, your “job” is to be in treatment. You’re busy with appointments and you see the same doctors and nurses almost every week. At the same time, friends bring you meals, family members take on extra duties, and you’re […]

Karen Arnold-Korzeniowski, BSN, RN

Cancer Free(dom)

Posted September 23rd, 2016

Over the past couple of months, I have been treated for basal cell carcinoma on my face. While having a MOHS procedure on the first lesion, the surgeon noted a spot on my chin that he said he wanted to biopsy when I had my second surgery done. I couldn’t remember a time not having […]