by Teri McClanahan
I remember the first time I attended church during my chemo treatment receiving compliments from friends on how great I looked, how I radiated! Of course, I glowed, I had chemicals racing through my veins killing everything in its way. Continue reading “Strength for the Journey: Inspiration”
Laura Sweet
Certified Cancer Journey Coach; Student of the Dying (with a passion for ensuring dignity at the end-of-life); former Hospice Volunteer; Host — “Death over Dinner;” Endometriosis Sufferer/Advocate; Sepsis Survivor; Writer; Aunt.
Favorite Quotes/Mantras: “Let it Be.” ~ The Beatles; “Impossible is Nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali
“What you resist most is what will set you free.” I once feared losing my mom to cancer after it nearly claimed her life while I was in graduate school in Boston. Fast forward 20 years to 2010, when I trained as a hospice volunteer in the SF Bay Area. In retrospect, I recognize that was so I could get a ‘front-row seat’ to the dying process in preparation for returning to Buffalo in 2012 to be my mom’s primary caregiver in her final months. Spending time with the dying changed everything for me — I found it incredibly life-affirming, clarifying, and fulfilling. It feels like a divine privilege to be with the terminally ill and their loved ones, and to cultivate a space of compassion and support for whatever comes up emotionally and spiritually. My intent is to bring peace and comfort into a setting that is often fraught with uncertainty and fear. Death is not scary to me; I see it as a vast portal connecting endings to new beginnings. I know energy doesn’t die and I feel I can commune with my beloved mom in a way I never anticipated.
I faced my own unexpected grave illness in 2013, which has required an all-consuming — and ongoing — physical recovery. My intestine was tangled, lost blood supply, and I became septic. Three emergency bowel resections left me without most of my small intestine. There have been clear and powerful silver linings, though: I have a keen understanding of what it’s like for clients to have a new normal, a different body with physical limitations, to have to rely on others to care for you at times — as well as the potential for surrender, acceptance and transformation in the face of loss. I have quit bullying my body into doing more than it can physically, like I did for my “first” (15-year) career in Tech. I follow my heart now, do what I love, and life is loving me back by supporting me in using my unique gifts. With the realization that I am all I need — and deeply loved — life became limitless and liberating.
As a coach I want to direct people to their own process, to show them a road beyond the one they’re on — to help clients through the shifts in identity, values, and priorities that inevitably occur during their illness or caregiving experience. I see myself in everyone I visit or coach and view them as humans first, patients second. It is the rigorous self-inquiry necessitated by Cancer Coaching training that attracts and ultimately heals us “Healers.” To be really seen, heard and understood, and for clients to know they are whole, unbroken, and worthy exactly where they are — that’s what we’re all truly seeking.
An interview with Laura:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? My freedom, and the possibility found in a fresh new day — opportunities to be a good teammate to my resilient body in terms of how I nourish it mind/body/spirit, and my daily practice of radical self-care. The beauty of Mt. Diablo. Thoughts of my inspiring friend, Janet, and her story of overcoming.
What are you scared of? Losing the ability to eat/enjoy food due to Short Bowel Syndrome. Not being able to care for myself — losing my independence. Needing a bathroom while stuck on the Bay Bridge in this epic SF Bay Area traffic!
People often underestimate the power of . . . A smile or kind word from a stranger; the healing that can happen even when there are no more curative measures; a grateful heart; breaking up with worry; viewing your life with curiosity and wonder rather than resistance and fear; vulnerability; purposeful stillness (even 5 minutes/day); anonymity when starting over in a new city/state.
I am in my power when . . . I’m making a new friend; visiting a nursing home and sitting bedside as a compassionate presence; dancing in my apartment to Thriller; connecting to my inner athlete — in particular, push-ups to Eye of the Tiger (!). Also, when I’m in nature, especially at my sacred space, Clarence (NY) Town Park and there’s a soccer ball at my feet.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? To see that everyone has a friend, and no one dies alone.
You can follow Laura on twitter @laurasweetjane
by Deidre Lorenzo
Someone made me a license-plate frame that said, “I’d Rather Be Breaking Plates” . . . I got some strange looks driving around, though that might not have been solely from the words on the back of my car. Continue reading “Inspiration . . . Or, I’d Rather Be Breaking Plates . . .”
Judy ViaCava
Certified Cancer Journey Coach; BSW; LMT
Judy ViaCava began her Certified Cancer Journey Coach training shortly after a breast cancer diagnosis in 2012. Already a certified life coach, and a massage therapist for over 20 years, Judy has shifted her career to specialize in assisting cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and members of the medical team, with a focus on body and mind healing.
Most recently, Judy has teamed up with an organization called Spring Reins of Hope to offer healing through the wisdom and sensitivity of horses. They provide retreats and workshops at a beautiful horse farm in central New Jersey.
Judy has realized from her own fight with cancer that even when going through the darkness there are gifts. In her case she discovered new passions, including dragon boat racing on a breast cancer survivor team, and she recently joined over 3,000 survivors from around the world in an international dragon boat festival. As the song goes, “Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.”
Judy is honored to help others move through their cancer journey, with compassion, strength, and a touch of humor.
An interview with Judy:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? Usually my bulldog, or some quiet time in my garden before I begin my day with clients.
What are you scared of? I guess what scares me most is that I could be a burden to my children someday. That, to me, is scarier than living long without maintaining my independence.
People often underestimate the power of . . . a good nap.
I am in my power when . . . I am among friends.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? The ability to diffuse people’s stress and anger by snapping my fingers.
Julie Johns
Certified Cancer Journey Coach; ACC; CHES
Julie Johns is a spiritual seeker and nature lover whose discipline is often challenged by an urge for dark chocolate. Besides that, she loves to use coaching for herself and others in the search for meaning and peace. Julie, who has been coaching for 10 years, especially likes to coach those with cancer or other serious medical conditions such as autoimmune disease. Through coaching and spiritual pursuits, Julie has developed a deep sense of herself while on her own journey to wellness and peace.
An interview with Julie:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? Wondering what I’m going to learn today.
What are you scared of? Loneliness. It’s so lonely when I find myself disconnected from the Divine within myself, others, and nature.
People often underestimate the power of . . . connection to their whole self.
I am in my power when . . . I’m in synch with my deepest, truest, highest self.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? With just a touch of my hand, I’m able to transmit peace to another human being. Compassion is the greatest gift that we can give to others and ourselves.
Mary Jane Heppe ~ The Poet 
Certified Cancer Journey Coach
Mary Jane Heppe was born into a musical family: her dad a composer and conductor, her mom a singer. Both were entertainers and world ambassadors. Mary Jane spent the first 12 years of her life in the Far East before returning to the U.S. with her family. After high school, she attended college part-time while working for the U.S. Congress. Mary Jane became frustrated with the political scene and joined a musical troupe, trained in Arizona, then traveled the Western U.S., singing, dancing, and doing advance work with a cast of 90. MJ served as a radio news director before returning to college on a full-time basis. She received a BA in Commercial Arts and Business from Marymount University in 1983.
Mary Jane started her own calligraphy business in 1984, creating commercial products as well as artistic text, Chinese calligraphy, portraiture, and landscape photography. She also writes poetry, vignettes, and scientific articles for publication.
Mary Jane moved to Hood River, Oregon in 2002. She recently became certified by a coaching program and is now a holistic Lyme disease coach, as well as a national advocate and educator. Mary Jane has continued to thrive on her passion for living a graced life, filled with magical experiences.
An interview with Mary Jane:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? Being fully cognitive and physically painless inspire me to get up in the morning. My husband also inspires me to get up in the morning.
What are you scared of? I’m scared of suffering a relapse of neuroborreliosis,
a disorder of the Central Nervous System caused by infection. Losing cognition is terrifying.
People often underestimate the power of . . . HOPE and VISION.
I am in my power when . . . I am cognizant, aware, and paying attention.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? I would want perspective-shaping power. To elaborate, I welcome conflict/chaos because they are required for growth, learning, and change. However, if I had the power to allow people to pay attention and understand the big-picture perspective, then there would be more understanding and compassion. Outcomes would not involve grudges, cut-offs, or wars.
Melanie McCloskey
CPC; Certified Cancer Journey Coach
I’m driven to align trailblazers with their natural power and grace to go bigger. It thrills me to support people to succeed from where they are, with the amazingness of who they are, having a big ole ripple effect on the world. A Certified Professional Coach for 6 years, I’ve expanded my passion for working with individuals and groups as a life and solo-entrepreneur coach to also coaching those touched by the challenge of cancer.
Illness, death, and struggle have been lifelong transformational teachers for me. On top of my own chronic health challenges, a number of dear friends and close family have been impacted by cancer in a very short period of time in my life. Even with great tools as a Hospice volunteer and seasoned coach, I’ve been challenged in a whole new way in the face of this bigness. With what seems like overwhelming challenges, utilizing the gift of skilled support, I’ve experienced powerful personal transformation and witnessed the same in my clients. I’ve learned firsthand what it means to truly decide to be there for oneself.
Never too far from nature, telemark skiing, and amazing community, I live between two snow-capped peaks in the abundant Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. I work with clients one-on-one as well as partner with several organizations to offer regional and national group coaching support. Whether driven by passion or necessity, it’s an honor to support trailblazers to thrive and face the big stuff with grace. Life is too precious to not live like you mean it.
An interview with Melanie:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? So much! Coffee, my morning focus rituals and self-care, coffee, thinking of the lovely people I get to help today and the magic they will create for themselves . . . and did I mention coffee?
What are you scared of? Jumping out of perfectly good planes. Ok, seriously . . . people not knowing how amazing they are. It takes vulnerability to both get support during a challenge and to accept just how amazing we are in order to go big and shine brightly in life.
People often underestimate the power of . . . Self Love. When you are present enough to fulfill your own needs for love and nourishment, putting “your own oxygen mask on first,” you are present to give your best. Then your loved ones and work get the love and nourishment that you want for them, creating a ripple effect of goodness for the world.
I am in my power when . . . I walk the circle of joyful service to others, delightful adventurous living, and radical self-care. A continuous circle of nourishment and service keeps me grounded, connected, and inspired.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? I believe I already practice one, the alchemy of helping others realize their superpowers through coaching! Being human, it seems like we have an endless opportunity to develop our hidden strengths and talents and when we do, they totally feel like the superpowers we dream of.
by Judy ViaCava, CCJC
Many years ago I was fortunate enough to be at a woman’s health conference, where Dr. Dupree was the keynote speaker. She spoke of many things about breast health and breast cancer, but the words that resonated with me to this day was the importance of “listening to the whisper” of the body’s message. A number of years following, I became a patient of Dr Dupree’s. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had surgery, chemotherapy, and I am now a 3 year survivor.
As I continued with my own journey, I trained as a cancer coach through The Cancer Journey, and am now a certified cancer coach.
Last month I had my last follow-up visit with my plastic surgeon, Dr. Scarlett. He also spoke of the importance of listening, from the doctor perspective.
As I was deciding what to discuss today I thought of the common thread that Dr. Dupree and Dr. Scarlett said about listening, and I too want to tell you about cancer coaching and listening to the whisper.
Cancer Coaching: What do we do? We listen closely, and urge our client to go deeper. We ask questions until we go way beneath the surface . . . we listen for the whisper to find the meaning, because that is where the answer is hidden.
The Cancer Journey model begins in INNOCENCE, where the cancer patient normally resides. Then comes THE CALL, when they are told they have CANCER . . . their life has changed forever. Time stands still. As the doctor appointments, lab tests, and hospital visits begin they are thrust into INITIATION and their life is no longer their own . . . they belong to their medical team. At some point, when they feel like they don’t see the end of this existence, they get lost in THE PIT. Fortunately, they realize they have resources (ALLIES): friends, books, faith, a loving pet, anything or anyone who helps coax and lift them up. To get out of the pit the patient realizes they need to let go of something. As they are lifted away from the muck of the pit they begin to see a glimpse of a new life. As they shed the old thought patterns they have a BREAKTHROUGH and begin to realize hope, dreams and goals, which move them forward to TRANSFORMATION: a new, improved way of being.
The cancer journey is a dance and the patient moves in and out of each step. The cancer coach often is called to duty between INITIATION and THE PIT. Our client doesn’t want to slide into the pit, but they soon realize that the only way out, is through.
In the pit our client feels the most vulnerable. The cancer coach comes armed with intention, compassion, empathy, and specialized tools. We leave our personal agenda home and we follow the agenda of our client. We listen to the whisper. We know that every client is creative, resourceful and whole . . . they are not defined by their cancer. They have a life outside of cancer!
A cancer coach stands at the shoulder of our client, looking in the same direction. We help our client to listen to their own whisper of their inner-being. What has she known all along, but was tucked away? Who has she dreamed of becoming, yet has put on hold? What is blocking her from reaching her highest potential? A Cancer Journey coach asks the questions, using a toolbox full of maps, questions, visualizations, and charts to diagram these dreams until they become so real and possible, that our client realizes that she has life to live beyond her cancer.
A cancer coach will delve deeply into the emotions that many family members and friends don’t want to touch. The family’s and friend’s agenda is to make their loved one be “normal” again. They are afraid of what may happen to them if they lose their loved one. A cancer coach will listen to the fear, the anxiety and the panic. We listen and hold the space for our client to get to know their fear. Feeling the feelings, getting to know what and why they are there, making what was causing the fear seem less threatening. Buried emotions stay inside waiting to rear their ugly head. The cancer coach takes the journey with our client . . . we laugh, cry, yell, support and cheer together. We listen to the whisper.
Sometimes, if the client wants to talk about death, we go there. We explore what that means. Maybe we are the only person they can talk openly to about dying. What are the feelings surrounding death? The cancer coach listens, asks questions, and listens some more. A cancer coach holds the space for our client to process.
How about the caregiver? What has he had to give up to care for his loved one? What is he feeling? Who supports him? Who comforts the caregiver? The cancer coach listens to his whisper.
Maybe a survivor has been released from the safety net of the doctor’s care. Now what? Who will keep a watchful eye to catch any possible recurrence? What if cancer is lurking? The fears are real, the panic may re-ignite. There may be a slide back to the pit. The cancer coach is there to hold and support our clients through this transition.
And last, but by no means least: To the medical staff. Who listens to your whisper? Who supports you when you endlessly fight for the life of a patient, yet they don’t get well? Do you lock those feelings away? Do you attempt to stay detached from your patients, because if you didn’t you wouldn’t be able to stay strong? Who listens to you when you are exhausted, overwhelmed, afraid, angry and sad? A cancer coach can help you too.
The Cancer Journey coach is a valuable resource to the entire team, from the patient to the caregiver, to the survivor and to the healers. We listen to the whispers.
Jeff Ward
CPCC; Certified Cancer Journey Coach; Cancer survivor
I’m a regular dude who likes to play, laugh, and engage in life, while helping others move from surviving to thriving. I believe that cancer and other major illnesses can be a wakeup call to a more powerful, authentic, and adventurous life. I am passionate about making a difference in peoples’ lives; inspiring people to live their best lives; achieving one’s full potential; being fully alive; not settling for a dull life; and connecting with and acting on what’s true in one’s heart. With that I bring a dose of humility, a playful sense of humor, and a commitment to helping people live their best life in whatever that means for them.
My professional training includes being a Certified Professional Co-active Coach (CPCC), and Certified Cancer Journey Coach, with over 10 years coaching experience. In addition, I am a licensed sports coach, former adaptive ski instructor, site coordinator for a large one-day health fair, and board member for a local coaching chapter. In a past life I worked for 25 years as an instructional designer, human factors, online training, and documentation specialist.
An interview with Jeff:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? The beauty of nature and the chance to get out and play in it, be it hiking, biking, etc., just anything outdoors, and the chance to help impact peoples’ lives in moving them from just getting by to really living a robust life.
What are you scared of? Besides climate change and what this planet will look like years from now, I’m scared that I won’t impact as many people as I can in my lifetime, that I won’t live my own life to the fullest, and that I won’t love and appreciate people as well as I can.
People often underestimate the power of . . . themselves, and their intuition, and the power and uniqueness that each person possesses and needs to bring to this planet.
I am in my power when . . . I show up as me, and live from a place of authenticity and playfulness, rather than a place of fear and scarcity.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? To be a marketing mogul, so that more people get to work with me and change their lives, and more people get to bring their full self to this planet.
Judy Venturini
In July 2013, Rev. Judi Venturini was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon cancer. This was the beginning of a collapse of every area of her life. Like Job in the Old Testament, she virtually had a breakdown in health, wealth, and relationships. However, out of a hopeless experience, Judi’s spirit rose up. In December of that very year, she was told she was cancer free. January 2014 was a new beginning. Judi discovered The Cancer Journey and became certified as a Cancer Journey Coach. She is currently writing a book called “Awakened to Life: From Hopelessness to Love” and is traveling to New Thought churches speaking about our world awakening and new structures that are assisting this process. She is also presenting a workshop called “From Panic to Powerful” and is a Life Coach for people affected by cancer and other life-altering diseases.
Judi brings a variety of life experiences to her coaching. Prior to her diagnosis, Judi served the Worldwide Unity movement as a minister; was a classroom teacher for many years; a Project Coordinator for a collaborative partnership between the Montgomery County Community Partnership and Voices Versus Violence in Montgomery County, MD; and a Senior Marketing Specialist for the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. On a personal note, Judi has two children. Her son Michael and his life partner Marie live in Gaithersburg, MD, with Judi’s grandchildren, Kayla and Braden. Her daughter Laura and her life partner Dave reside in Frederick, MD, with Judi’s granddaughter Monika.
An interview with Judi:
What inspires you to get up in the morning? That I have one more day to bring hope to others.
What are you scared of? Snakes, spiders, and mice!
People often underestimate the power of . . . the present moment and a surrendered heart.
I am in my power when . . . I stand before crowds sharing my remarkable cancer journey and what I discovered about the awakening heart.
If you could have one super power, what would you choose? The power to end violence.