|
|
|
|
Choosing to Smile
Michelle Rickaby and Glenda Standeven,
|
,
|
How do we face adversity? We can be survivors or we can be victims; we can choose to smile or we can choose to cry. Three determined BC women have started a world-wide movement for people who have faced any type of adversity and who are Choosing to Smile.
On July 19th, 2006, Julie Houlker was told she likely had 18 months to 2 years to live when she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer 10 years after her initial diagnosis. She told her oncologist, "I need to let you know that I do not accept the 18 months to 2 years. I will have much more time than that."
Julie, along with her three close friends, Bonnie, Michelle and Glenda, had all been diagnosed with cancer in different decades of their lives. Michelle was in her 20's when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma; Glenda, lost her entire right leg, hip and pelvis to bone cancer in her 30's; Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 40's; and Bonnie was diagnosed with colon cancer in her 50's.
Within a few weeks after Julie, Bonnie was also diagnosed with metastatic cancer. The women rallied together and went on a girl's weekend getaway to Bellingham, WA! They wandered into a marvelous old bookstore in Fairhaven where Julie nonchalantly announced as she thumbed through an inspirational best seller that, "We should write our stories. They're every bit as good as these." And so it was decided - they would write their autobiographies in a book aptly titled "Choosing to Smile."
Julie, Michelle and Glenda spent the next year remembering; writing; and starting a world wide Facebook movement for those who had also faced adversity and were choosing to smile. They were living each day to the fullest. The book was launched in March 2010.
|
Choosing to smile sounds simple but it's not always easy to do and unfortunately life doesn't always unfold the way we think it should. People face adversities every day. If we are unhappy, we make changes if we can. For them, it starts by choosing to smile.
Julie entered Cascade Hospice in Chilliwack towards the end of the year in 2010. On her bucket list was to have Choosing to Smile hit the Canadian best-sellers list. Julie far outlived the doctor's prediction and passed away on January 21st, 2011, almost 5 years after her metastatic cancer diagnosis.
The authors have been nominated for a Woman of Courage Award at the upcoming Global Woman Summit in Washington, DC, October 2011. This would make both Julie and Bonnie smile.
Choosing to Smile is available for purchase at any Coles, Indigo, or Chapters store across Canada for $19.95, or on Amazon Kindle. You may also purchase an autographed copy on the website at www.choosingtosmile.com
|
|
Archived Complementary Corner Pages
|
|
Summer 2011 Vol.2 No. 3
|
Healthy Nutrition Has to Be Part of the Conversation on Healthcare Reform
|
Lionel Wilson |
|
Spring 2011 Vol.2 No. 2
|
Getting it On Once the Cancer is Gone
|
Lori A. Brotto, PhD and Carolin Klein, MA |
|
Winter 2011 Vol.2 No.1
|
The Power of Prayer
|
Bill Horie, Carol Thatcher & Dr. Janice Wright |
|
Fall 2010 Vol.1 No.4
|
A Quarter-LIfe
|
Joanna Thorvaldson |
|
Summer 2010 Vol.1 No. 3
|
Breast Cancer: Economic Impact and Labour Force Re-Entry
|
Report comissioned by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network |
|
Spring 2010 Vol.1 No. 2
|
Healing Practices for Depression
|
David J. Adams, Petra Thaddeus, and Darlene Hegedus |
|
|
Moroccan Chicken with Tomatoes and Honey
|
|
|
Fall 2009 Vol. 10 No. 4
|
A One Woman Army
|
Tovie Green |
|
Summer 2009 Vol.10 No.3
|
What are you putting on your skin?
|
Dr. Chris Spooner B.Sc ND |
|
Spring 2009 Vol.10 No. 2
|
Top 10 things you can do to support your health if you have been diagnosed with breast cancer
|
|
|
Winter 2009 Vol.10 No.1
|
Marvelous Mushroom Soup
|
American Institute for Cancer Research: Good Food/Good Health |
|
Fall 2008 Vol. 9 No. 4
|
The Survivor Challenge
|
Lisa Brewster |
|
Summer 2008 Vol.9 No.3
|
Fiesta Slaw
|
|
|
Spring 2008 Vol.9 No.2
|
Becoming a Pre-Vivor
|
Audrey Panter |
|
Winter 2008 Vol.9 No.1
|
The Silence is the Soul, Love is the Voice
|
Sharon Urdahl |
|
Fall 2007 Vol. 8 No. 4
|
Acupressure Can Alleviate Chemotherapy Side Effects
|
Andrea Freeman, MLIS ,Clinical Librarian, |
|
Summer 2007 Vol.8 No.3
|
Profile - Karen Gelmon, Oncology Physician
|
Sandy Poggemiller |
|
|
|
|
|
Winter 2007 Vol. 8 No.1
|
A Faster Way to Deliver Radiotherapy?
|
Dr. Alan Nichol, FRCPC |
|
Fall 2006 Vol. 6 No. 4
|
PET/CT Program in Oncology
|
Don Wilson, MD BSc, FRCPC (Nuc Med), FRCPC (Rad Onc) |
|
Summer 2006 Vol.7 No.3
|
Learning from the Chinese-speaking Cancer Patients
|
Sandy Kwong MSW, RSW |
|
Spring 2006 Vol. 7 No. 2
|
Grilled Lemon-Basil Halibut
|
|
|
Winter 2006 Vol. 7 No.1
|
Carbohydrates: Healthy Choices
|
Hal Gunn, M.D. |
|
Fall 2005 Vol. 6 No. 4
|
Complementary Pain Management
|
Teresa Clarke, MD, |
|
Summer 2005 Vol. 6 No. 3
|
Assessing the impacts of integrated care for cancer patients
|
Dr. Hal Gunn, CEO and Karen Cooke, former Research Manager |
|
Spring 2005 Vol. 6 No. 2
|
Talking with Your Children About Cancer
|
Karen Janes, RN, MSN |
|
Winter 2005 Vol. 6 No. 1
|
Warming and Immune Boosting foods for Winter
|
Sally Errey, RNCP |
|
Fall 2004 Vol. 5 No. 4
|
Lymphedema and Complementary Therapies
|
Dr. Teresa Clarke |
|
Summer 2004 Vol. 5 No. 3
|
Tips for a Sound Sleep
|
Karen Cooke |
|
Spring 2004 Vol.5 No. 2
|
Pathways to Healing: Searching for My Fertility Goddess
|
Lisa |
|
Winter 2004 Vol. 5 No.1
|
Treating the Causes of Cancer
|
Dr. Hal Gunn MD. |
|
Fall 2003 Vol.4 No.4
|
Visualizations for Healing
|
Dr. Teresa Clarke, Centre for Integrated Healing |
|
Summer 2003 Vol.4 No.3
|
Natural Health Products and Cancer Treatment
|
Dr. Hal Gunn, B.Sc., M.D. |
|
Spring 2003 Vol.4 No.2
|
Practical Tips for Preventing and Controlling Breast Cancer - Related Lymphedema
|
Dr. Maria Hugi MD |
|
Winter 2003 Vol.4. No.1
|
Herbal Approaches to HRT
|
Dr. Anita Tannis, MD,CCFP |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Chemobrain?! What are you talking about?!"
|
Deborah McTaggart, R.N. Ph.D. |
|
Spring 2002 Vol.3 No.2
|
Sleep and the Immune System
|
Hal Gunn, Director |
|
Winter 2002 Vol.3. No.1
|
Complementary Medicine:
A Whole Person Approach to Healing
|
Dr. Hal Gunn |
|
Fall 2001 Vol.2 No.4
|
News from the Hereditary Cancer Program
|
Mary McCullum , RN, BSN, CON(C) |
|
Summer 2001 Vol.2 No.3
|
Yoga
|
Courtesy of the Tzu Chi Institute |
|
Spring 2001 Vol.2 No.2
|
What is Chiropractic and How Does it Work?
|
Courtesy of the Tzu-Chi Institute |
|
Winter 2001 Vol.2 No.1
|
Advice on Lymphedema Pumps
|
Patricia Montagano, RN BSN |
|
Fall 2000 Vol.1 No.4
|
Deep Tissue Massage Therapy
|
Diana Lauren, Registered Massage Therapist |
|
Summer 2000 Vol.1 No.3
|
Callanish Healing Retreat
|
Marly Wietzke |
|
Spring 2000 Vol.1 No.2
|
Selective Surfing
|
Taysha Palmer |
|
Winter 2000 Vol.1 No.1
|
Vitamin 'H' promotes health
|
Lynda Miller, RN, MSN, Ph.D. |
|
Home |
Feature |
Medical News |
Healthy Living |
Journeys |
Insight |
Hot Flashes |
Complementary Corner
What's Going On |
Resource Guide |
Sponsors |
Contact Info |
|
