It is our hope that through this book you will be inspired to take part in your recovery from whatever it is that you need to recover from. It is not our intention to tell you what is best for you; I only want to share what has worked for us. We are not PhD's, M.D.'s,  gurus or psychologists. We are a married couple who have danced the dance with the life threatening disease called cancer. From the time we met in 1975 we knew we had two choices, we could get bitter or we could get better. We chose not to be victims. We decided we would spend whatever precious time we have left together doing what we loved. We have found what has worked for us after some real soul searching; learning to trust our inner voices, our spirit. When I say spirit I don't mean in the traditional religious sense. Yet to me it is a religious experience. Dennis and I aren't into any organized religion, yet very much into God, a greater Intelligence, the Big Kahoona. We listened to our bodies and fed it what it craved (no magic diet) and mastered an attitude that would help us through living or dying.

        We all have our own ways of dealing with adversity. Some bury their heads, while others numb themselves with drugs. Others obediently obey whatever doctors or anyone else say to them, blindly refusing to question authority. That's fine, if that's how you want to handle or not handle things. Taking responsibility for one's illness or recovery is a tough thought at first. Some folks think God is punishing them. Some adopt an attitude that they can't do anything for themselves, that somehow they have no control. Well, all we can say to that is "If you THINK so." Learn to look at adversity as a friend. Open your mind and heart. Take some responsibility from here on out. After all, adversity is a test that you can measure yourself by, to see how you are doing as a human being. Discover what you're made of deep down inside, how else would you find out? Adversity is an opportunity for growth!

        If you are looking for a cure, all that I can offer are resources to help aid you on your journey. I can offer inspiration from a person who's been there and one right in the thick of it like you. Make this time in your life count. Take inventory of how your life has been and where it's headed. Now is the time to make changes in your life, because with this diagnosis you are never going to be the same.

        Priorities change when diagnosed and the things that were a big deal yesterday suddenly won't be anymore. Choosing to be healed doesn't eliminate you from dying. If you die, you're not a failure. Make decisions that you can live and die with. After all, no one gets out alive. We're all in the parade and it's heading one way. The choices you make from here on out are ones that you will have to live with. It is our hope that you educate yourself, and open your mind to the right path for you. Trust yourself. Who knows your body better than you do?

        I don't believe that your biology is always your destiny. Living beyond labels and statistics can be done. None of us belong in boxes or as numbers in columns. We are all unique, no two of us are alike, we need only tune into ourselves to find our way through this ordeal. To do this we have to put down the illusions and emotional baggage we all seem to be carrying. We can relearn to trust ourselves, acting on our faith and not our fear. We can be free of the labels, stereotyping and statistics, we can create our own.

        Take a look at the word responsibility. Contrary to popular belief it's not a dirty word. Dr Wayne Dyer says to break the word down--response ability. Your ability to respond. Cancer and illness happen because of DNA factors, family histories, polluted environments, emotional stress, bad habits and unresolved conflicts and reasons that are beyond our control and sight. All of these things add up to dis-ease. Taking responsibility for where you are at now and what you will do to get better is in your control. Your choice.We hope that you make the most of the opportunities that will come your way.

        With this book you can skip around the chapters or go straight to the resource section. We have survived in spite of the extreme adversity we faced. From being homeless, struggling to stay alive, to getting a business going again only to be diagnosed with lung cancer. The Plan Of Action pages that follow each chapter are the things we did. The books and tapes listed in Resources are valuable information. Some of it may verify what you already knew or wake up that part of you that was asleep or it could shake, rattle and roll those of you who are on automatic pilot.

        Our story is mentioned for inspiration and what has been working for us, just a carpenter and his wife.We are hardworking self employed Americans, babyboomers.We've been in the middle class and below poverty level, but always rich in the love department. My husband outlived all the doctors who diagnosed him, and me? Well I don't know if I'll outlive them but so far I think they are pretty surprised I'm still here.