Hope

James played a huge role when I'd get down. I'm famous for asking "What if....?" questions. James would always remind me that I had no reason to think those things. Essentially, he'd look at me and sternly say, "Stop that!" Then we'd break up laughing, which defused the moment. Between great doctors, James and God, I felt like I was in the best possible hands.

I also meditate a lot on the 23rd Psalm when I get scared or anxious... It's more than meditating, I actually see it as a movie. I lay down in the green pastures, I walked beside the still waters, and I see my version of the valley of death. I focus on this over and over until my mind becomes calm. Generally that takes 5 times of saying the 23rd Psalm over and over.

During treatment, I found myself in a "code blue" situation, and while the doctors and nurses were "working" on me, I was saying the 23rd Psalm. As I was laying on the gurney, I guess my lips were moving because a doctor leaned down and got close to my face and said, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up. It's working." James played a huge role when I'd get down. I'm famous for asking "What if....?" questions. James would always remind me that I had no reason to think those things. Essentially, he'd look at me and sternly say, "Stop that!" Then we'd break up laughing, which defused the moment. Between great doctors, James and God, I felt like I was in the best possible hands.

I also meditate a lot on the 23rd Psalm when I get scared or anxious... It's more than meditating, I actually see it as a movie. I lay down in the green pastures, I walked beside the still waters, and I see my version of the valley of death. I focus on this over and over until my mind becomes calm. Generally that takes 5 times of saying the 23rd Psalm over and over.

During treatment, I found myself in a "code blue" situation, and while the doctors and nurses were "working" on me, I was saying the 23rd Psalm. As I was laying on the gurney, I guess my lips were moving because a doctor leaned down and got close to my face and said, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep it up. It's working."

I am a firm believer the lowest point in someone's life leads them to their highest... - meaning - when something terrible is happening - it only leads to a stronger, happier, more appreciative person with a passion and zeal for life and for people than before. I am a 2X brain cancer survivor from my teenage years. Now I am an author, filmmaker, and I've done lots of public speaking - I have this extreme joy for life - I don't believe any of that would have played out if it weren't for what happened to me. So... there is a lot of hope - for there is a lot to look forward to on the other side - I believe hope is very powerful medicine. I have interviewed patients from around the country who were given a terminal diagnosis yet overcame the odds. They all shared a positive attitude and an amazing will to live. There have been many studies about the placebo effect, which proves the mind-body connection exists. Even if someone is given a 5 percent chance to live, why can't they be that 5 percent? There is no such thing as false hope.