I have always had a strong desire to find a profession where I could help people. As a childhood lymphoma survivor, I found oncology nursing to be the perfect fit. I love being a nurse, especially for oncology patients. I am fulfilled in my job knowing that I have an opportunity to help people overcome the biggest struggle of their …
This year marks 20 years since my initial diagnosis of Hodgkin’s disease, now known as Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I was 17 years old at the time and a senior in high school. All these years later, and I am still dealing with long-term effects and secondary cancers. I began searching on good-old Google for a getaway for cancer survivors because I …
This quote by Malcolm X represents literally what I believe in! Togetherness is a key factor when it comes to well-being. Togetherness and the healing power of nature are exactly the two elements Epic Experience provides to cancer survivors, fighters, and thrivers. I had completed active treatment for my primary brain cancer six months prior to participating in my week-long …
June 15, 2017 In the aftermath of all of the soreness, hobbling around, and celebrating a job well done with photos, phone calls, and text messages, I’m finally sitting down to reflect on my first Ironman. 🙂 In the two days prior to the race, what I found most surprising was the overwhelming sense of calm I felt. I expected to …
In 2014 with absolutely no symptoms, I went in for my 50-year-old preventative colonoscopy and was shocked when the results came back as stage 3-4 mantel cell lymphoma (MCL). I quickly spiraled into a nice depression while we scrambled to get a second opinion and discussed treatment options, which ranged from “wait and see” to “you are young; hit it with …
By the time I found Epic Experience, I had already been an oncology nurse for approximately seven years; however, I had never witnessed oncology patients actually doing well in the outside world. The oncology nursing staff at University of Colorado had been gathered together in one of our auditoriums for a standard quarterly meeting. I found out very quickly that …
When considering charitable contributions, did you know that giving of appreciated assets may be your more tax advantaged strategy? By donating appreciated stock, real estate, or real assets to charity may avoid capital gains taxes and address your philanthropic desires. The stock market continues to advance to all-time highs, real estate is holding its value with strong employment nationally and …
I first heard about Epic Experience from a good friend, Bobcat, who had attended a winter camp in 2016. She had so many positive things to say about her adventure and recommended that I apply, so I did. As the week of winter camp approached, I was anxious (who leaves behind their family to go and hang out with a …
When I meet another cancer survivor, I rarely feel as if I’m meeting a stranger. Why? Because there are no strangers in the cancer community. Before words or histories are shared, we already understand. We get it! I was overly excited about meeting men and women with whom I shared a story. Before I’d spent time with any of them, …
Once cancer comes into your family and you have to face it alongside a loved one, your perspective in life tends to change—at least I know it did for me when my brother, Michael, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At the time of Michael’s diagnosis, we were both still in college at Regis University; he was a senior and I …
