Breast Cancer MyStory

Head Angel, Jonny Imerman

Britta McKenna — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 00:33:27 +0000

Connecting with inspirational role models is one of the joys of traveling on my journey with Breast Cancer MyStory. Today’s blog captures the conversation I had with Jonny Imerman, Founder of Imerman Angels in Chicago. Jonny was diagnosed with “non-seminoma” (many different types of cancers) testicular cancer at the young age of 26. Going through [...]

Meet Victoria Prestia

Britta McKenna — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:41:43 +0000

We are pleased to introduce Victoria Prestia as our April Featured Story. Victoria is from St. Charles, Illinois and has blogged and written about her journey so is a great fit for Breast Cancer MyStory. Her story, “Survive and Thrive,” has been published in newsletters and on her website: http://www.victoriassecretsforsuccess.com/blog/. Victoria Prestia Saint Charles, Illinois [...]

10 Ways to Become An Empowered Caregiver

Britta McKenna — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:03:37 +0000

I’m not a doctor. Nope, I’m not a social worker or psychiatrist either. But I am a breast cancer survivor, endured 8 major surgeries and lived through a massive blood clot, so know first hand what it is like to be a patient needing care. I’m also an experienced caregiver and though it is a [...]

The Breast of Intentions

Britta McKenna — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:30:39 +0000

My journey finding interesting people in the ever-growing arena of breast cancer was strengthened by meeting Lou Ann Peck, Founder of Breast Intentions, Illinois Chapter. Lou Ann emailed me asking for a link off the Breast Cancer MyStory website to her organization. After checking out her organization, I added the link to our resources page, [...]

Meet Julie Silver, MD

Britta McKenna — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:52:13 +0000

This month’s featured story is Julie Silver, MD. I was introduced to Dr. Silver via her book, After Cancer Treatment, where I was moved by how spot on she is with her thoughts on and practice of cancer after care treatment. A breast cancer survivor and thriver, Julie is an accomplished doctor and [...]

Rolling the Dice, Beating the Odds: Batavia Bunco for Breast Cancer

Britta McKenna — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:28:40 +0000

My friend (and coincidently hair dresser) Mike Burke had an idea back in 2004. As you do when you sit in the chair at your hair dresser’s, you talk and you listen, but this one idea perked up my ears nine years ago because of the passion with which it was presented. Mike (actually Michelle, [...]

An Unexpected Gift

Britta McKenna — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:17:14 +0000

Sometimes when you least expect it you are given a gift. That is exactly what happened when I showed up to interview 3-D glass artist, Laura Thompson of Savanah’s Designs. I unexpectedly met Laura at the gym in downtown Batavia and we got talking about things only to discover she was an artist and had [...]

Lessons Learned: A Couple’s Battle With Cancer

Britta McKenna — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:42:43 +0000

by Cameron Von St. James When my wife, Heather was diagnosed with cancer in November of 2005, I learned that almost nothing in the world is as frightening as a cancer diagnosis. Her particular kind was called malignant pleural mesothelioma, and we had to begin a fight with this terrible disease just three months after [...]

Healthy Eating with Chef Fit Foodie Jen

Britta McKenna — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:10:30 +0000

It is not often that I am treated to lunch prepared by my own private chef. OK, it has never happened until this week when I was treated to lunch by Jennifer Bucko Lamplough, who also happens to be an accomplished chef. Jen, or “Fit Foodie Chef” and I met last summer at the [...]

Welcome Video

Britta McKenna — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:09:46 +0000