If COVID-19 has taught Maureen Tomlinson of Austin anything, it’s that fear is not a friend. Fear takes you to deep, dark corners of your mind. It dares to keep you up at night and aggressively interrupts your thoughts on a perfectly fine day. Fear conjures the worst-case scenario. Maureen will tell you the only thing to do with fear …
DANNY BOX: EVEN CANCER CAN’T CONQUER A SERVANT’S HEART
Encouraging others through life’s most difficult and devastating moments isn’t just a part of Danny Box’s role as a pastor – it’s in his DNA. So when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, members of his congregation swarmed to be by the Box family’s side, wrap them in love, and lift them up in prayer. It’s a special kind of …
CHANTAL RICE: FIGHTING CANCER ON HER TERMS
As managing editor for Austin Woman magazine, Chantal Rice finds it difficult to slow down. On any given day, she can be found in her North Austin office providing editorial oversight for a magazine dedicated to dishing out thought-provoking stories that inspire and support women. “During the 10 years or so I’ve been with the company, we’ve done so many stories about …
TAMARA SCOTT: WHEN GIVING UP ISN’T AN OPTION
Imagine you’re a 36-year-old single mother to a toddler, working full-time as a healthcare administrator by day, college student by night. You’re healthy and lead a busy lifestyle. There’s a new mammogram machine at the clinic where you work. You’re not due for your first mammogram for another four years at the age of 40 but it’s free for employees, …
FROM CANCER COMES STRENGTH: MELINDA FIEBIG “HEARTS” INSPIRING OTHERS
Some of life’s big moments stick out in our minds. For better or worse, the memories are so vivid that recalling these experiences is akin to reliving them. For Melinda Fiebig, Valentine’s Day is one of those days. On Feb. 14, 2017, Melinda underwent a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan that revealed she had stage III ovarian cancer. Her diagnosis was followed …
FIGHTING RARE CANCER LEADS TO NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE
Perspective has the power to change people. It can bring new meaning to the seemingly mundane and cultivate a newfound sense of wonder about the world around us. For Bob Baker, a cancer diagnosis was the beginning of a long journey that ultimately led to a shift in priorities and a message to others: perspective and perseverance can make all …
RUNNING FOR HIS LIFE: WHY ONE CANCER PATIENT REFUSES TO GIVE UP
Ronald Strickland slept on his son’s bedroom floor a few weeks ago. He built a pallet piled with blankets and pillows at the special request of his son, who is five years old and has never known his father without cancer. They fell asleep together, but Ronald woke up in the morning alone. He laughed as he recalled how he …
BRINGING NEW MEANING TO FUN IN THE SUN: MOVING ON AFTER MELANOMA
Billie Elder loves the outdoors. It’s how she was raised – spending days walking her dogs, swimming, soaking in the sun. It’s how she raised her own children. And, it’s how she planned to begin her retirement. When it came to plans, Billie had big ones: travel, a house renovation, and active dogs she loved taking outside. With children, grandchildren …
BARRY HOWE: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON, AND LIKE GRANDFATHER – WHEN CANCER IS ALL IN THE FAMILY
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but Barry Howe knows better. He watched his father pass away from lung cancer. His grandfather died from complications due to cancer, and numerous aunts and uncles received cancer diagnoses in their lifetimes as well. It’s devastating to watch it happen to those you love – it can feel like the sky is …
CHRISTINA DUHON: HOOK, LINE AND SINKING CANCER
It’s probably safe to say that most cancer patients are not introduced to their oncologists standing waist deep in a flowing Texas Hill Country river while fly fishing. But Christina Duhon’s cancer journey is not like others. In 2010, during her pregnancy with her second child, Christina noticed a lump in one of her breasts. Believing it was related to …