Inspiration from Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul

I recently purchased Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul, 101 Healing Stories about those who have survived cancer and I have found their stories fascinating...

When will you write your story??


Amy Graham

Where there's life, there's hope
-Marcus Tullius Cicero

After flying all night from Washington, D.C., several years ago, I was tired as I arrived at the Mile High Church in Denver to conduct three services and hold a workshop on prosperity consciousness. As I entered the church, Dr. Fred Vogt asked me, "Do you know about the Make a Wish Foundation?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Well, Amy Graham has been diagnosed with terminal leukemia. They gave her three days. Her dying wish was to attend your services."

I was shocked. I felt a combination of elation, awe and doubt. I couldn't believe it. I thought kids who were dying wanted to go to Disneyland, or meet Sylvester Stallone, Mr. "T" or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Surely they wouldn't want to spend their final days listening to Mark Victor Hansen. Why would a kid with only a few days to live want to come hear a motivational speaker? My thoughts were interrupted.....

"Here's Amy," Vogt said, as he put her frail hand on mine. There stood a 17-year-old girl wearing a bright red and orange turban to cover her head, which was bald from all the chemotherapy treatments. Her bent body was frail and weak. She said, "My two goals were to graduate from high school and to attend your sermon. My doctor's didn't believe I could do either. They didn't think I'd have enough energy. I got discharged into my parents' care....This is my mom and dad."
Tears welled in my eyes, I was choked up. My equilibrium was shaken. I was totally moved. I cleared my throat, smiled and said, "You and your folks are our guests. Thank you for wanting me to come." We hugged, dabbed our eyes and separated.

I've attended many healing seminars in the U.S., Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. I've watched the best healers at work and I've studied, researched, listened, pondered and questioned what worked, how and why.

That Sunday afternoon I held a seminar, which Amy and her parents attended. The audience was packed to overflowing with over a thousand attendees eager to learn, grow and become more fully human.

I humbly asked the audience if they wanted to learn a healing process that might serve them for life. From the stage it appeared that everyone's hand was raised high in the air. They unanimously wanted to learn.

I taught the audience how to vigorously rub their hands together, separate them by two inches and feel the healing energy. Then I paired them off with a partner to feel the healing energy emanating from themselves to another. I said, "If you need a healing, accept one here and now."
The audience was in alignment and we shared an ecstatic feeling. I explained that everyone has healing energy and healing potential. Five percent of us have it so dramatically pouring forth from our hands that we could make it our profession. I said, "This morning I was introduced to Amy Graham, a 17-year-old, whose final wish was to be at this seminar. I want to bring her up here and let you all send healing life-force energy toward her. Perhaps we can help. She did not request it. I am just doing this spontaneously because it feels right."
The audience changed, "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Amy's dad led her up onto the stage. She looked frail from all the chemotherapy, too much bed rest and an absolute lack of exercise. (The doctors hadn't let her walk for the two weeks prior to the seminar.)

The group warmed up their hands and sent her healing energy, after which they gave her a tearful standing ovation.

Two weeks later, she called to say that her doctor had discharged her after a total remission. Two years later she called to say she was married.

I have learned never to underestimate the healing power we all have. It is always there to use for the highest good. We just have to remember and use it.

Mark Victor Hansen

Stress & Your Body!

Stress
(noun) : constraining force or influence


Stress is terrible for your body. The question constantly arises, what happens to your body physically when you are stressed out? How bad actually is the stress on your body? What is stress? How can we manage it? What can we do? HELP!

Stress effects absolutely everybody and a lot of different ways. It effects your appetite and weight and your health.

The Cancer Center for Healthy Living will be holding a free "How Stress Effects your Body" Workshop on August 26th at 5:30pm. The workshop will be held at the main CCHL office on Knoxville (located inside the Hult Health Education Building).

The session will be held by Becky Cobb and will cover some of the physiological effects and simple ways to reduce stress in your life.

Please R.S.V.P. to this intriguing workshop today by calling 693-8139!
Visit our website today at www.cchlpeoria.org

Pedal the Prairie

CCHL is gearing up for PEDAL THE PRAIRIE! Our annual recreational bike ride & walk on September 13th, 2009! The event starts at Connor Company located at 1209 W. Pioneer Parkway and proceeds through the scenic Rock Island Trail State Park!

All survivors will start the ride or the walk!! (The survivors will be wearing burgundy while everyone else wears green t-shirts!)

It is important to ride or walk at your own pace.

The distances include:

*Start to Chanute Road and Return: 1.5 miles
*Start to Alta Road and Return: 4 miles
*Start to Picnic Area and Return: 10 miles
*Start to Dunlap and Return: 12 miles
*Start to Princeville and Return: 24 miles

Please bring your family and friends outside and help support the Cancer Center for Healthy Living! We support all cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers in the community by offering free emotional support, nutrition support, healthy living classes, a resource library and a variety of workshops! The Center is supported entirely by the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations and fundraising campaigns such as Pedal.

Registration Information:
Entry form must be returned by August 28th to guarantee a water bottle and t-shirt. The registration fee includes the cost of the t-shirt and water bottle:

Single Child Participant (Must be accompanied by an adult): $10.00
Single Adult Participant: $20.00
Family of Four: $40.00 (add $10 for each additional family member)

Please visit the Cancer Center for Healthy Living website at www.cchlpeoria.org or call 693-8139 for the registration form.

CCHL is the place to be!

Hey Everyone! Welcome to the Cancer Center for Healthy Living's blogspot! In case you are curious about us--I am here to explain it all to you!

First thing is first, the Cancer Center for Healthy Living is a non-profit organization located in the heart of Peoria, Illinois! We offer FREE services to cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers!!!

We offer a variety of resources including: Individual and Family Counseling, Group/Networking Counseling, Individual Nutritional Advice, Group Cooking Demonstrations, Cancer Basics 101: Everything you need to know about cancer! educational workshops, Healthy Living Classes such as Yoga, Tai Ji, Aerobics and Strength Training, a Resource Library and friendly faces! 

We are here to help EVERYONE touched by cancer live life to the fullest. If you have been touched in any way by cancer, we are here for you! 

Our main office is located inside the Hult Health Education Building on 5215 N Knoxville Avenue and our satellite office (which is where our counselor and dietician are located) is located inside the Peoria Cancer Center on Route 91. 

Stop by today and pick up our newsletter and additional information!

NIA: Joy of Movement Workshop!

NIA: The Joy of Movement Workshop is coming to the Cancer Center for Healthy Living!

NIA is a transformational fitness class that combines dance, martial arts AND integrated arts such as yoga that will change the way you experience your body and life!!!

Certified White Belt NIA Teacher, Debby Gaines will be here from Rockford to teach the exclusive class on Saturday, July 25th!

• The first workshop will be a NIA workshop from 10:45am-12:00pm
  
• The second workshop will be a "Playshop" from 1:00pm-3:00pm
  

Each class has a $10 fee and will be payable the day of the workshop. 

Please call 693-8139 to register today!

About NIA:

NIA is the physical celebration of the body. Learn about the NIA technique's definition of joy and how to find it in your body's way. No prior experience is necessary and you can join at your own pace!

Slim & Trim: Weight Management for Breast Cancer Survivors in Remission!

The Cancer Center for Healthy Living is teaming up with the OSF Dietetic Interns to Present:

Slim & Trim: Managing Weight After Breast Cancer! 

July 14th & 28th at 5:30pm at the Cancer Center for Healthy Living located inside the Hult Health Education Building. 

This class is for Breast Cancer Patients in Remission wanting to learn how to manage weight after treatment!

This 2 Part Series will cover:

*Healthy Eating

*Physical Activity

*Goal Setting

*Stress Management

There will be healthy food samples and recipes provided!

Please R.S.V.P. to 693-8139 by July 9th!

New Healthy Living Class!!!

The Cancer Center for Healthy Living has added a new healthy living class-- called Stretch & Tone. The class is a mixture of stretching, pilates and yoga with instructor Yinka Adetola, D.C. All levels are welcome! The class is free to cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. There is a $3 drop-in fee for the general public. We hope to see everyone there!