Lisa Desatnik
Tara The Beagle Gets Prosthetic Legs And A New Life
There is something truly special about animal lovers. This sweet dog, Tara was found clinging to life on the grounds of a Romanian hospital. She had gangrene on all four legs and her front two legs were rotted to the bone. While veterinary surgeons were able to save those back two legs, the front two needed to be amputated.
That is where Kelly Hare came into the picture. Kelly runs a British nonprofit called Safe Rescue For Dogs, and no sooner did she hear about dear Tara’s plight did Kelly jump into motion, raising £3,000 to not only save the Beagle mix but to also make it possible for Tara to be fitted with two prosthetic legs.
These days Tara runs and plays just like her friends. And by the way, Kelly has grown so fond of Tara that it looks like they’ve found a forever home together. Life is good again.
Author Tami Boehmer Has Second Book On Surviving Cancer
I have known Tami Boehmer for many years, long before a diagnosis changed her life and her family’s forever. She is someone who I admire so much for her fighting, uplifting spirit and her appreciation for everything that matters. Tami has used her circumstance and her skills to encourage and inspire others – those who are also living with cancer, those who love someone with cancer, and really everyone. Tami recently published her second book. Thank you to her for sharing this post.
by Tami Boehmer (Award winning author, blogger, and speaker)
It has been seven years since I learned I had metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer. It was my worst nightmares come true. I had just celebrated five cancer-free years after being diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. My daughter had just turned nine years old. My first thought was, “Will I be around to raise her?”
According to statistics and a couple of doctors I spoke with, it was highly unlikely. One told me I would “most certainly die of breast cancer.” No doubt about it. I responded, “I’m too stubborn to die”, then left determined to prove her wrong.
I recently read a quote on a metastatic breast cancer Facebook page: “Faith sees the invisible, believes in the incredible, and receives the impossible.” — Anonymous. My faith was shaky when I was first diagnosed, but there was a spark there waiting to be ignited.
I had spent my career in health care public relations, where I wrote success stories about patients who beat the odds of illnesses. I took a permanent leave of absence after being diagnosed this second time, but started feeling empty and depressed. I decided to use my experience and share stories of people who had beaten the odds of stage IV cancer.
When I started interviewing individuals for my first book, From Incurable to Incredible, I had only seven months under my belt as a stage IV breast cancer survivor. My primary goal was to inspire hope and show that it was possible to beat the odds of a terminal or incurable prognosis. Not just for my readers; but for me, as well.
In Nov. 2014, my second book, Miracle Survivors: Beating the Odds of Incurable Cancer, was released by Skyhorse Publishing. I share my story, along with 23 other cancer survivors from around the country. With many years under my belt as a survivor, I got to know more people who are thriving years beyond what anyone expected and have learned many lessons from my own “school of hard knocks.” The book reflects my new perspective, as well as those of others like Carole Kubrin, who has been living with stage IV, HER2-positive breast cancer since 1998, and Greg Cantwell, a stage IV glioblastoma multiforme (the most aggressive form of brain cancer) survivor since 2004.
The book also includes an introduction by best-selling author Bernie Siegel, MD, and forewords by miracle survivors ePatient Dave deBronkart (a stage IV renal cancer survivor since 2007), the best-known spokesman for the patient engagement movement, and award-winning blues vocalist Curtis Salgado (diagnosed with stage IV renal cancer in 2007), who was the inspiration for the movie, The Blues Brothers.
While I call the individuals in this book, “miracle survivors,” overcoming the odds wasn’t something that just happened to them. Each person took a very active role in overcoming their challenges by becoming advocates for themselves and others and never giving up.
There are no winners or losers or the right or wrong way to deal with cancer and other major life challenges. But I know from experience and from talking with hundreds of people living with cancer that how we live our life is a choice. As the recently departed ESPN commentator Stuart Scott said, “You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and the manner in which you live.” That’s what my work is all about.
Tami Boehmer is an award-winning author and blogger and speaker. Her second book, Miracle Survivors is available in hardback and e-book versions through Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, Target.com, Skyhorse Publishing’s website and via Tami’s website, www.miraclesurvivors.com. An audio version is also available on Audible.com.
Fifth Third Bank Honored For Hiring People With Disabilities
Sending a well deserved congratulations to Fifth Third Bank, and its employees.
It was recently recognized recognized by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) as a Champion of Opportunityfor the bank’s commitment and leadership in integrating individuals with disabilities into Ohio’s workforce.
“Fifth Third understands that integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce is good for the community, the company and good for business,” said OOD Executive Director Kevin L. Miller. “Inclusion and engagement is more than just a policy on paper, it is an active part of the culture and management at Fifth Third.”
The Champion of Opportunity Award honors companies that have gone “above and beyond” in their commitment and who serve as statewide examples of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.
“Being awarded the Champion of Opportunity Award is a significant honor for our Company,” said Teresa Tanner, executive vice president & Chief Human Resource Officer at Fifth Third Bank. “This recognition is due, in large part, with our role as an original collaborator on Project SEARCH, a school-to-work internship program for students with developmental and physical disabilities. We operate three Project SEARCH campuses today and are honored to help our students find meaningful careers. We’re especially proud of the many Project SEARCH graduates that are now members of our Fifth Third employee family.”
The Opportunity Awards were created to highlight Ohio companies committed to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. For more information and a listing of the 2014 award winners please visit http://www.ood.ohio.gov/Employers/Opportunity-Awards.
OOD is committed to engaging and educating Ohio businesses on the benefits of recruiting, hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities. Its business relations model works directly with Ohio companies to understand their workforce needs, quickly match job seekers with specific openings, and provide needed assistance and training.
My Furry Valentine Is Cincinnati’s Pet Adoption Mega Event
All too often puppies and dogs find their ways into shelters, for many reasons, often for no fault of their own. They are the victims of circumstances beyond their control, like an illness or death in the
photo credit: PhoDOGrapher
for My Furry Valentine
family, divorce, growing family, family relocation, or improper training and preparation from owners.
Nearly 3 million of them are euthanized every year in the United States.
All I have to do is walk into my parents home where I am greeted with 40 pounds of love to be reminded these animals deserve places they can call home. I see all the time through my dog training clients and friends the beautiful gift of adoption.
Coming up this Valentine’s Day weekend is our region’s largest pet adoption event, My Furry Valentine. It will be at the Sharonville Convention Center from 10 am to 5 pm.
My Furry Valentine is hoping to find homes for 550 animals during the Cincinnati pet adoption weekend event. The event is fun, family-friendly and free to attend. This year’s My Furry Valentine is hosted by phoDOGrapher and presented by Top Dog sponsors IAMS and Tri-County Mall with additional financial assistance from The Joanie Bernard Foundation.
Before you adopt, please see my list of considerations at this link.
Visit www.myfurryvalentine.com.
A Little Silliness Can Make You Smarter
