Greetings Blog Readers…so happy you found us. Here is the latest bits of news Ihave to share.
Before my daughter, Sara, died from cancer at age 26 she asked me to distribute our documentary, Chasing Rainbows-Young Adults Living With Cancer, throughout British Columbia, across Canada, the USA and, Mom, if you have time, Europe. That was in the Spring of 2000. Here it is 2010 and I am so pleased to announce that I am getting to the place where I can say…”Sara, I have met those goals.” By attending the IPOS/CAPO Conference in Quebec City, Canada and the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Adult Conference in London, England in June of this year, I have now not only provided this valuable resource in English, but also in French, to willing psychosocial oncologists from Canada, Australia, France, England, Scotland, Romania, Italy and Sweden.
At IPOS/CAPO in Quebec City, a wonderful young adult cancer survivor, Karin DuBois, spoke in french at the Premier French Screening for Chasing Rainbows. Also, Dr. Martine Hoffman, from Luxemburg joined us. They both speak french fluently. I proudly introduced the film in my limited french. I was glad for their fluency during the Q and A part of the presentation.
In Quebec I met Katie Rzvi who runs www.thelittlepeople.ro in Romania. Check it out! Also, at the TCT Conference, I met Natalya Jagger, who runs www.btbuddies.org.uk for brain tumour survivors.
At the TCT Conference, I also met with Mark Wilkinson from www.jimmyteenstv.com who has created an amazing website for teens and young adults touched by cancer. He has agreed to upload the “Chasing Rainbows” DVD in its 43 minute format as well Chapter increments onto the site. We hope to have the upload completed by September 2010. It will mean young adults, their families, friends and the medical professionals who care for them can access the whole film on the internet. Wow! That will definitely fullfill Sara’s distribution dream for the film for Europe…and around the world. I will keep you posted.
I met, Myrna Whiteson, the founder of the TCT at the Conference. www.teenagecancertrust.org TCT is putting teenage/young adult Units into hospitals throughout the UK. These Units are amazing! A floor or ward dedicated to teens and young adults only…their own entertainment room with videos, films and a pool table, plus a food kiosk that offers choices other than regular hospital food. The staff is trained on how to communicate and care for these young people and their specific needs. I hope this Unit idea can come to Canada sooner than later.
I also got to meet at the TCT Conference, the author of “Cancer in Young Adults Through Parents’ Eyes”, Anne Grinyer. I highly recommend her book. It is terrific resource for young adult cancer awareness.
What is next for me? Getting “Chasing Rainbows” translated into Spanish, Italian, Romanian, German, Hindi, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, etc. is the goal I am continuing to work on. I will be attending the LiveStrong Young Adult Alliance Conference in Austin, Texas on Nov 3-5th again this Fall. To have the film translated in Spanish by then would be fantastic! I love this conference…run by so many young adult cancer survivors…who also love to go dancing into the wee hours at the fabulous music clubs in Austin.
So, my dear daughter, Sara…I know you are smiling. Other young adults living with cancer are being seen heard more than the were in 1997 when you were first diagnosed. Your dream for making young adults with cancer feel less isolated and alone is coming true! Way to go! I will continue to do what needs to be done! Love, Mom.
Chasing Rainbows: Young Adults Living With Cancer 