On April 27, 2009, my best friend, Kathy Bennett, died of ovarian cancer. As a tribute to her and to create a legacy which would truly have an impact on ovarian cancer deaths, her husband, Stu Bennett created The Kathleen Bennett Foundation of Hope for Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer. Saturday February 27–10 months after her death–we had the first Board Meeting of the Foundation. The “foundation of the Foundation” is now in place. We have a 501(c)3 and have an extremely talented group of volunteers and Board members who are ready to change the deadly paradigm of ovarian cancer. There is valid research that ovarian cancer is CURABLE if it is detected in its earliest stages. We plan to get the word out…to start the conversation about early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.There is research and clinical evidence that will provide new doorways to healing. Creating and working with The Kathleen Bennett Foundation of Hope is a doorway to a path of healing for Stu and for all of us who loved her, and even more importantly, it will provide a doorway to hope for changing ovarian cancer from a deadly to a curable disease.
 My sister, Terri, and her husband, Bob, who is a Denver firefighter returned a week ago from Haiti. Since then, they have been sharing their experiences with all of us. Now the incredibly moving tragedy in Haiti, is so close and personal. Their pictures of the beautiful children at the orphanage where they stayed, touch your soul. Terri said that these precious little children lovingly, generously take care of each other everyday. She said that the most beautiful and inspiring experience they had was that, in spite of loosing everything, people showed up everyday to help with a smile on their face. She said that their faith is sustaining them…it is all they have left.
It certainly makes me think. About everyone in Haiti and their immediate and ongoing needs. About my clients who are facing incredible challenges fighting cancer. About our own homeless children at Urban Peak here in Denver, and about all of those in the United states and all around the world who have no medical care.
I believe that it takes enormous courage just to go on after the earthquake, to choose to go to Haiti to provide medical care, to show up for cancer treatment… There are so many ways people show their strength and courage everyday, just by showing up with a smile on their face and serving the preciousness of their own life or the lives of their brothers and sisters.
I am inspired, I am humbled and I am moved to do what ever I can do, in whatever capacity that is. We are all thinking what can I do, how can I serve? I believe that true healing is being open to the call within ourselves to offer ourselves. For we, each one of us, are the most important healing instruments on the earth.
 Sunrise This month of full circles. New Orleans, early October. Returning to the start of my life in nursing and medicine. At 18 years old, my first huge step into the world of disease, suffering and healing. Back to my training, my roots at Charity Hospital. My first experiences of being of service…to the indigent. It fit me. I had a sense of belonging there that I had never experienced before. When I was in a relationship with my patients, I was alive in a way that I had not known even existed.
Two weeks ago, light years away from New Orleans, on the water in Mill Valley California, I sat in a room filled with seasoned doctors and nurses. Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, the magnificent visionary healer and author of Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings, was leading our discussion. We were talking about finding meaning in Medicine and Nursing. We were sharing about being “called” to our work. We were remembering and voicing why we do this work, knowing at the deepest level we are exactly where we need to be–in the heart of healing. And with tears streaming down our faces we knew without a doubt that we were home.
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