Keeping the Faith…in Science
Majestic Night Sky with a Full “Wolf” Moon over Istanbul (or anywhere you are!), January 17, 2022 I have always been a big believer in science. All the way to a Ph.D. in chemistry at MIT. That’s commitment. My career has also included lots of technology-related...
Dreams Instead of Resolutions
View of hilly Istanbul from our kitchen window “it's a low low road You've gotta roll down Before you find your way, my friend And it's a high, high hill You've gotta climb up Before you get to the top again” -Grace Potter and Mark Batson, from Grace Potter and...
Lost and Found: Reflections on Two Years of a Cancer Journey
One of the last casts supervised by Auguste Rodin of “The Thinker” in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art (acquired in 1917) “In short, Beauty is everywhere. It is not that she is lacking to our eyes, but our eyes which fail to perceive her. Beauty is character and...
Love – The Best Medicine
In a boat on the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey I am alive today because of love. That’s true for all of us. At least one person loved us into being, growing, and sticking around for the fun. Parents. Spouses. Children. Friends. They give us empathy which is how we...
Pray – Faith, Science, and Healing
Çamlıca Mosque, Istanbul Why do bad things happen to good people? Forget about my cancer. What about kids? Babies? What did they do to deserve suffering? Better people than me have died from cancer, war, neglect, violence, and more. If we believe in a good...
Eat – Food is Medicine
Turkish Breakfast, including menemen Too many cancer patients die of malnutrition. I understand now how it happens, between the pain and the havoc cancer and its treatments wreak on the digestive system. Cachexia keeps our bodies from using the nutrition we work hard...
What Can I Get in Istanbul That I Cannot Get at the Cleveland Clinic?
Jackie and John, date night 12/5/21 The answer is simple: a chance to live. Three weeks ago, I could not eat. I had the equivalent of labor pains all day long. Our oncologist gave us devastating news then tussled my hair and left John and me sobbing and holding each...
Reasons to Be Positive in Istanbul
Sunset view from the balcony of our apartment in Istanbul It’s hard to stay positive when chemo fails, whether you’re the patient, a caregiver, or someone rooting for us. The cancer fight is so brutal. The effort – intellectual, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual...
The Adventure of a Lifetime
Turkish market spices ~2000 (photo credit: John LeMay) “Oh, wow. Oh, wow. Oh, wow.” - Steve Jobs last words Istanbul is a special place. The spices and flavorful food. The colors and architecture. The markets and history. Also, it’s personal. Our daughter is named...
Keeping Company with Cancer aka Entering Sacred Spaces
South Chagrin Reservation, Cleveland Metroparks By Jackie Acho and Sharon Sobol Jordan “I’m glad to bump into you now; I just haven’t known what to say since your diagnosis.” – a friend Well, that’s a wonderful thing to say actually. It’s simply the...
The Future of Policing – What’s Empathy Got to Do with It?
On August 4th, I had the pleasure of speaking in the Amphitheater at the Chautauqua Institution, joined virtually and in-person by colleagues from the Cleveland Police 4th District and Community. It was wonderful to be absorbed in my chosen work (vs inside-out cancer...
Nontoxic Cancer Therapies that Work
Ah, a warm bath! Epsom salt, lavender, baking soda. Clean, pure water. Maybe even a candle and some music, if you really want to treat yourself. Soaking every night is one of my favorite, simple pleasures. Hyperthermia takes that idea to a whole new level. My...