The final installment of my cancer story took place on September 20, when I underwent reconstructive surgery at MD Anderson. The surgery was a cinch compared to chemo and the double mastectomy; my only issue was a prolonged feeling of fatigue, for which I blame anesthesia, rather than aging. Driving back into the medical center … Continue reading A Circuitous Path
I confess, I enjoy coming to MD Anderson each week. I think it's because everyone here is trying so hard. The staff, the patients, the families - we're all on the same boat paddling in the same general direction, which tends to make us kind and empathetic with one another, too. Today a fellow patient … Continue reading Indelibly Stained
I'm back home from Paris, healthy and overflowing with gratitude. It's a long way from The Lancaster Hotel on Rue de Barri to room 55 at MD Anderson's Mayes Clinic, but I'm fortunate to have access to both. Despite an ATM machine eating my bank card half-way through the trip, the experience exceeded my expectations - which … Continue reading Prescription: Paris
Twenty-nine years ago at Southern Methodist University, I moved into MacElvaney Dorm's third floor corner room, next to the RA and across from Susan Yaksick. Over the following three decades, Susan and I roomed together twice more and this week, we shared a room once again - at MD Anderson. Susan drove in from Austin and spent the night … Continue reading A Dogged Friendship
For almost a decade, my job at Fund for Teachers has allowed me to connect America's best prek-12 teachers with opportunities to design summer fellowships of their dreams. Last week I had the privilege of working alongside a particularly special grant recipient at the College Football Playoff's Extra Yard for Teachers Summit. With his FFT grant, Lavie … Continue reading She Persisted, I Persist
For sports fans, the "Holiday 6" college football bowl games dominated New Year's weekend. The Rose and Orange Bowls did not disappoint, nor did the (Pasadena) Rose Parade floats, including the one with surfing dogs. Crystal bowls, however, provided the highlight of my holiday. Rothko Chapel hosts a Crystal Bowl Sounding (co-sponsored by MD Anderson) on … Continue reading Bowl Games
