Nairobi

This was my third trip to the African continent in 6 months. I had spent a scant 30 hours in Cairo and an all too brief 10 days in Cape Town earlier in the year, but those places were not the Africa I had envisioned as a child. Sitting on the front porch of Jane Newman’s home in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi and watching the sunset over the Ngong Hills was certainly the Africa that I had seen in my mind. Jane is the founder and director of the Thorn Tree Project. She lives in Kenya half the year working with the Samburu people of northern Kenya to help them to improve their lives by providing education for their children. When Jane started the program in 2001 only 130 children attended primary school, today more than 1100 children attend primary school and 400 more attend preschools, all funded by the Thorn Tree Project. An additional initiative added in 2006 funds over 100 students to attend secondary school. These programs are making a measurable impact in the quality of life for the people of this very poor and marginalized area of Africa. It is inspirational to see what one person (well, one very smart, resourceful and determined person) can accomplish. Jane is also very generous and insisted we (myself and my husband Chris) stay with her in Karen and also spend a few days being totally pampered at her home on Lamu island. We are forever grateful to Jane for her for her kindness, support and generosity during our time in Kenya.

Driving into downtown Nairobi the next morning I was struck by the rutted paths carved into the red earth along the side of the road from the constant shuffle of foot traffic. We drove past Kibera which is the second largest urban slum in Africa. Most of it’s 2 million residents are extremely poor and lack most basic services including electricity and running water.

Main road from Karen into Nairobi

Along the side of the road

We were meeting with Fred Odhiambo of KETCA, the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance. He gave us a bit of background information about cancer care in Kenya. Cancer awareness and education is minimal here and most people are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease. In Kenya, as in other countries with limited awareness, there is a heavy stigma surrounding cancer. There are very few facilities for diagnosis and treatment and no specialized oncology hospitals. Those with financial means leave the country to receive treatment, but for most a diagnosis of cancer is a death sentence. Fred was kind enough to arrange for us to meet with two women who were undergoing treatment.

Rosemary Okeyo

When Rosemary Okeyo first learned she had breast cancer she considered it a death sentence and refused all treatment. She was 47, married with 5 daughters and 1 grand daughter. Her sister-in-law convinced her to have a mastectomy and to start chemotherapy. When I met her in Nairobi she had just come from Kenyatta hospital where she had her blood tested before deciding to continue treatment with a third round of chemo. She didn’t think it was worth it, that she was  going to die anyway. I told her my story. She didn’t believe that it was possible, everyone she has ever known who has had cancer has died. I was the first cancer survivor she ever met. She also had no idea that mastectomy bras or breast prostheses even existed. I had brought 50 bras and 25 prostheses with me to donate to the Tanzania Breast Cancer Foundation. We had moved into a hotel in downtown Nairobi for a few days, so I brought Rosemary up to our room and helped fit her with 2 bras and a prosthesis. The sad, defeated woman that I had met just a half hour before was gone, replaced by a dancing, singing and smiling Rosemary. A woman with a renewed spirit and a will to fight to survive, because now she knew people do survive cancer. I couldn’t stop smiling for the next 24 hours. I’m not sure which one of us was happier, and it doesn’t really matter. It was a really good day.

Stella

We were introduced to Stella at St. Mary’s Mission Hospital which is located on the edge of Kibera. When we met her last January, Stella was 43 years old and had been battling stage 3 breast cancer since 2008. She is the single parent of a 15 year old boy. She has had multiple surgeries, chemotherapy treatments and radiation, but the cancer always returns. She has exhausted whatever money she had, and now relies on donations to pay for her treatments. When we met her she had been in the hospital for 2 weeks receiving chemo and had one more week to go in this round of treatment. Her son was away at boarding school (a relative pays his way). She hid her illness from him until recently when she finally told him the truth because she was not sure how much time she had left.

Posted in Africa, Breast Cancer, Cancer, cancer support group, Carolyn Taylor, Kenya, Misc., Nairobi | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Final Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society post

When you first meet Bonnie Kam it is hard to believe that she is 40 years old and has been battling breast cancer for the past 4 years. She looks young, vibrant and healthy. At 36 she underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, yet her cancer continued spreading into her bones. Despite her doctors’ best efforts, her back and pelvis have grown so weak and been so damaged that she barely has any spine left. She continues to fight the cancer with radiation and light doses of chemotherapy every 2 months. She practices meditation and ChiGong exercise to help her overall health. Despite everything, she remains positive and in fact told me she feels lucky. She has a beautiful 9 year old child and a supportive and loving family by her side. Her advice to others battling cancer is to make sure that you enjoy life as much as possible, spend time with those you love and fight as hard as you can to live.

Bonnie Kam

Eleanor Fung was in shock when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 at age 58, she underwent a mastectomy and radiation treatments. She has had a successful and full recovery. Years before her own illness her father had been sick and passed away. After his death, Eleanor found great comfort and support from the support groups sponsored by the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society. Once she had completely recovered from her treatments she decided to volunteer to help others that weren’t as fortunate as she was. She is now very conscious of living a healthy and mindful life.

Eleanor Fung

Alice Cheung is a remarkable woman, she has taken a great tragedy in her life and turned it into something positive. Alice grew up with a great passion for language and education, her dream was to become an English teacher. In 1983 she found herself newly married and had just embarked on her teaching career when she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. She was 25 years old. It was stunning for her to be diagnosed with cancer at such a young age and at this time in Hong Kong there was still an enormous stigma attached to having cancer. Multiple rounds of radiation therapy left her with terrible pain and permanently effected her speech. Her dream of teaching was over, as it was too difficult for her to speak for long periods of time. She had great support and encouragement from her family and doctor (one of the founders of the HKACS). Without hesitation she switched gears and pursued a career in teaching administration.  Alice was one of the first people to speak out as a cancer survivor in Hong Kong and continues to be an advocate for cancer patients. She is a tireless volunteer, selflessly helping others towards a common goal, to live a good life.

Alice Cheung

Posted in Breast Cancer, Cancer, cancer support group, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, Misc., Nasopharyngeal cancer | Leave a comment

My Father

In early May, my 86 year old father underwent major surgery to repair an aneurysm in his aorta. While the surgery was successful, sadly his recovery was not, and after a very brave and painful battle my father passed away on June 20th. My parents have always encouraged and supported me in every aspect of my life, and this project was no exception. They generously helped me both financially and emotionally on this journey, not just because they are my parents, but because they were both also cancer survivors. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1953 at age 25, she had cervical cancer in 1972 at age 43, she is now almost 83. My father had prostate cancer in 1993 at age 69, when he passed away at age 86 it was from a problem with his heart, not cancer. With my family history I always knew that one day I might be diagnosed with cancer, and because of that history I knew that I would most likely survive it.

My Mother, Dorothy Kapica

My Father, Stanley Kapica

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing up during the great depression, my parents faced life’s challenges in the most practical and reasonable way possible, and they passed this onto their children. No need for hysteria or drama, life is what it is and you deal with what it gives you, the good and the bad. My father was also a veteran of WWII where he earned a purple heart, was captured and held as a German prisoner of War on Ile de Groix, France. He was one of a handful of prisoners exchanged during the war and immediately returned to serve on the front lines fighting for the freedoms and values that he believed most deeply in.

The day that my father died was the most surreal and strange day of my life. I went to visit him at the hospital about 6:30am on my way to work. My husband Chris had spent the night with my Dad at the hospital. I was so grateful that Chris was with him, he cared for him as if he were his own father. My father was heavily medicated and I spent about 1/2 hour with him, then kissed him on the head and began driving the 25 minutes to my studio. Just as I was pulling into the parking lot at work my phone rang, it was Chris telling me that my father passed away a few minutes after I had left his room. My family was as prepared as one can be for this, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. I had a shoot booked for that day with clients who had traveled quite far, 2 food stylists, art directors, account people, my family supported me by saying that honoring my commitment to my clients would not be dishonoring my father…thankfully everyone was extremely understanding and with my very dear friends working with me, we were able to shoot very quickly and I was with my family by 2:00pm.

That evening Chris and I had been invited to attend a gala dinner at the Pierre Hotel in New York City hosted by the American Cancer Society (ACS). It was the final event of a 3 day summit that brought together global cancer ambassadors and journalists from 44 countries to NYC to meet with their UN missions in advance of the first ever UN High Level Summit on Cancer to be held this September. 11 of these ambassadors were people that I had worked with over the past year through my project and had introduced to the ACS. At the beginning of the dinner my photos were to be featured in a slide show in the main dining room for the 500 guests in attendance. My family insisted that we attend, I knew that my father wanted us to be there too. So in the span of 12 hours, I experienced one of the worst moments of my life, losing my precious father that
morning, and then that evening, one of the most amazing moments of my life, knowing that I had done something that contributed to making a difference in the world. At the dinner were Shakti Gurung and Dr. Bijesh from Nepal, Poonam Bagai from India, Orajitt Bumrungskulswat from Thailand, Carol El-Jabari from Jerusalem, Suzan Murad from Jordan, Linda Greef from Cape Town, Elisabetta Iannelli from Italy, Dr. Thang from CanTho and Mrs Huong from Hanoi. And on the 2 huge screens in the front of the ballroom the faces of the incredible people that I had met over the last year were shown, and my father was one of those faces smiling down on all of us as we were seated for dinner. I know how proud he would have been that night. I know how proud I am to be his daughter, and how very much I love and miss him every day.

Dr Bijesh, Shakti and me

Posted in Amman, Cancer, cancer support group, Carolyn Taylor, Dr. Thang, GVI, hanoi, Ho Chi MInh City, India, Jordan, King Hussein Cancer Center, Misc., Nepal, South Africa, vietnam | 2 Comments

Back on Track, I hope…..

Sheldrake Elephant Orphanage

First of all,  let me begin by apologizing for my lack of posting over the past 3 months. Life and work has literally been taking up every spare second of my time. At the end of January and early February I traveled to Kenya and Tanzania and in late March I used my final British Airways flights to travel to Rome and then back to Switzerland where this whole journey had started a year before. And what a truly amazing and life changing year it was in so many ways. I am so appreciative of the kindness and generosity shown to me by so many people around the globe and I look forward to sharing these new stories here very soon.

Rome

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Cancer, cancer support group, Carolyn Taylor, Misc., Switzerland | Leave a comment

More Hong Kong

Kwong Fung Yee

Kwong Fung Yee was diagnosed at age 38 with stage 2B breast cancer, that was 22 years ago.  She had a lumpectomy and diligently went for her annual check ups. In 2009 she didn’t feel quite herself, she felt a strange lump in her neck. A pet scan revealed that the breast cancer had returned and invaded her body-her lungs, her bones, all of her was full of  the cancer she thought had left her 20 years before. Her bones were so fragile they were on the verge of breaking.  She had surgery on her arm to support the bone and keep it intact. She went through 6 rounds of chemo. When I saw her in December, she was improving all the time. She has been using only Chinese medicine for the past year and continues to be strong and well. Her advice to others is to always treasure every friend and special person in your life.

Man Kwok Wai

Man Kwok Wai is 52 and has been a carrier of hepatitis B since he was 18. He ignored it until January of 2010 when he started to have pain after eating. He went to the doctor who prescribed pain medication and sent him to a specialist who ordered a CT scan. When he went back for the results, he could tell that the doctor was nervous. He told Man that he had liver cancer. He was referred to another doctor at the Queen Mary Hospital where he received target therapy to relieve his pain. He asked what the plan was to cure me and they said there was no other treatment option, no plan. So Man found a new doctor and a new course of treatment which he started in July of 2010. It was a target treatment combined with 12 rounds of chemotherapy. In December after 10 rounds a CT scan revealed that 80-90% of the disease was gone and his liver function had returned to normal. His CA fluctuates around 1500, and he still had 2 more chemo treatments to take. He was searching within himself to decide if he would continue treatment or not as it was physically shattering. He was using an herbal tea prescribed for him by the Chinese medical doctor at the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society facility which helps to relieve the side effects from his treatments and practices Chi Gong. He has wonderful support from his family, and he lives his life fully, making sure not to deny himself the simple pleasures in life. Hopefully both Man and Kwong will continue to live long, happy and healthy lives.

 

 

 

Posted in Misc. | Leave a comment

Upcoming talk/slide show in New Canaan, CT

Next Thursday June 2, I will be giving another lecture/slide show at the New Canaan Public Library in New Canaan, CT at 7:00pm. I hope to see you there, if you do plan on coming please register with the library library link.

The Connecticut Challenge www.ctchallenge.org is once again generously helping to sponsor and support me  and I greatly appreciate it! Please take some time to check out their web site. Every day they help to improve and enrich the lives of cancer survivors with programs and information they create and fund. If you can PLEASE join us on July 30th for their annual bike challenge. It will be a fantastic event! If you can’t ride then please sponsor someone who is riding, like me! Here is the link team page to my team page where you can sign up to ride with us or sponsor us, thanks so much!

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Hong Kong

Bird market

The last stop on my trip to SE Asia was Hong Kong in December. Hong Kong is just as I had imagined it, incredibly modern and totally old world mixed together.

HK Harbor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I worked with the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society  www.hkacs.org.hk (HKACS). I spent a day at their Jockey Club Cancer Rehabilitation Centre facility. Their general manager, Iris Leung, PR officer, Lillian Woo and her assistant Molly Lau, welcomed us and gave us the background on the Society and a tour of their impressive facilities. For the past 46 years the HKACS has been at the forefront of fighting cancer and serving the people of Hong Kong. The hospital provides holistic rehabilitation services to cancer patients including physical, psycho-social and spiritual support. They integrate Western and Chinese practices to improve the overall well being, recovery and quality of life of cancer patients.  They work on public awareness and cancer prevention campaigns, including the benefits of diet, exercise, early detection through leaflets and booklets. They have a beautiful facility that also houses a hospital for rehabilitation, palliative care, a hotel for family, and a space for support groups to meet. Most importantly for me, they arranged a meeting with 6 people from their cancer support groups and it was my great honor to spend the better part of a day with these insightful and inspirational people.

Regina Pang

Regina Pang was diagnosed at age 58 with colorectal cancer, stage 2B. She had invasive surgery to remove the cancer that required additional surgery 3 months later to put her intestines back in place. She had terrible problems with adhesion’s and twisting and had to have more surgery to correct this incredibly painful condition. For the next 4 years she was fine and diligently went for her scans, scopes and blood tests. Then her tumor marker rose and a cat scan revealed new tumors in her lungs, the cancer had spread. A targeted chemotherapy was her only option and it left her shattered. It was so unbearable that death seemed a better option to her. She decided to go for another opinion, this doctor used the same targeted drug, but a much different dose (apparently the initial dose that the first Dr. used was far too strong and almost killed her).  At first it all looked promising, but then her tumor marker rose to the highest number yet. Four more rounds of chemo provided less than ideal results. Now, she was just using the chemo to buy time until the cancer cells reject responding, or her organs failed. She didn’t want to do this, so after a great deal of consideration she decided to end all chemotherapy treatments and use only traditional Chinese medicine. She knows it will not cure her, but it greatly improves the quality of her life for whatever time remains for her. For these last nine months she has been enjoying her life again, she tries to live each day to the fullest, even hiking up to 2 hours a day in the nature she loves so much. She accepts that she has tried and fought. She believes that ultimately it is up to the individual to choose how to live and how to die.

Regina was so clear and deep in her thoughts about her battle with cancer and her life. She had this incredible clarity about it all. She had most obviously come to terms with the fact that her days on earth were limited. All of us in the room were in tears listening to her speak. She has suffered through so much, and most of it alone as her husband hasn’t really spoken to her for the past year, and her daughter is also quite estranged from her since her cancer returned. She relied on her aunt and a cousin to take her to her chemo appointments, but suffered through all of the side effects alone. She told me that when she feels it is time, she will most likely come to the hospital at the HKACS to spend her last days cared for by their very kind and compassionate palliative staff.

I feel so privileged that Regina took time out of her life to share her story with me. The strength of her character, her deep courage and her tremendous grace are the first things that come to mind when I think of Regina. I am sure that her bravery in sharing her very personal story will find it’s way to help others in countless ways.

Posted in Misc. | Leave a comment

Nga Vu

Nga Vu

Nga Vu is a unique, strong and beautiful woman.  I met her at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital last December.  In 2006 at age 37 she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She was a single mother to her then 7 year old daughter.  She had always had cystic breasts so when she felt this lump she really didn’t think too much about it.   She told me that it was actually vanity that saved her life.  She was thinking about having cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation.   The Dr. she went to for this removed the lump and did pathology on it.  It was breast cancer.  She had lived in the UK in the past, and she could have gone there to or Bangkok or Singapore for her treatment, but ultimately she chose to stay in Vietnam for many reasons.   Most importantly, her emotional support, her family was in Vietnam and the physicians at the HCMC Oncology Hospital are fantastic.  They removed her breast and did an incredible reconstruction for her.  She spent a week of  ”hell” in the hospital, but had a great outcome.  Where she differs from so many people I met in Vietnam is that she took it upon herself to learn everything she could about her illness in order to make informed decisions about her treatment.  Most everyone gets the same treatment regardless of the stage in Vietnam, but Nga Vu would have none of that.  She knew that she was in the early stages and that chemo and radiation were not necessarily going to change her prognosis.  She went to Singapore for a second opinion and they confirmed this.  She opted only for tamoxifen and is perfectly healthy almost 5 years later.

She feels that having had cancer has changed her perspective on life.  She tries not to take things for granted,  to appreciate what she has.  It has made her a more confident and stronger person.   Nga Vu even had her scars tattooed with flowers to turn them into a beautiful reminder of her ordeal.  I really loved meeting her and being trusted to tell her inspiring story.

Tattoo on breast scar

Tattoo covering scar from reconstruction surgery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Misc. | 1 Comment

Le Hoang Rina

Le Hoang Rina

Le Hoang Rina is 4 years old and has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  For the next 3 years of her life she will spend more time at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital than she will in her own home.  Her mother will be there, by her side for all of it. Taking care of her, comforting her, feeding her.  Their home where her father and other family are is over 560km away.  The families that share the room at the hospital will serve as her extended family for these next years, all helping each other any way that they can. Le Hoang Rina is lucky, her prognosis is very good and because she is under 6 her treatment will be provided free by the government of Vietnam, but for most of the children at the hospital this is not the case.

Le Hoang Rina and her Mom

Of the 160 children at the hospital about 80% are diagnosed in late stages of the disease.  This is mostly due to the economic conditions that people face in Vietnam.  They cannot afford to go to the doctor, so they wait until they absolutely must go.  By this time it is often too late to save them and unfortunately palliative care becomes their best option for treatment.  Most people have little to no awareness about cancer here.  Myths and stigmas are still very strong.  It is my great hope to help to create cancer awareness programs here.  I believe that by educating people about what cancer is, what steps they can take to prevent it, and what their options are if they are diagnosed with cancer, can begin to help to save peoples lives and ease the burden on the overtaxed health care system here.

Here are a few more photos of the 160 children that share 4 rooms at the hospital with their families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Cancer, Children's cancer, Ho Chi MInh City, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, Misc., overcrowded, vietnam | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vietnam Video

Here is a short video that my husband and I put together.  It’s a bit of background on my story and our experiences at the Can Tho Oncology Hospital in southern Vietnam.

Vietnam Cancer Hospitals

Posted in Misc. | 1 Comment
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  • About Me


    I am a photographer living in Westchester county, NY. I have been shooting commercial advertising for the past 20 years. I recently received a small business grant from British Airways. I won 10 business class flights to any 4 destinations that BA flies. It was a contest based on a series of essays that I wrote explaining how face to face travel could change my business and help it take a more photo journalistic path. My essays talked about the fact that I am a survivor of ovarian and endometrial cancers, and that since I have been sick, I have been looking for an opportunity to travel around the world documenting photographically how women with cancer are intrinsically connected. I would like to show how our struggles, hopes, joys, and concerns have no borders. That we share a common bond, regardless of where we live around the globe. This blog is hopefully going to document this journey over the next year.


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