the LinkedIn Story

I was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after learning about my pregnancy. That journey – one of extremes – would edit the trajectory of my future. Not just my life as a mom and wife, but also my career; and ultimately, my life’s mission. This is #MyLinkedInStory.
Finding an oncologist willing to treat me while pregnant was the first hurdle. Months of chemotherapy, surgeries and just daily life as a bald woman in the winter was a tricky thing. Navigating the tumultuous waters of working full time, reams of insurance paperwork and the sheer magnitude of the fear that found its way into my daily existence caused inconceivable stress. HOWEVER: I prayed (and continue to pray) that there might just be a bigger purpose to my life and that of my child.

My doctor told me after my treatments, after the birth of my son (he’s safe, strong and healthy) that most patients fall into one of two categories. They either want to resume their lives quietly and stay in the shadows, or they see this journey as fuel to a previously unknown fire. He told me I fall into the latter group, and that I should absolutely tell my story – often, and loudly. Thus began my speaking career…right there, with a glamorous paper gown, missing several body parts and hairless. Yes, I was ready for that spotlight.

Years later, I found myself crossing the country to do keynotes and inspirational talks to corporations, medical conventions and churches nationwide. One flight found me sitting next to a man who shared with me an incredible concern. He, a pharma exec, had just learned that a fellow employee had a son with a difficult diagnosis. This employee’s wife and son had to travel to Texas from Indiana regularly for treatment. Many people wanted to help, but didn’t know how – and all were concerned about violating HR rules and regulations.

Since I’ve spent years working with companies to find their philanthropic voice, he asked for my ideas. Then he told me this incredible piece of pivotal wisdom: Get on LinkedIn. Stay on LinkedIn. Use it daily. He told me that he’d connect with other execs from his company to brainstorm this dilemma, and he would use it to promulgate my ideas with peers across the globe. He did, and we did. I pointed out that as the employee with the sick son worked in the warehouse, the cost of flying his family down to Texas on a regular basis might be cost prohibitive. Airline miles to share? Hotel points? Sales reps in TX, could participate by making sure mom had gift baskets with toys, movies, gift cards, etc. Dad was taking on extra shifts to cover costs. Might someone mow his lawn, leave meals, shovel his drive? After a year of this interaction, I received another message. At the company picnic, something extraordinary had happened. Each department had connected to embrace this family. It cost the company nothing, and no rules were broken. This voluntary participation changed the very fabric of morale – nationwide. Finally, we crafted a new position - ‘Compassion Ombudsman’…continuing the work that started on that plane ride.

I’ve taken that advice about using LinkedIn daily to heart, and I love it. As the Executive Director of the Pink Power Mom Network (a group of young moms/breast cancer patients/advocates/superheros), Speaker, Author and Advocate, this medium is an invaluable tool. Manufacturers now connect regularly to gift products to ‘PPMs ‘ for their work. LinkedIn gives us advice from sage business leaders, truly compassionate philanthropists, gifted artists and global visionaries – all at no cost. This has become a lifeline. We seek professionals for medical, financial, emotional and myriad other needs. LinkedIn is our go-to for connections, all referred by our own community. We recommend doctors, encourage corporations to care without pinkwashing, nominate friends for awards, share details about clinical trials, offer tips for patients, and spread the word about companies that have questionable practices regarding breast cancer advocacy.

Health care is on the precipice of being re-written by social media – and LinkedIn is helping that change. I encourage community building here for one simple reason; we have lives to save. Looking to build community in your health-care or philanthropic setting? Here are a few tips…

• “People You May Know” is there for a reason – use it! You’ve been connected by a handful of people, why not see if there is mutual interest in starting a conversation. You are reading this post because I connected with a LinkedIn recommend, and wonderful conversations happened. All the way up the LinkedIn world, to an executive meeting!
• Use it as your personal CRM database. You can quickly sort by geographic location, company and even title. Seeing a recent promotion/transfer can be a great reason to touch base. Recently, a friend of mine moved cross-country for a promotion. Knowing that he and his wife wanted to get involved in their new community, I suggested they connect with an incredible charity for moms and kids (my little waiting room). It gave them immediate outreach to a compassionate group of people in their new city!
• Reach Out. There are people you just met at a convention, a symposium, a charity event. Connect immediately & message. You aren’t limited by number of characters, and you won’t have to remember if you gave them personal or company email address. The Pharma exec I mentioned was so encouraging. His suggestion to utilize LinkedIn as a tool for compassion changed my entire perspective and, of course, the lives of many employees from that point forward!
• Read, Read, Read. Information from incredible influencers is waiting – I pour over everything I can find from sources as varied as Google and Salesforce to Nike and Betsey Johnson (all are on my philanthropic heros list…). I read ideas about marketing (even though I’m not in marketing), latest trends in technology (not in tech), and anything that focuses on clinical trials (only a patient/advocate) – and consider each to be a call to action. Publications in every sphere have the potential to be creatively used to help!
• Fear Not. Be bold and reach out to that CEO. She may not accept, but she just might. Have your eloquent and sincere reason for connecting ready. Tell her why you admire her company, her work, her passion. Be respectful if those amazing interactions occur, and be prepared if asked for more. The more manufacturers, business owners and corporations I connect with, the more families I am able to help. If you aren’t soliciting for a job or asking for money, I’ve found that most people are eager to correspond and assist!

 

My cancer walk is ongoing; but so is my fierce belief that opportunity can rise from trials. And that we, connected as global community, can change this world for good.

(Heidi and all 4 of her healthy, sweet kiddos)

Rights

(photo courtesy Archives.gov, one of my favorite websites)

Social Rights for Cancer .... People 

(one woman's perspective) 

Once you are diagnosed with cancer, you immediately inherit a brand-spanking new group of inalienable rights. At least, you should. Here are some thoughts from someone who has been a caregiver/patient/advocate/observer/concerned friend for a good bit of time. 

You get to choose your title. 

Probably not "Tsar" or anything like that, but now that I mention it, sure. You can call yourself a Tsar. Or patient, survivor, thriver, pink, warrior, hero, fighter, flower mama, fragile patient, stalwart trooper, pink power mom, angry advocate, sparkly unicorn cancer princess - it doesn't matter.  You can call yourself wizard for all I care.  This is your trek, you own the rights as if you are a member of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Scars.

Show them. Have them photographed, gloriously, and put on giant canvases for a world-wide gallery tour. Because, beautiful! Or hide them, cover completely and make your cancer your own business, for no one else to know. Your path, your choice, your decision. Social media should bow to your options if you choose to share pics of these bad boys, too - remember, you are now fully titled. 

Hair.

 Rainbow Afro Wig? Yes, please.  Bald with a henna tattoo?  You betcha. Scarf, ballcap with little fake bangs, motorcycle helmet, skullcap, lace doily? Okey dokey. Not one single thing except your shiny head? Yep. The general non-title cancer society is permitted to say only one thing when observing your new choice of headware: "you look amazing!".  That is all. (Please note: when you compliment us on our wig by saying something like 'gosh you can hardly tell that is a wig' you automatically identify the fact that we are sporting a horrific wig, like some gaudy toupee. So stick to the 'amazing' line.)

Treatment.

Are we making morning smoothies with magic pond scum from Madagascar as part of our holistic therapy?  Maybe.  Our decision, not yours. Do we know that chemotherapy/radiation/everysinglething under the sun is toxic?  Yep.  Do we want to hear it from your mouth? No, unless you are an oncologist.  More specifically, our personal oncologist. Have we tried yoga, did we know that your sister/aunt/cousin's step-dog became miraculously cured after visiting a special doctor in Mexico?  Good on 'em, but really, unless we specifically say 'hey, can you tell me everything you've ever heard about cancer', please don't.


Friends, we've really tried to talk to our docs and nurses about everything. The icky, hard, awkward and downright embarrassing things.  Sometimes we even email them at 2 am if we hear about some new miracle drug and want to learn more.  We live this stuff, so there are very few things you might tell us that we haven't heard before.  BUT please know, we love that you try. That you want to help.  And we understand that you might just not know what to say, or how to help.

For that, I respectfully guide you to a handy-dandy list of things to do to help us.

Sincerely,

Heidi.  (my title: Pink Floyd)

Devon

 I have an image on my Facebook page that has been the promulgating factor for several conversations. Who took it, why, when, where, how come you are looking down, why are you sad, etc. Yesterday I had to do a search on my email and accidentally found an old message from Devon; it has prompted me to talk a bit about that photo.

Devon Williams was a bright spot in a pretty dark time for me, and I don't think she ever realized the full scope of what she did for my heart.  There are no coincidences in this world, I believe that firmly.  When I made a phone call to a cancer center in Pasadena a few years ago to locate fellow patients with a specific breast cancer diagnosis, Devon's was the first name suggested.  Do you think she might be willing to connect with me, I asked the director.  15 minutes later, a fireball actress from California was calling me.

She was in a parade with me, and it was nice. It was a shadow; a pale imitation of the true beauty of that meeting. She had an amazing husband who looked at her as if she hung the moon, and 2 little daughters that were absolute perfection.  The entire family allowed me to be with them every moment we were not working on the parade. For a mommy who had to be away from her own kiddos, snuggling with her sweet girls made me less homesick.  And to be with such a darling, kind, charming family on a work trip? Sublime.

So that was a weekend. Devon took that and ran with the connection we had made.  I received emails from her, we shared photos on social media, we called.  But Devon had a passion for hand-written notes. She sent me words of encouragement, to keep going through difficulties. She reprimanded when I allowed others to try to write darkness into my future.  She wrote about the flowers she'd seen that day, and about her daughter losing a tooth. She wrote life, and did so with beautiful abandon. 

Then she asked a favor; the kind that drew an immediate 'no way' from my heart. But how could I say no to her, after all of this? We had become sisters, I simply couldn't say no. Her request? That I return to Pasadena, speak at an event and be photographed for a book about breast cancer patients.  I don't do photographs, I pleaded. I'll speak at any event for you, dear one, for the rest of my life, but I can't do photos like that. My hair, post chemo, has never grown right.  My surgery did not turn out well, so I look like one of Dr. Frankenstein rejects. She told me that this I needed to come do this...please.

Back to Pasadena. Event was delightful, just fine. Then we went to the studio, and I was heartsick. These photos were to be exposing, to show our scars.  My photo shoot was private, but that still meant that Devon, the photographer and the makeup artist would see me - scars and all.

As I reclined in the makeup chair, the artist approached me and tilted her head.  She told me her name was Jan, and was it ok if she moved my hair a bit so she could get a better look at my face structure?  You won't have much to work with I'm afraid, I cautioned her. For some patients, chemo leaves your skin sallow and tired. Depending on the diagnosis/surgeries/treatment, some women lack estrogen which play a huge part in appearance change as well. Jan took my face in her hands, and gently smoothed my eyebrows.  Look at this, she said, here, take this mirror.  Do you see how beautiful they have grown back?  Goodness, even your eyelashes are starting to fill in nicely. They accentuate your eyes in such a lovely way. Have you noticed that?

Why no, you wonderful Jan, I hadn't. To be honest, I hadn't worked up the courage to look in a mirror for quite some. And now this gentle, compassionate soul was treating me like I was somebody, and sharing the kindest words I'd heard in a long, long time. Turns out she is an Emmy-Award winning makeup artist, and a fellow breast cancer survivor. Heart of gold and hands of magic, that one.

Then out we walked to the photographer, Catherine. Would you like to take off your shirt, so we can photograph your scar?  She asks.  Lifted by Jan's kindness, I feel comfortable enough to say that, in fact, the last thing I ever want to do is take my shirt of in front of anyone. Ever.

Catherine looks at Devon, who now comes over to talk to me.  Heidi, she says, in that voice of hers that makes me realize I'm about to be convinced to do what is needed.  Heidi, we need for others to see that we aren't alone. This book will be published so that a woman in Topeka can realize her scars match mine.  The woman in Long Island knows she has a cancer doppelganger and her mastectomy turned out the same way.  That world wide, our fellow patients could find solace in our journey and boost them to continue their own paths.

Catherine, the amazing photographer, quietly told me why she was doing this. Her own mother had breast cancer.  She said that for 30 years she'd saw her dealing with lack of self-esteem. When her momma looked at herself in the back of the digital camera it was the first time since her surgery that she had looked directly at her own body.

Both Devon and Catherine assured me that I could dress however I wanted. This was about showing scars to empower, to take back the idea that beauty is what we see. We are beauty, no matter what time and surgery has done to us. So I did.  I wore pearls, a beautiful coat that I used almost daily since I traveled so frequently, and they started taking photographs.

Just as this photo was being taken, Jan came out from behind her counter.  The warm California sunshine was just fading, and it caught me full-face.  Jan laughed, and Devon asked (with a big smile on her face) what was so funny?  Not funny, said Jan, just perfect. Look at her eyes, do you see how beautiful they are?

And I cried.  I put down my face and cried, as I am doing now as I write this. I cried because that woman who was so willing to talk to me, a stranger,  was now including me in this amazing group.  Because I was blessed enough to be with 3 people who were such incandescent talents. That for a moment, I was standing there with my giant, jagged scars exposed.  And in that moment my self-esteem issues were ignored and these women just looked into my eyes.  And I realized the scars were now my beauty marks.

So today, I found an old email from Devon. I then went on Facebook and looked at her beautiful daughters and I see her smile in the amazing young ladies they have become. I applauded and stand in awe of her husband, doing the job of 2 parents and doing a fantastic job.  I went to Jan's page and smiled as I saw she was jetting off to yet another fun gig.  And I re-read the article from so long ago that celebrated Catherine's stunning work and vision.

I miss you, Devon. I'm so thankful that you encouraged me to stand in the light, pick up my face, and laugh. And cry.  And feel just a bit more comfortable in this skin. I thank God that I was able to know you, that you introduce me to Jan and Catherine.  I'll never delete those emails, and I'll always cherish your letters.

http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/taking_back_beautiful/9256/

Mommy Has Cancer (and other tough things I've had to say to my children)

My sweet Alex was just a little peanut in elementary school when I picked her up from class that day.  I'd just learned, on phone call in my office downtown Chicago, that I had breast cancer.  Now I had to look into her beautiful face (that you see above) and tell her, somehow.  Explain cancer to a child.

All she knew of cancer was what I'd inadvertently taught her:  Cancer took away many of the people we loved and that loved us. We did the Walk & Roll event downtown since she was born (before, actually). We used to pin the 'walking in memory of Grandma Roberta' tag on her stroller when she was too small to actively participate. Licked yogurt lids, bought endless amounts of pink ribbon merchandise, joined in where/whenever possible just to help 'the cause'...without knowing exactly where all those dollars were going.  We didn't care, we just wanted to do something.

And now here we were.  She was so young and terrified.  "Your mama died, and so did everyone else. I don't want you to die yet! Not until I'm really really old...like at least 30!" At the time of my first diagnosis, it was as if I were on a planet alone; there were scant few resources to help young women going through breast cancer.  A young mom?  Even fewer resources - we were on our own.

I found gentle ways to explain that chemotherapy, while hard to take and yes toxic, is also hard for the cancer to take.  I talked her through what the surgery might be like (in round, simple terms - nothing graphic).  That the recovery would be tricky, but yes, she could hop in bed with me.  Hug me. Snuggle with me. The research we did was an amazing education for both her and myself, and to this day has provided a good foundation for understanding what it means to be proactive with health care.

Her little sisters were another story entirely.  Catie was 3, Bella was 2.  Bella laughed when she saw my bald head, and that was the end of her curiosity.  Catie, always the fashionista even as a toddler, requested that I always wear a scarf or 'fake hair'.  There was a great debate about why on EARTH I would opt for a wig that looked so much like my other hair.  Couldn't you just try the purple and silver wig, mommy?  Just for a little while?

And then there was Noah. Pregnant with him for my first diagnosis, he went through all the chemotherapy with me.  The surgeries and radiation that followed his birth became just as much his story as it was my own.  5 years later, with a new tumor, I had to explain the situation to a little man who assumed (like the rest of us) that cancer was something in our past.

Through it all, I relied on my faith, my family and a growing network of breast cancer sisters.  I now know where to direct newly diagnosed mommies and daddies when they need a book to help explain what chemotherapy is (NoWhere Hair), when they need to find an app explaining how to do self exams (Get In Touch), when new scarves are needed for bald heads (http://hopescarves.org/), when they need someone to help watch the kiddos (my little waiting room and nannyangelnetwork), when bills need to be paid (Pink Fund) and vacations seem impossible (Little Pink and Camp Kesem). And of course, an amazing online resource of strength and compassion (#BCSM)

There is help - you don't have to walk this journey alone.  Reach out to us. Allow us to help lift you and your kiddos.

<3

SUCCESS

Long, long ago, younglings, there was a grand adventurer named David Livingstone.  He had one job, tasked to him by his boss.

After failing his training course, a sympathetic staffer gave him one more chance to pass.  He did and became a missionary.  Livingstone was sent to Africa (after his request for China fell through) to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity.  That's the entirety of his task list: spread Christianity.

In 32 years he had converted, according to his own records, one person.  One soul. To the minds of middle managers worldwide, that would fall into one of two categories; either "a big miss" or "bad ROI".  Both of which are glaringly short-sighted and inaccurate.  While he may not have hit the target for his original task, his accomplishments outside that job description are without question a "big win".  Let's take a peek at 5 of Livingstone's outside-the-task-list successes, shall we?

         1)  He gave his life working to end the slave trade. Not on the original 'Scope of Work' but I'm fairly certain it could be voted unanimously as a really great thing. Yes, the missionary bit might not have been great, but seeing the horrors of slavery first hand and doing all he possibly could to stop it REALLY matters.Now that's what I consider a 'positive, forward-thinking' staffer.
                                                                                                                    
         2)  He wrote the map for Africa.  Literally. While scooting around looking for people to introduce to Jesus, he became arguably the most prolific explorer of his age. These activities not only allowed future generations to safely navigate the land and waterways. Nope, not on the 'action items' spreadsheet, but quite magnificent.

         3)  He worked with non-traditional medicines to create cures. A skilled doctor, he abandoned that practice to do the missionary gig.  While in Africa, he kept his mind open to embrace a different way of thinking.  “Livingstone Rousers” were pills that helped him overcome Malaria, with the help of local 'witch doctors'.  Basically, he created the idea of 'inter-departmental collaboration'.  In the middle of a jungle in the 1800s.  Rock Star, this man.

        4)  He was willing to give praise and credit to the higher-ups that he respected.  When he came upon the most beautiful waterfall he'd ever seen, he did not immediately name them "David's Neat-O Water Park" or "Livingstones Splash Pad" - no.  He named them after the monarch he adored, Queen Victoria. Talk about your '30,000 foot view strategic plan'...

       5)  The 'only one person converted' thing is a bit of an mis-statement.  Current scholars say that “Livingstone did not try to change the indigenous cultures and languages of Malawi. Instead, he allowed these to subsist together with Christianity.”  The missionaries that came after him set up health systems, schools and centers for education. That, my friends, should be considered a 'win-win'.  In every context.


Perhaps we can begin to take a look at how employees perform outside their specified duties, and see if they might actually have the capability of changing the world by simply changing tasks.

SHOES

I can tell you the EXACT day that I started to care about footwear. And location, if you care.

First, you should know that I never cared much before a certain time. I mean, I've loved looking at pretty shoes since I was little (by that I mean young, because I'm insanely tall. Ridiculously tall. My house should be at the top of a beanstalk tall.), but never realized what an important part shoes actually play in the crazy world of self-esteem.

Many moons ago, I'd blogged about shoes and my cancer friends for the same reason I now love great kicks; very few women like the way they look. Complimenting one's choice of footwear is always a safe and reliable course of action. I realized while speaking at my first truly large event, October of 2005, that shoes are the cancer girls diversion.

When I was in chemo, and as recently as 2011 (when I had a radical mastectomy, after myriad other cancer surgeries in previous years), people were frequently looking me up and down, and that was disconcerting. Having people just scan my body in review of body shape, size and apparel options is something I'll never get used to.

Oh, you can hardly tell that's a wig? (Really, just by virtue of the fact that you've said that means you can tell. Thanks ever so.)

Oh, you can hardly tell you had surgery. Are you done, or are you going to have implants? (Ok, YES I opted for implants. And I'm actually all done. Again, by asking the question tells me that I clearly didn't go with a satisfactory cup-size increase. Geesh.)

My defense mechanism? Shoes. If you've got some sweet foot candy going on, nobody ever looks at your ... well, anything else, really. It suddenly goes from a potential discussion of scar tissue, scarf tying or the pros and cons of silicone to something infinitely more yummy. Offered as proof: my dear friend Mary Ann has made an art form of shoe photography during chemo. 

The quintessential patent-leather-ankle-tie-cork-wedge. Sky high and built for subterfuge. Here's to distractions, and the cancer patient's art of the ruse.