| Maybe you have never heard of Vicki Channing | | | | the spotlight on an exceptionally kind individual, "One |
| Tashman, but she is a hero for breast cancer | | | | Nice Person." The Web site also invites visitors to |
| survivors. I talked with her yesterday, and she is a | | | | submit their own "nice thing" ideas and names and |
| very committed woman! | | | | photos of kind people, which are then posted on the |
| Vicki, like me, is a breast cancer survivor. At the age | | | | Web site. Vicki Tashman was featured, along with |
| of 44 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and | | | | this picture. (Used with permission, but border and |
| endured the grueling treatment, including | | | | name added) |
| chemotherapy. But unlike so many other women with | | | | Vicki and I both love the poem below, but neither of |
| breast cancer, Vicki did not run away and hide. No! | | | | us has been able to locate the original author or |
| She ran toward this deadly disease and in 2005 she | | | | copyright holder. I received over 200 copies of it in |
| founded Pink-Link, a fantastic, free support website | | | | my email from people who knew I was a breast |
| that enables breast cancer survivors to mentor | | | | cancer survivor. Also, I have done web searches and |
| women who are newly diagnosed. | | | | contacted The Library of Congress, trying to locate |
| Because each woman's cancer is different, therefore | | | | the real author, but to no avail. It is unbelievable how |
| medications must be different, Vicki created a central | | | | many thousands of websites display her poem, but |
| online database of breast cancer survivors and | | | | they either claim authorship, or they just leave that |
| patients everywhere. Survivors can input details | | | | spot blank. So, without further adieu, here is the |
| about their cancers and treatments. Newly diagnosed | | | | poem Vicki and I love. |
| women can search the database and learn, and they | | | | Attitude is Everything!(author still unknown) There |
| can do it right in the comfort of their homes. The | | | | once was a woman who woke up one morning, |
| mentor-patient relationship makes treatment go | | | | looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three |
| easier. There is also information for loved ones and | | | | hairs on her head. |
| medical professionals. | | | | "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So |
| She has been featured in so many magazines, | | | | she did and she had a wonderful day. |
| newspapers, and online publications that it would be | | | | The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and |
| impossible for me to list half of them. But my | | | | saw that she had only two hairs on her head. |
| favorite has been when she was featured on Happy | | | | "H-M-M, " she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the |
| News online publication. This news publication has | | | | middle today." So she did and she had a grand day. |
| impressive endorsements, a few of which I will | | | | The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and |
| quote: | | | | noticed that she had only one hair on her head. |
| - Washington Post: "The Happynews glass is always | | | | "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in |
| at least half-full, and sometimes it bubbles right over." | | | | a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day. |
| - NPR: "Happynews forsakes war and famine, terror | | | | The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and |
| and man's inhumanity to man 24/7." | | | | noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. |
| - Dallas Morning News: "As far as anyone can tell, it's | | | | "YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair |
| the first international and national daily news | | | | today!" |
| organization dedicated exclusively to upbeat stories." | | | | Attitude is everything. |
| Each week the website Do One Nice Thing shines | | | | Have a Good Day! |