Debra
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Listen to Debra's interview |
"The most extraordinary thing that’s happened to me was to get in touch with the strength I have. When you get the diagnosis of cancer it takes so much out of you, emotionally and energy-wise, and then when you’re on the chemo you’re just not up to doing all those things that you think you ever wanted to do. The strength I’ve found inside of me has been to research, face the unknown medically, try to understand the worst that can happen, get second opinions, push the doctors for information. And to use my creativity for my own medical well-being. The little kid in me is just so joyous when she gets her hands into fingerpaints or any kind of painting or art, I mean, you can’t stop me!
"There’s these groups that believe you create disease with your thoughts and your actions, and that if you can create it, you can un-create it. Well, I don’t believe I created the cancer. That is the cruelest, cruelest, most disheartening discussion to have with a cancer patient.
"I grew up kind of vain, I thought looking good was really important. And I still feel like it is, but nobody’s rejected me when I was bald and looking my worst. People respond to you as you see yourself. If you forget how you look, and you’re animated and you’re really enjoying yourself, people see the inner you that comes out. They don’t care how you look. It’s how you project yourself that people are attracted to.
"There’s so many lessons. I’ve learned how difficult it is, and how important, to ask for help when you need it. And the importance of having a support system because you can’t just depend on a few people. I’m living much more in the present than I ever have. It’s a gift, it’s learning about looking at how precious life is, and stupid little things seem to disappear."