Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 9: Sue’s Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). In our last episode, Sue shared her story of living with Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). LAM is a rare, chronic, progressive lung disease in which the lungs fill up with cysts. In today’s episode, she shares her story of infertility. This story began before her diagnosis with LAM but came to be shaped by her disease. Fueled by estrogen, LAM would progress rapidly during pregnancy due to the high levels of the hormone, accelerating her lung destruction. Having been trying to conceive a child with her husband, Sue now had to explore alternative ways to have children. In speaking with Health Story Collaborative, Sue describes her journey to accepting her diagnosis of infertility, and how she and her husband were still able to build a family. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Sue’s story, and to find resources on LAM and infertility, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 8: Sue’s Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). In 2008, Sue R. Levy was diagnosed with Pulmonary Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) at the age of 37. LAM is a rare, chronic, progressive lung disease in which the lungs fill up with cysts. The result is gradual destruction of the normal lung architecture, compromised breathing, and in many cases, eventual lung transplant. Fueled by estrogen, LAM primarily affects women in their childbearing years. Having been trying to conceive a child with her husband, Sue was forced to redefine herself as someone with a chronic disease and confront her own mortality. In addition, she had to let go of some of her dreams, first and foremost her desire for pregnancy, as the high levels of estrogen associated with carrying a child would accelerate her lung destruction. In speaking with Health Story Collaborative, Sue describes her journey to accepting her diagnosis and new way of life. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Sue’s story, and to find resources on LAM, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 7: Vinnie’s Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). Vinnie is a self-described “toothless, sixty year old junkie.” Thirty years ago he experienced a head injury which left him blind in one eye and debilitated by chronic migraines. To manage his pain, doctors prescribed him various opioids, including oxycodone and dilaudid, and gradually increased the dosage as time passed and he developed a tolerance. Soon, Vinnie became addicted. His life began to revolve around finding his next dose of narcotics, which damaged his relationships with his family and friends. In 2015, Vinnie began suboxone therapy in an effort to reclaim his life. Months later, he spoke with Health Story Collaborative about his brave climb out of “the foxhole of hell” which was his addiction. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Vinnie’s story, and to find resources on opioid addiction, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 6: Zachary's Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). Zachary was born one of three identical triplet girls. But very early on in his life he realized that he was not meant to be a girl. He was a boy living inside a girl’s body. His biological sex did not match his gender identity. In this episode, Zachary tells the inspiring story of how he both discovered and embraced who he truly was. He is now a confident, happy, inspiring young man who encourages people to educate themselves about what it means to be transgender. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Zachary’s story, and to find resources, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 5: Tiron’s Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). In this segment, we hear from Tiron, whose wife, Marie, was featured in our last episode. Marie was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in 2007 at the age of 45, and lived bravely with the disease for nine years. In December of 2016, the cancer took her life. In this episode, Tiron offers his perspective on the challenges of marriage and parenting amidst chronic, and ultimately fatal, illness. He demonstrates tremendous flexibility in adjusting to his “new normal,” the new responsibilities and new expectations for the future brought about by his wife’s diagnosis. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Marie’s story, and to find resources on colorectal cancer, please visit http://healthstorycollaborative.businesscatalyst.com/audio_stories/marie-living-with-cancer. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 4: Marie’s Story (Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). Marie Pechet was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer in 2007 at the age of 45. Living with the disease for nine years, she had to come to terms with the fact that she would be on chemotherapy for the rest of her life, and that her disease would ultimately kill her. She did so with grace. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, over 27,000 men and over 23,000 women will die from colorectal cancer in 2017. In this episode, Marie speaks with HSC about living and parenting with a terminal illness. This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the healing power of stories. To learn more about Marie’s story, and to find resources on colorectal cancer, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

(Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog) The pressure to be thin in our culture is enormous, especially for girls. For Lyzz, a 19 year old college student, this pressure has translated into struggles with issues of weight and self-love since childhood. Growing up, she watched her mother struggle with anorexia and endure multiple hospitalizations, feeding tubes, and seemingly endless suffering. Lyzz didn’t want to end up this way, but despite her best intentions she developed Bulimia by the time she was a teenager. She is not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 10 million people in the U.S. have an eating disorder, 90% of which are women. In this episode, Lyzz bravely shares her journey with Bulimia and self-image, and her ongoing discovery of “true beauty”.

This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a non-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of stories. To learn more about Lyzz’s story, and to find resources on eating disorders and treatment options, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org.

Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 2:

Sara's Story

(Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog) Sara and Kerry met as students at Bates College in 2001. They were together for eight years, and planned to get married in August 2010. Just two months before the wedding, Kerry committed suicide. He was 27 years old. Suicide is a major public health problem, as the 11th leading cause of death overall and 4th leading cause of death for adults 18 to 65 in the United States per 2007 data. Everyday, approximately 90 Americans commit suicide. In this episode, we hear from Sara about her experience of Kerry’s suicide, and about trying to move forward in the face of such a tragic loss.

This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a non-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of stories. To learn more about Sara and Kerry’s story, and to find resources on suicide and suicide prevention, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org. Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.

Health Story Collaborative Podcast Episode 1: Colleen’s Story

(Originally aired on the WBUR Commonhealth Blog). In this episode, Colleen Lum, a mother of two, shares her experience of living and parenting in the face of terminal cancer. More than a decade ago, Colleen was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer – an insidious disease that is often asymptomatic until it is quite advanced, resulting in five-year survival rates of under 50 percent. Despite beating these odds, Colleen has recently decided to end treatment.

This podcast is a product of Health Story Collaborative, a non-profit organization that harnesses the healing power of stories. To learn more about Colleen’s story, and to find resources on ovarian cancer and end of life discussions, please visit www.healthstorycollaborative.org.

Music by Jack Broza Lawrence, www.jackbroza.com.