In this episode of ICANCERVIVE, we share Sunshine’s extraordinary journey through cancer survival, genetic testing, and the realities of living with Lynch Syndrome. From her first cancer diagnosis in 2002 to facing multiple independent cancers over two decades, Sunshine offers a rare perspective on resilience, friendship, and coping with life-altering medical challenges.

Listeners will learn about:

• The importance of genetic testing and early detection for hereditary conditions like Lynch Syndrome

• Coping strategies and the role of faith, friendship, and humor in navigating a cancer journey

• How a teacher’s heart continues to inspire, even while facing repeated cancer diagnoses

• Insights into the lived experience of patients dealing with hereditary cancers and the value of lifelong screenings

Sunshine’s story is a testament to survival against incredible odds, demonstrating that resilience and laughter can be powerful tools in the face of chronic illness. This episode offers both inspiration and education for anyone touched by cancer, whether personally or through a loved one.

This episode is not intended as medical advice. For guidance about genetic testing, hereditary cancers, or your personal health, consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Subscribe to ICANCERVIVE to follow Sunshine’s journey, learn from her experiences, and discover how friendship, faith, and humor can shape even the toughest challenges.

In this mini episode of ICANCERVIVE, I revisit a story that’s followed me for decades. It was a single grade that became a lifelong memory.

As a high school student, I never had formal art training. Yet I found myself spending countless hours in the art classroom with my teacher, Sunshine. Eventually, I convinced her to take me on for an independent study, where my only evaluation was a weekly project. One assignment, a contour drawing of my hands, became legendary in my mind, graded with a mysterious 98%.

Years later, during Sunshine’s first cancer diagnosis, that grade became a point of debate between us and a playful argument that lasted decades. It wasn’t until 2022, near the end of her life, that we finally uncovered the truth.

This episode is more than a story about a grade, it’s about friendship, the joy of art, and the humor and love that can persist even through life’s hardest moments.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A nostalgic look back at independent art study in high school

• The story of a single assignment and a “98%” that never left my memory

• How humor and friendship can leave a lifelong impact

• Reflections on laughter, memory, and celebrating moments that matter

Join me as we explore:

• Why a simple grade can hold deeper meaning

• The lessons we carry from our teachers and mentors

• How love and laughter shape our journey, even through loss

In this teaser for the next episode of ICANCERVIVE, Sunshine reflects on the challenges of relying on others when you’re immobile. At first, dependence can feel frustrating and overwhelming, but over time, she’s learned how to navigate it with patience, resilience, and perspective.

Even in moments that feel limiting, there is growth, humor, and insight. This short clip offers a glimpse into the strength and wisdom that shape the full episode.

Don’t forget to subscribe to ICANCERVIVE to catch the next full episode and follow along on this journey of friendship, cancer, and survival.

In this episode of ICANCERVIVE, I reflect on the very beginning of our journey. It was 2002, and Sunshine, my teacher and mentor, was facing stage 3 endometrial cancer. I was terrified, unsure how to help, and completely unprepared for what lay ahead.

This story is about how a teacher and a former student navigated fear, uncertainty, and survival together. Laughter became the medicine we both needed, even when nothing about her diagnosis felt funny. I wrote a book, ICANCERVIVE: A Story of Friendship, Cancer, and Survival, as a way to process everything that had happened. The words poured out over a 48-hour writing frenzy in early 2007. Bits and pieces of time stitched together to tell a story of compassion, faith, and the enduring power of friendship.

We published the book later that year and donated proceeds to local doctor’s offices. Selling a few hundred copies was a small start, but it was meaningful. And then the real story began.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How a friendship helped us face fear and uncertainty

• Why laughter became an essential tool for survival

• The creation of the book ICANCERVIVE and its early impact

• Reflections on how small acts of love and courage can ripple outward

This episode reminds us that sometimes, the most important journeys begin when we least expect them, and the lessons learned along the way are the ones that stay with us forever.

In this mini episode of ICANCERVIVE, I revisit a moment that was never meant to happen. It was a freshman theology class taught by my art teacher.

Two weeks into the school year, our class was reassigned. What seemed random turned out to be anything but. Sunshine, who had spent decades teaching art, found herself preparing for a subject she wasn’t trained to teach. But what could have been a challenge became one of the most important experiences of my life.

Fast forward thirty years, and our relationship has evolved from teacher and student to close friends. ICANCERVIVE is a result of her courage, our enduring friendship, and the lessons learned from the strongest person I have ever known.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Sunshine turned an unexpected assignment into a life-changing experience

• Reflections on mentorship, resilience, and laughter in the face of challenge

• The origins of ICANCERVIVE and its mission to inspire others through love, humor, and friendship

• Insights into how some of life’s most important lessons come from the most unlikely places

This episode reminds us that not all stories unfold as planned, and sometimes the best ones come with twists, turns, and moments that shape who we are.

Episode 2: When Life Changes Overnight

In Episode 2 of ICANCERVIVE, Donna shares the moment that changed her life and the diagnosis, fear and unexpected clarity that followed. This episode journeys into the raw, honest beginning of her cancer story: how she processed the news, what she held onto, and the friendship, faith and humor that kept her moving forward.

If you or someone you know is navigating cancer, this episode offers a personal look at what those first days really feel like and the strength you don't know you have until you need it.

Key Takeaways

• What the first 24-72 hours after a cancer diagnosis actually feels like
• How Donna used art and humor to stay grounded
• The moment she realized she needed to 'enjoy the moments,' even the hard ones.
• Why support systems matter more than ever in the early days
• The mindset shift that helped her choose hope over fear

This Episode Is For:

• Cancer patients starting their journey
• Caregivers seeking understanding
• Anyone looking for hope during a life-changing moment
• People who want honest, unfiltered stories of resilience

If this episode resonates with you, please follow ICANCERVIVE on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Leave a review so more patients, caregivers and families can find this story and so many others.

Join us as we introduce you to Donna (Sunshine to me) and embark on a journey through her story. In this episode of ICANCERVIVE, we delve into her remarkable narrative, exploring experiences, challenges, and triumphs.