Some people come into your life for a season… and some come back in ways you never could have imagined.

Today’s guest was once Jodi's teacher — and years later became co-author, helping tell her story of her life in the middle of my cancer journey.

He’s an author, journalist, teacher, and storyteller — but more than that, he’s someone who truly listened.

We are so grateful to welcome James DeFilippi.

This episode explores how a high school connection turned into a powerful collaboration, capturing a journey through cancer with honesty, heart, and helping others.

More than writing a book, this conversation is about trust, perspective, inspiration, and what happens when life brings people back together for a greater purpose.

Jamie Lynn's Book on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Jaime-Lynns-Book-Jaime-Lynn-Taylor-Danner/dp/152105309X

James DeFilippi podcast link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJMXD8GdExE&list=PLS_Il32VC9hmQynTyRkmNzEwJwEcxjfTH

In the Season 1 finale of Kind Hearts, Strong Souls, Jodi shares what it really feels like to live life three months at a time.

Four years into her journey to Boston's Dana Faber (4x a year), scans have become a rhythm - and so has the anxiety that comes with them. The sleepless nights, the waiting, the constant "what ifs." Jodi opens up about "scanxiety" and the emotional toll of living between results, where peace can feel just out of reach..

• The waiting is the hardest part..

• Every three months, Jodi holds her breath

• Worry is a thief of life and Jodi still battles it

In Episode 9, Jodi turns the spotlight on the person who walks every step of the cancer journey beside the patient — the caregiver, aka as Steven, her husband!!

• You will hear how he advocates, protects, encourages, and sometimes is the only steady ground in the middle of the storm.

• This episode honors the people who sit in waiting rooms, ask the hard questions, hold the fear, and still show up every day with love.

• Being a caregiver means everything!! Carrying hope when the person you love is too tired to hold it.

• Face the hard stuff, but never stop living. In this Episode, Jodi sits down with Ron — a guest whose outlook on life mirrors her own.
• Ron and Jodi share what it looks like to live fully — not after hardship, but right in the middle of it.
• If you’ve ever wondered how some people stay positive without pretending things are easy, this episode is for you.

• Episode 7 is an honest conversation about staying positive when life keeps taking — your health, your job, your sense of control.
• This episode explores resilience not as constant optimism, but as the decision to keep going through fear, pain, and uncertainty.

• With faith, humor, community, and love, Jodi shows how strength is built on the hardest days — not the easy ones.

• What does Stage 4 GIST really look like from the operating room?
• This episode takes you inside the surgeries that changed Jodi’s life — through the eyes of her surgeon.
• When skill, science, and humanity meet: a conversation with the surgeon who never gave up.
• Behind every major cancer surgery is a doctor carrying enormous responsibility — and hope.
• It’s not just about medicine. It’s about partnership, perseverance, and the moments that stay with a surgeon long after the surgery ends.

• This episode honors the spouses who become caregivers, advocates, protectors, and quiet superheroes when cancer changes everything.
• A cancer diagnosis can feel like the loneliest place on earth. For Jodi, Steven makes sure she’s never there alone — not once.
• In the middle of fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion, Steven shows up again and again — proof that real love doesn’t run when things get hard.
• Jodi can’t imagine surviving Stage 4 GIST without Steven by her side — advocating, comforting, fighting, and loving her through every moment.

Stage IV Cancer doesn’t stop Jodi’s fight… but she doesn’t fight it alone.

While Cancer can be isolating, Jodi tells us that her meaningful friendships help restore her soul.

Her friendships are so meaningful and important that they become Jodi's lifeline.

A diagnosis can change everything; especially how much we need each other.

https://tinyurl.com/JodisJournal

In Episode 3 we discuss Jodi's constant, daily effort to stay on top of treatments, therapy and costs of fighting her disease

• It's a FULL TIME JOB to manage 24 pills a day; many of these pills are needed to help with (not pleasant) chemo side effects

• Immunization management is critical to her success
• Interesting to learn the costs and insurance coverage of treatments

We discuss Jodi's type of cancer and the differences between treatable vs curable

How do we navigate the various terms that come our way when we face health challenges

We will talk about the differences between palliative care and hospice care

www.liferaftgroup.org