The good news is that we’ll be able to attend from the comfort of our home and we’ve been invited to deliver a session via video Skype. Our session is called Textual Healing: The use of social media for narrative therapy, connection and support.

Here’s how our session is described:

Communities can exist for many reasons, but one of the most striking recent examples is the support community that has arisen around Canadian social media fixtures Andrea Ross and Mark Blevis, as together they work to make Andrea a breast cancer Survivor.

Their place of wellness on the web, WeCanRebuildHer.com, and the community that has gathered there is “something that’s good for them”, their supporters and for others in similar situations.

In this presentation, Andrea and Mark will join PodCamp Toronto via live Skype video from Ottawa to share their use of social media as a key tool in Andrea’s strategy to survive and thrive and will offer their top tips for healing and sharing in a digital world.

If you’re going to be in Toronto on the weekend of February 20-21, 2010, I recommend you register for and attend PCTO2010.

Our first post is now live. It features audio from Andrea’s head shaving party which took place at our place last night. Twenty of our friends joined us for munchies, drinks, cake and to show support as I shaved Andrea’s head.

David O’Farrell passed away at 1:02 a.m. He was 38 years old. The aggressive spread of the disease made the battle short and extremely painful. David, being the fighter he is, refused to give up. However, in the final weeks, the spread of the disease to his brain was more than his body could handle.

Being the “fourth brother” of the O’Farrell family meant I spent a lot of time hanging out with Bob, Jamie and David. I remember playing half-court with them and then going to the 7-11 so we could each get a tub of Coke to quench our thirst. David was a member of the crew during various incarnations of the band Bob, James and I were in (David did all of the fun work like lugging gear and helping to setup and teardown for live shows and practices). I recall a few outings to the driving range and countless hours of movie watching. I was also at the table for more than a few O’Farrell Christmas dinners and Andrea and I attended David’s wedding to Amanda.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to see David in August. He was in the hospital at the time battling an infection and had a full beard. Bob, Jamie and I had gone to Oshawa for the weekend to visit Dave and clean and paint his house — we also indulged in David’s amazing liquor cabinet and took care of his dogs. Dave and I spoke a few times after that visit, the last time was in September. He emailed me on Dec. 9th to say that he would be in Ottawa later this week. While we didn’t speak often, it seems particularly strange that it’s no longer possible.

This holiday season will have greater meaning for me. Even if I’m not able to connect with everyone I want to, know that I’m thinking about you and I wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and a fantastic new year.

Photo from Dave’s Facebook profile.

It seems surreal that it’s been over two months since her diagnosis. So much has happened since October 6: three surgeries, cardiac and bone scans, x-rays, blood tests, an MRI and an ultrasound and frequent appointments with our surgeon, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist. We’ve also had a meeting with a social worker and Andrea’s met with her GP and a counsellor and spoken to a few people conducting cancer-related studies. Yes, it’s been a full two months.

Three very important things need to be noted.

1) We’re extraordinarily lucky to be close with the right family and friends, local and distant. Everyone’s generosity with their time. gifts and concern has been overwhelming. Whether it’s been emails, phone calls or visits, delivery of meals, gifts and hats, or playdates and sleepovers for our daughters, the last two months would have been very different if we had to do this on our own. Special mention also goes to the amazing team I work with for their support. And, by the way, my parents absolutely rock!

2) Social media is really making the world smaller and more meaningful. Many of our closest friends and supporters result from connections we’ve made online through blogs, podcasts and Twitter. We regularly receive messages of support and gifts from our social media friends, people we consider ourselves extremely lucky and privileged to know.

3) Andrea makes the battle worth fighting. It’s difficult being the support system — you often feel helpless. It takes a lot of energy to put on a brave face, be strong and bring some levity to the process our family is going through. However, Andrea’s courage and personality draws this out and makes it seem not only natural but the only rational approach. We actually have fun. And even though we’re scared mindless 30% of the time, we’re undaunted and laughing together the other 70%. If that weren’t true, I’d have collapsed long ago.

I know the next few months will present their challenges and there will be times we’ll get lost in the details. This a road we have to travel to get to our destination. It’s a bumpy road and we’re not the only family traveling it. Like many a road trip we’ll probably feel like asking “are we there yet” all the time — that’s only because there’s a party we’re anxious to get to; the best party in the world.

So, Running Room, does this sound like a good opportunity?

Also… word has it that when the video reaches 1 million views, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital in which it this video was filmed, as well as offering free mammograms for the community.

The most difficult part has been coming up with a name for our podcast/blog. So, we’ve grabbed a few of our favourites and decided to put it out to a vote and more suggestions.

We’d be grateful if you’d take the time to vote, add a suggestion and even leave a comment.

[NOTE: if you select Other, please make a suggestion in the field provided.]

Thank you to everyone for participating and to Richard for organizing this.

Front Row: Heidi Stemple, Rebecca Guay, Jane Dyer, Jeanne Birdsall, Diane deGroat, Barbara Diamond Goldin, Nonny Hogrogian, Susan Yard Harris.
Second Row: Brooke Dyer, Shelley Rotner, Norton Juster, Jane Yolen, Lesléa Newman, Brian Karas, Barry Moser, Susan Pearson, Anna Alter, Alice Schertle.
Third Row: Wendell Minor, Jeff Mack, Rich Michelson, Kathy Brown, Nancy Sippel Carpenter, Jeannine Atkins, David Kherdian.
Back Row: Carol Weiss, Mo Willems, Scott Fischer, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Mordicai Gerstein, Paul Jacobs.

Out, damned lump! Out, I say!

Andrea’s lumpectomy went very well. We had planned on it being a mastectomy and when we learned that the surgical date would be pushed out two weeks because of the extra time required, we decided on the lumpectomy. We wanted to get the cancer out without delay. And out it is. We’re looking forward to a good pathology report that confirms the surgeon got everything. After Andrea’s recovery from surgery, we’ll prepare for chemo.

… in The Age of Persuasion

I’ve written a few posts about The Age of Persuasion, a brilliant radio program produced by Pirate Toronto for CBC. Terry O’Reilly (host and co-creator) left a comment on one such post last week to notify me that The Age of Persuasion book (by Terry and producer/co-creator Mike Tennant) is being released today (October 27) and offering to be available for an online Q&A with me. I’ll be interviewing Terry and Mike this Thursday morning and will publish the audio shortly after.

Social media and the workplace

CHQR (Calgary) has invited me to talk about social media and the workplace later today. The discussion stems from reports that a growing number of businesses, sports organizations and entertainment companies are preventing the use of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter as communications channels by employees, athletes and movie stars (respectively). In some cases, companies are blocking access to these tools from internal networks using technology such as firewalls. In the case of sports and entertainment organizations, the prevention is being written into contracts.

…pay attention to your customers. Why? Because your children need food and as much hugs as I get in the world, I can’t eat a fucking hug.

The room, myself included, welcomed “I can’t eat a fucking hug” as a new commandment of social media. I’ve discovered that, like any good rule, there’s at least one exception.

Nearly two weeks ago, we announced that Andrea has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Life, reality and schedules change very quickly (and erratically) with this news. The outpouring of support is incredible. We’ve received a steady flow of hugs, real and virtual, and I’ve learned that while hugs may not put food on the table, they give you the will to sit down and eat and keep good care of yourself. I don’t believe that any amount of money can do that.

I’m sure there are lots of sites that feature stories from cancer survivors and their support teams. Today, though, I’d like to add my site to that list. If you have a story to share, please add it to the comments of this post, or add a comment that links to the page where you’ve already shared your story. There’s 31 days in this month; let’s see if we can chart 31 stories right here!

Thanks.

Two months ago, David was diagnosed with stage four terminal lung cancer.  That was more than a bit of a shock.  This past weekend, I went to Oshawa with Bob and Jamie to visit Dave in the hospital and do some work around Dave’s house.  It was the first time in maybe fourteen years that the four of us were in the same room at the same time.  It was bittersweet, as you can imagine.

In addition to Dave, another dear friend was recently diagnosed with cancer.  This is not the kind of summer we ever anticipated.

We are very committed to helping our friends out as much as possible.  That means making adjustments in our plans so we can be available for routine and even emergency help.  As such, I’ve decided to cancel my plans to participate in PodCamp Montreal, PodCamp Philly and the annual Kidlit Conference.  In some ways this was a difficult decision to make.  In even more ways, it was a quick and easy decision to make.

On a related note, Bob has plans to pull together a multi-band cancer fundraising concert for September.  If that happens, he and I will perform together on stage for the first time in about twelve years.  I’ll keep you posted.

As you can expect, hospital bills can get quite expensive and health insurance doesn’t cover everything.  That’s what inspired Jone MacCulloch to rally a group of people together for a fundraising auction for Bridget.

I’m participating in the auction by offering audio production and creative direction services for a single ten-minute audio production.  Depending on the type of work I do with the winner, the value will range between $450 and $1000.  Bidding begins at $100.  To read the details of my auction item or to make a bid on my auction item, follow this link and leave a comment.

For more about about Bridget Zinn, click here.

I will be performing in support of my friend Derek K. Miller, who is kicking colorectal cancer in the butt (I couldn’t help myself). You can follow Derek’s blog, which includes the real-deal on his fight with cancer and its impact on him and his family, at penmachine.com.

I did an audio documentary (Salute to the Relay for Life) two years ago. You can play it, download it and subscribe to it at the Electric Sky Podcast website.