Health Story Collaborative Health Story Collaborative

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.