Dying to Tell You

Jackie & Shannon: How Alzheimer's Is More Than Memory Loss

Our final guests of Season 2 are Jackie & Shannon, a mother and daughter navigating the changes and challenges of Alzheimer's. Jackie has moved out of her home in California and now splits her time between the homes of her daughters in Colorado. 
There is so much more to the story of Alzheimer's and dementia than just memory loss. The transformations of this disease impact almost every aspect of daily life. Jackie and Shannon share their challenges, their joys, their hopes and their fears in this wonderfully open and honest conversation with Cody. 
>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<
Music featured in this week's episode:
Michael Shynes, “California in the Spring”
Low Light, “Lay Me Down”
Russo and Weinberg, “Were All Having Fun”
Giants and Pilgrims, “Empty”

How a Cancer Diagnosis Becomes a Label: A Reflection

"I'm no different than you."
Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before.
Today, Cody reflects on his conversation with Javeeda and how a diagnosis can make you feel different. But people with diagnoses are still people, just like everyone else. We're all simply doing the best we can with what we have in front of us.
Cody offers advice for how we can all treat "patients" as people, and how we're all in the same boat.
Music for this episode is from Trevor Ransom, "The Lamp Kept Us Warm But Now We Walk."

Javeeda: A One-In-A-Million Cancer Diagnosis

Javeeda lives in Toronto and has Adrenocortical carcinoma—a rare and aggressive cancer that starts in the kidney area. Her diagnosis has gone from 3-5 years to 1 year to "months not years."
Today she is facing the reality of raising her daughter, planning ahead as much as she can while not knowing how long she has left. At the same time, she's balancing her cancer treatment—which can possibly extend her life—with the impacts it can have on her quality of life. 
Javeeda’s story is also one of the shared human experience. As she says, “I’m no different than you.” We all have our challenges in life, and a cancer diagnosis does not suddenly turn you into something Other. “I just maybe know what I’m going to die from. Maybe.”
>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<
Music featured in this week's episode:
Kyle Cox, "This World"
Claire Kelly, "Detour"
The Days, "Tell Me" 

Faith in the Face of Challenge: A Reflection

Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before.
In this reflection, Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Deanna, how we all turn to faith in our own ways in times of challenge and fear. And how we can all try to find the peace inside to know we're ok.
We also share a remembrance from Beth Stevens of her grandfather, which will change how you see penny farthing bicycles from here on out. 
Music for this episode is from Trevor Ransom, "The Lamp Kept Us Warm But Now We Walk" and "Finding Rest" by Greg McKay. 

Deanna: Answered Prayers & Time to Say Goodbye

On the side of an ice-covered Wyoming highway, staring down an out-of-control semi, Deanna prayed and got a truly unexpected answer—she made it off that road alive but less than a year later was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. What she sees now is that she was given time to say goodbye.
>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<
Music featured in this week's episode:
Tom West, “Antarctica”
Straight White Teeth, “Tell It In a Letter”
Maya Isacowitz, “All of the Miles”
Duce Williams, “Pray”
Feu Marinho, “Sopro do Mar”

Cancer, A Beautiful Gift in Ugly Wrapping: A Reflection

Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before.
In this reflection, Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Lee, who sees her tumor not as an enemy to fight, but as part of who she is. Tune in for his thoughts on acceptance, beautiful gifts in ugly wrapping, and the wisdom of Mike Tyson. And let us know what your thoughts are, either on social media or as a comment on the episode itself.
Music for this episode is from Trevor Ransom, "The Lamp Kept Us Warm But Now We Walk."

Lee: Co-Existing with Cancer

Nearly fourteen years ago, Lee discovered she had an inoperable tumor at the top of her spinal cord, an astrocytoma that left her partially paralyzed. After initial medical options ultimately proved either too risky (radiation) or not an option at all (chemotherapy), Lee began down a more holistic path and hasn't undergone any additional conventional treatment for her cancer. 
Instead, Lee has used traditional ceremonies like Ayahuasca and Dietas to diagnosis and process what's happening in her body. She has learned to co-exist with her cancer and sees it as an integral part of herself, not an enemy to fight. 
>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<
Music featured in this week's episode:
Low Light, "Undertow"
Maya Isacowitz, "Can't Wait"
Nono, "Un Coin Tranquille"

The Loss and Awareness of ALS: A Reflection

Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before.
In this reflection, Cody reflects on last week's conversation with Rachel. ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's) is a disease of progressive, irretrievable loss. And unlike other diseases like dementia, you're only too aware of what you're losing. 
But as Rachel has shown us and Cody reflects on—that loss doesn't have to mean you stop living while you're still alive.
Included in this bonus episode is also a remembrance shared with us by a listener on social media about her beloved abuelo—a man who fixed many things. 
Music for this episode is from Trevor Ransom, "The Lamp Kept Us Warm But Now We Walk" and "Finding Rest" by Greg McKay. 

Rachel: Changing Your Perspective as ALS Changes You

Rachel has ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Recently, she sat down to talk with Cody about her personal journey, what she's learned about valuing what we have now in life, and a ton of helpful information on ALS.
Also on the podcast...Peach the bulldog! 
>>Theme Music by Michael Shynes, "The Other Side"<<
Music featured in this week's episode:
Beò, Sémø "This Life of Time"
Ziv Moran "I Wish"
Southern Call "Black Motorcycle"
Paper Planes "Girl Like You"
 

The Inspiring Call To Care For Others: A Reflection

Between each episode, Cody offers a brief reflection on the themes he discussed with his guest the week before.
In this reflection, Cody reflects on his conversation with Dr. Bob and the idea of faith and caring. In the most human sense, faith and caring are about compassion, empathy, and a commitment to the wellbeing of others. Quoting Ram Dass, Cody talks about what “walking each other home” really means.
Music for this episode is from Trevor Ransom, "The Lamp Kept Us Warm But Now We Walk"