OC TALK RADIO

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Colleen LaSalle shares her journey with her husband, John, diagnosed with stage lV pancreatic cancer.  John was put in a clinical trial and told with chemo he would have 3 years and without chemo one year, sadly John was gone in four months.  Colleen was John’s Caregiver, it was difficult, she went from being his wife to being more like a parent.  She shares how she had to keep things as normal as possible for her two daughters. Colleen received no training or advice on how to be a Caregiver; it was a  learn as you go experience. Colleen has gone from being a wife, mother, caregiver, volunteer, advocate.  She wants to be there for others, to offer them the support and knowledge this journey has brought her, something that unfortunately she learned along the way.  Colleen and her girls are involved in bringing awareness and advocacy because they don’t want John to be forgotten “he was here, he was important, he will always be important.” This episode of Living Hope is dedicated to John LaSalle.  January is Clinical Trials Awareness Month and finding out John was in a clinical trial with an oral chemo that sadly did not help him but helped many pancreatic cancer survivors including myself was a little emotional for me but really brought the importance of clinical trials to a different meaning.

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Looking back this has been an amazing year for Living Hope and for myself.  Coming out of my comfort zone going from Podcast Producer to Podcast Producer and Podcast Host!  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d be here doing this.  This year we have shared my personal journey as well as the journeys of so many.  2021 has been anything but normal but hopefully the journeys shared have given us all hope and have inspired us in some way.  Though many of the journeys did not end the way we wanted, we shared in the tears, laughter, the understanding we weren’t alone.  In 2022, we look forward to hearing from you.  Sharing your journey, ideas of what you’d like to hear more about.  Some may be controversial, but we hope you take something positive away from what you may hear.  In closing this episode of Living Hope is dedicated to all those that shared their journey, that watched or listened to Living Hope, the many non-profits that supported us helping us get off the ground.  A special thank you to Dawn Kamber, Public Affairs Director/Podcast Host of Impact OC, who started this many years ago and Paul Roberts, CEO and Station Manager who came up with the idea.  If you’d like to share your journey or have ideas for future episodes please email me at  livinghopepc@outlook.com or paul.roberts@octalkradio.net

 Thank you for being part of our 2021 journey and to future journeys!

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The holidays for most are usually a time of joy, family gatherings and making lasting memories. This “wonderful time of the year,” can also be very stressful for pancreatic cancer patients and their Caregivers. We had the opportunity to talk with Courtney Sparkuhl, about dealing with stress during the holidays. Courtney, is a licensed clinical social worker at UC Irvine Health working in the Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center (CDDC). Courtney provides supportive counseling and resource connection to patients with IBD, colorectal disease, and liver and pancreas diseases and cancer. Courtney is also a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network PatientChampion. A Patient Champion is a healthcare professional who shares PanCAN’s resources with pancreatic cancer patients. 

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Nikki was an oncology nurse practitioner for 15 years in the Chicago area.  Nikki relocated to Nevada and began volunteering with the Nevada Affiliate. Nikki’s journey with pancreatic cancer started when her brother-in-law was diagnosed in February 2014 and died in November that year. She made a promise to him that she would continue the fight and work on bettering the outcome for patients and for families.  She continued his fight by first volunteering with the Nevada Affiliate and later retiring from nursing to go on to her now position with PanCAN as a Case Manager with their Patient Services.  Nikki connects with newly diagnosed patients and their families, provides them with information and resources allowing them to make informed decisions.  Nikki provides great information on what Patient Services is and does and she leaves us with an important message. “Everyone needs to be their own advocate.  You have to push if you know something is different with your body, make sure you see your health care provider.  We’re your purple family that can help support you so please utilize us.”

This episode of Living Hope is dedicated to Patient Services and all the Case Managers. They play an important role in the patient and caregivers journey.

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US Army Ranger Veteran and pancreatic cancer survivor Chris Calaprice traveled 43,000 miles – on a Victory motorcycle to bring awareness.  He formed “Road to a Cure,” and travel one mile for every person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that year.  Chris shares he “got a little crazy,” in 2010, was anger and frustrated and wanted, needed to do something. Chris was on the road for 9 months, bringing awareness to the streets and small towns all the while doing chemo.  Chris and his partner are looking to start a PTSD equine therapy program and refocusing “Road to a Cure,” to help veterans and cancer patients with the challenges of survival, survivors guilt, physical trauma and other concerns.  Chris is very open and honest in sharing his feelings and personal journey with pancreatic cancer.  This episode of Living Hope is dedicated to all the men and women serving or who have served our country and those who are battling pancreatic cancer.