Terri Tomoff is an author, soccer ref, car enthusiast, quilter, wife, and mom. In this episode Terri shares enlightening and informative commentary based on her book, The Focused Fight – A Childhood Cancer Journey: From Mayhem to Miracles (link is in the Show Notes). Terri and her husband Bill, along with daughter Olivia, have been on an incredible journey with Ryan, the youngest in the family (now in his late twenties), spanning a lifetime, from Ryan’s initial cancer diagnosis at the age of two, to today. The years in between have produced an extraordinary story of grit, resilience, hope, and determination, and brimming with wisdom that each of us can apply to our own situations and challenges. The second quotation in Terri’s book captures the essence of Terri’s story, Ryan’s story, the Team Tomoff story. “Sometimes real superheroes live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.” Listen. Then read, because you will want to know more.
SHOW NOTES
4:35 – 35th wedding anniversary
5:25 – key qualities to a strong and meaningful relationship
6:00 – team approach
6:45 – facing unexpected fears, head on, one day at a time
7:25 – discovering inner strength
7:55 – Olivia, the amazing daughter and sister
9:05 – Special Love, Inc., Tom and Sheila Baker
9:35 – BRASS Camp
11:10 – Ryan, first cancer diagnosis at two years old
11:35 – ordinary family with an extraordinary circumstance
11:50 – leukemia meets it match with Ryan’s grit
15:00 – choosing hope is choosing life
15:15 – Make-a-Wish trips
16:15 – leading through advocacy
17:05 – management is key
17:45 – gratitude for such remarkable support – it kept us going, it keeps us going
19:25 – Camp Fantastic (Special Love, Inc.)
20:15 – no one wants to join the club of parents of children with cancer
21:00 – adult skills learned as a child through trial and error
23:30 – rhythm of life, impact on traditions, a roller coaster of life
24:35 – bringing home a puppy in the midst of the challenges
25:45 – ready to go to the hospital on a moment’s notice
27:10 – selecting quotations that capture the essence of one’s thoughts and intended message
29:05 – meeting Ryan’s bone marrow donor, Scott Harris
31:05 – consider joining the bone marrow registry
32:00 – graft versus host disease can be deadly
32:40 – Sharon and Lee Johnson, the ultimate role models and friends
35:15 – manufacturing sunshine
36:00 – Ryan’s loud pants
37:05 – writing a second book (Joyride Journeys)
38:30 – naming our cars and upcoming cross-country driving trip
39:20 – post-traumatic growth and gains
40:05 – how do we channel our loss?
41:40 – advocate for yourself
Music for Lead. Learn. Change. is Sweet Adrenaline by Delicate Beats
Podcast cover art is a view from Brunnkogel (mountaintop) over the mountains of the Salzkammergut in Austria, courtesy of photographer Simon Berger, published on www.unsplash.com.