Authors
Holly Sabo, MHA, is an administrative director of Hospital Medicine, Pulmonary, Infectious Disease, and Palliative Care at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Lahey Hospital & Medical Center.
Valarie Traynham is a cancer thriver and serves as a patient advocate following her diagnoses of multiple myeloma and breast cancer.
Carly Stafford Dixon is a survivor of primary mediastinal b-cell lymphoma (a rare type of blood cancer).
Zachary Mirecki is a volunteer and a member of the Patient Advisory Committee at the Leukemia Research Foundation.
Natalie Brown, a courageous lung cancer survivior, and patient advocate.
Kelly Marre is a licensed clinical social worker and leukemia survivor who draws on her personal experience with cancer and loss to support others through their cancer journeys. After a career in law enforcement, she earned her Master of Social Work and now works with oncology patients. Kelly lives in Alaska and is passionate about helping others find purpose and resilience in the face of adversity.
Ajay Shanker Mishra is a 19-year-old medical student who was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer.
Amanda Davis is a pediatric emergency nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center, as well as a survivor of breast cancer.
Dave Davison is a prostate cancer survivor who found strength and resilience through humor during his radiation and hormone therapy journey.
Staci Kirk is a six-time cancer survivor and founder of the Stiletto Boss Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women of color beyond cancer treatment.
John Smelcer is the author of 60 books, including a dozen books of poetry. His most recent collection is "Raven." For a quarter century, he was Poetry Editor at "Rosebud Magazine," where he currently serves as senior editor emeritus. From 2016-2020, he was the Inaugural Writer-in-Residence for the Charter for Compassion, the world’s largest compassion movement with over five million members in 45 countries.
After being diagnosed with cancer, Clara spent five days in the hospital and received two blood transfusions. In just six months, she has undergone brain radiation, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy (Keytruda), Avastin, biopsies, and several hospital stays, with more treatment ahead. Now post-chemotherapy, Clara continues immunotherapy and shares her journey on TikTok and Instagram @C_Cirks, where she fosters honest dialogue about life with cancer.
Robyn Quesada copes with cancer by detailing her mother's experience with breast cancer.
Morgan Newman, MSW, is a resilient Young Adult cancer survivor, social worker and dedicated patient advocate who has transformed her experience into a powerful force for change.
Maureen McBeth, CLT-LANA, is a senior medical affairs liaison at ImpediMed.
Michelle Lawrence was diagnosed with large granular lymphocytic leukemia at 31 and has lived with it for 16 years. Now in palliative care, she focuses on savoring life, choosing joy over anger and spending her energy on what matters most.
An outpatient social work supervisor at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida
Janet Dart is retired and living in Bend, Oregon. After retiring, Janet turned to writing her soon-to-be-published memoir, Tender Loving Care: Escaping One of the Most Violent Cults in the World. She is currently writing a memoir about confronting racism while raising her mixed-race son. Janet was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2015, which was cured with a thyroidectomy. In January 2025, she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. The cancer was removed with a full hysterectomy. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to ensure all the sarcoma cells are obliterated. Feel free to reach out to her at [email protected], or visit her website: janetbestdart.com.
