Ellen Reed

Many people dislike change. As a result, they plan their lives intending to maintain the status quo. They may even look for ways to keep things the same when change...

I am oh so happy to report...I overcame the hardship of GI symptoms and lethargy by stepping away from a plan that included two additional chemotherapy sessions. After a serious...

I usually have so much to say to bring a sense of hope to others, but I suddenly feel angry and distraught about even the little things. There are no...

As the fall of leaves stirs the air and winter settles in, so many of us look forward to this magical time of year. It is a time of new...

As we begin December, it is almost impossible to ignore the coming of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Personally, I find the holidays full of meaning in my here...

Known for his writings that included Elizabethan and Jacobean drama, John Donne wrote his famous Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions during the latter part of his life. Facing his own serious...

As we proceed through the passages of life, there are certainly opportunities for change along the way. However, many of us do all we can to keep things constant, especially...

In May 2022, I responded to news of the further advance of my ovarian cancer. My trusty PET scan indicated enlarged lymph nodes, the spread to my right lung, and...

On a recent Sunday Morning CBS television interview, my tears flowed before my awareness and emotions could connect. I have learned to let my body teach me. This time my...

I often remind my readers that I re-engaged in a chemo regime that will end at some unknown time. While the goal is 4-6 months of treatment, my organs seem...

Spending a lifetime in healthcare, my experience with suffering may be skewed. To be present and of value to others, we build up some resistance to pain and suffering. I...

Many of us are managing through an illness that may someday take our lives. However, I believe we all have a timestamp indicating a beginning and an end. Unfortunately, mine...

For over fifty years, I trusted science. I worked diligently to become an advanced practice nurse and maintained certification through ongoing education and participation in supervised healthcare experiences that continue...

My confession to our readers. For days I have been struggling with myself. Repeatedly I asked myself, "What should I write today?" Topics have lingered in my mind and then...

I am in my fifth decade in Nursing Practice, with thirty-nine years of being both licensed and board certified as an Advanced Practice Nurse. I didn't get here effortlessly, as...

While in a state of confusion and turmoil after restarting chemotherapy, it still gives me great peace to remind myself to stay in the present. This statement is my daily...

A special thanks to a community member NNR who suggested we write about this topic. Years ago, when in Gestalt Therapy training, our class attended supervised weekend retreats in a...

At birth, humans start a life-long journey of learning. Imagine observing an infant and their amazement as they watch their tiny hand move- turning left and right in the air...

This month I started yet another round of chemotherapy. I immediately felt sad and hopeless that the cancer had advanced again. It is easy to fall inside myself, to be...

Chemotherapy is a longstanding treatment for people diagnosed with cancer, especially ovarian cancer. It includes a class of drugs known as "cytotoxins," which literally "kill" off cells. The aim is...