Northern California Publishers & Authors

Phone: 916-687-8736
E-mail:
Web site: www.stemsoflife.com

Topic

• How I survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma with a stem cell transplant using my own stem cells

Bio

Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, I went through the Santa Monica School system, including a year at Santa Monica City College. I was too restless and wanted to get out in the working world. I attended Lawton School for Dental Assistants in Beverly Hills and for the next several years worked in the dental field. I moved to San Francisco and worked in the poor but interesting part of town on Mission Street. Married a Navy man that I met in San Francisco. My mother’s worst nightmare! However, he was a great card player and that made up for my supposed mistake. The marriage did not last, but we did have two terrific children. Sean and Lisa Maddox . . .

I remarried in 1977 to a wonderful man, Reed Hansen; we have spent many happy years together. Five of those years we were a long haul truck driving team. In an interesting and content relationship, we are easygoing middle-class people, and we find life delightful. But at 58 my life drastically changed, starting with an annoying itch! It simply would not go away. Other symptoms became evident, causing some concern. All red flags indicated Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer . . .

It finally ended with a stem cell transplant, using my own stem cells to save my life. I did keep a journal, something I wrote in off and on, and from that I wrote a book.

I published Stems of Life Picked from the Garden of Survival, my story and how I survived. Few people are aware that you can use your own stem cells, depending on the illness and where it is located in the body. I did not want to go through this process, but I did it. If I can do it, so can others and I want to help get the word out to as many people as possible. It will help them and further stem cell research.