The Opposite of Certainty: When Your 10 yr Old Son is Diagnosed With a Brain Tumor | Episode 23

August 5, 2020
Live Boldly Podcast cover

The Opposite of Certainty: when your 10 yr old son is diagnosed with a brain tumor

How have you been cared for?

Janine Urbaniak Reid was born in Chicago and grew up in California. She graduated from the University of California at San Diego. She was vice president of a San Francisco public relations firm before she began raising a family, and then writing full time.
She has been published in the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and widely syndicated.

Hoping to bring humanity into the healthcare discussion by sharing her experience as a mother of son with a brain tumor, she penned a piece for the Post which went viral. She has been interviewed on national news networks, and continues her work as a spokeswoman for healthcare justice.

Janine writes about her imperfect life, what connects us, and addresses the question of what it means to love fiercely in a sometimes dangerous and always uncertain world. She lives in Northern California with her family and a motley assortment of pets.

Janine and I have a robust conversation about our superhuman spiritual skill of making everything turn out okay. Most of us would rather be anything except powerless. Plus, we speak about the level of trust we have to have in ourselves and other people, and how life’s past challenges teach us to live in gratitude during future challenges. Find the gratitude, be in the now, and stop worrying about the ‘why.’ Stay tuned as we talk about the importance of taking care of yourself, the illusion of certainty, and navigating our fear of death.

In This Episode:

  • About Janine Urbaniak Reid  [ 2:45 ]
  • Finding our power in motherhood [ 9:20 ]
  • Take it one day at a time [ 16:40 ]
  • Holding the family together during a health crisis [ 19:30 ]
  • Finding access + support from others [ 23:50 ]
  • Stop saying “everything happens for a reason” [ 27:55 ]
  • About Janine’s cancer diagnosis [ 34:00 ]
  • How taking care of yourself is selfless [ 40:00 ]
  • What it’s like to feel alone while surrounded with family [ 45:45 ]
  • How to respond when uncomfortable [ 48:50 ]
  • Navigating the fear of death [ 53:20 ]

Quotes:

  • “We are unique bright shining lights of humanness on this planet.”
  • “Choose wisely who your support system is, and don’t be afraid to put yourself first.”
  • “You don’t owe anybody else anything.”
  • “I’m a stronger and softer person because of this.”
  • “Give up control in this life because life will have you anyway.”
  • “Let go of the idea that it’s selfish to take care of yourself.”
  • “Don’t be afraid to live.”

Links Mentioned: