Dear Dr. Remen,
You and I have a strong connection. In fact, I've gone "broke" buying your book for my friends, but mostly I want to thank you.
Nine years ago you rescued me when I was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer and I read your message in Bill Moyers' book, Healing and the Mind. I survived, with a resultant ileostomy. At first, I was devastated and going to keep this fact to myself, but then decided I needed to help others in similar dilemmas, other people who have survived colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease or colitis. So, I published two books and became president of the Mpls Ostomy chapter.
Fast forward to 2006, when I was ready to leave the hospital after a simple operation and rushed to the ICU with a perforated bowel, placed in a coma for five days, lived with a monstrous wound that has healed by primary intention. I was in a rehab hospital for two months. Sound familiar?
We share other facts about ourselves. I'm in my 60's, and my grandfather also was a doctor. I'm a former teacher who has come to the conclusion that l have been at the right place at the right time. I had a good life before; I have a better life with a purpose now.
I am finishing my third book about people who have survived medical catastrophes and their rescuers. I begin my book with a metaphor using a scene from the collapse of our I-35w bridge in Mpls this summer.
Do I have your permission to use you as one of my "rescuers?"
I would like to refer to your statements from this morning's program (giving you and Kristin Tippets's program full credit, of course) because I am also talking about the bridging the gap between peril and recovery, and how people can go on to live an even better life than they had before.
I hope this message gets through and also my gradeleteude to you.
Blessings, Carol Ann Larson. 12-30-2007.

Rachel, I heard you this morning on NPR's "Saving Faith" and was facinated. My husband died of lung cancer in 2002 and there was no support offered when he got the diagnosis. He died a few months later before we really had an opportunity to come to grips with the diagnosis. Through that ordeal and that of my parents I saw those in the medical community who could deal with the emotional side of it and those that couldn't - my husband's primary care physician was clearly uncomfortable with the sigutation. I am anxious to read your latest book. Thanks. Marcia

Dear Rachel,
somehow "thank you" doesn't seem enough.......somehow it's too easy to say and allow those words to express deep feelings that come from the heart.......a heart that has been opened through your wonderful book "Kitchen Table Wisdom"....
but somehow these words are enough for me to say today while wishing that you are well and happy.....thank you for being here.

Rachel,
Greetings from Oklahoma. I don't know if you remember me but I attended the Commonweal Cancer Help Retreat in '95. When I returned I built a retreat center and held cancer retreats based on what you taught me. I have seen you several times in person in Ok and TX. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that the cancer I had 16 yrs ago has returned. I had surgery last week and am recovering quite well. It is a time of reflection and introspection for me and all that you have taught me comes flooding back. It has rekindled my passion for the cancer work and will continue to propel me into the next phase of God's work for me. I continue to follow your teachings and am so impressed with your own evolution and growth. Thank you so much for all that you have given me and so many others as we all continue our healing journey. I am part of the OK Methodist Church Wholeness Committee and am hoping we can sponsor you to come to OK City again sometime in the near future. May this holiday season find you peaceful, whole and in awe of the power of a God who loves us unconditionally.
Karen Stalford Slater (PS. You used my story in My Grandfather's Blessing" about my faince saying to me......"oh, its only cancer....I thought you didn't loveme anymore......this is my 15 minutes of fame!

"My Grandfather's Blessings" is filled with such insight, hope and promise that it will be a gift I will give many times. However, It is your chapter "The Gift" that puzzles me. How could your grandfather, a Hebrew scholar, have taken you to purchase gifts on Christmas Eve? I find it a contradiction and wonder if others have asked you if there is a particular reason that a man such as he would have taken his beloved grandchild to participate in a holiday that is not celebrated by devout Jews.

Dear Rachel,
Thank you.. your light shines brightly and I am so blessed to have just "happened" to pick up your book when I most needed to read it.
Blessings.
Wendy
www.2hearts4lacy.org

Hi, Dr. Remen! I just want to thank you for the beautiful article "In the Service of Life". Your inspiring ideas is creating changes in our volunteer organization. I came across your article through a forwarded email, i shared it with my colleagues as part of an ongoing reflection on service. My initial reflection was on the idea of "avodah" and then i thought your article would be a good reading alongside an essay i wrote about "avodah". Soon, colleagues were asking about the author of "in the service of life" and i searched the net and found your site. It is a pleasant surprise knowing that your ideas reflect of Jewish ideas which I have great respect and admiration. Again. thank you and I hope I will have an opportunity to meet you in person.

Dr. Remen,

I saw you on GMA yesterday and listen with interest the comments you and your colleagues talked during the interview. The realization of what you said regarding your health condition, (Crohn's disease) didn't "reach home" until later yesterday afternoon, when I went to see my Dr. and get the results of a series of medical procedeures (Colonoscopy, Endoscopy, Given's Pill, Blood samples and Bone Marrow aspiration) I had in the last 30 days and I was told that what I have is Crohn's disease. I would appreciate your comments, thoughts, suggestions and words of wisdom as to how to deal with this condition. I am 65 years of age. Thank you. Henry

I too have a daughter with Crohn's Disease. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. She has been on several medications and had resection surgery all with little success. Your thoughts for dealing with this disease would be a tremendous help. Thank you.
Lorraine

Dr. Remen, I saw you on abc's good morning america this morning and it was enlightening to see a real,live crohns patient. I am 61 yrs old and was diagnosed with crohns 6yrs ago. I have had Remicade infushions,fistula repairs and I now have a "COOK PLUG" placed in my fistula last dec. I am currently in a study at Wash, Univ- saint louis,mo with this "plug" THe plug is made of pig intestine and did seal my fistula about 80% . I believe I was Dr. Birnbauns "first" Crohns/cook plug patient.

Dear Dr. Remen,
My 16 yr. old daughter has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease she has been symptomatic since she was 4 wks. old had her first sigmoidoscopy at 2 1/2 months old and her first colonoscopy at 2 yrs. old. Do you have any recommendations as far as diet, supplements or spiritual enlightenment that you feel has benefited you in your challenges of dealing with this illness. If there is any advice you could give it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time and your wisdom.
Margie

Dear Dr.Remen,

I have a friend who's daughter has been diagnosed with Crohn's disease just a couple of months ago. She has been in the hospital more than she's been out. Nothing, I mean medications are working. The only surgery they can do is to remove the entire intestinets, their are no part that isn't diseased. Is their anything you could recommend for her to do? Thank you so much.

A concerned Friend,
Becky

Dear Rachel.

My name is Jinwoo Park who came from South of Korea.
I read all of your books, it was save my life.
I lost my only son July this year by accident.
He was 17 years old and he was preparing for going abroad to America to come true his dream.
He is supposed to be here however, I’m here in America instead of him.

To lost son as a mother means the hopelessness and death.
It was harder to live than to die.
I always had thought the death to follow my son before I read your book.
It served as a momentum to think about the death and life again.
I had strong impression from your book even though I’m also a writer in Korea.

Right now, I’m here for studying instead of my son in Salt Lake, Utah.
During this time, I hope to meet or contact with you.
That would feel honored to me before I go back to Korea.

Thanks for your attention.

naru7590@hotmail.com

Rachel, a very good Doctor gave me your book My Grandfather's Blessings and in every page of this book has a lesson in life I will cherrish and share this with my daughters. Your words are beyond powerful that it affected my everyday living.
I work in infusion center and I want to share with you one of my amazing patients I took care. He was diagnosed with T cell prolymphocytic leukemia. During his first day of infusion a female doctor discussed with him his treatment , prognosis and pallative care for about an hour. Then our Onc. nurse specialist who is also a female talked to him more about his treatment. Then came my time to start his chemo. I introduced myself and before I started I explained to him how we process chemo. orders and how to deal with side effects of his treatment. He looked at me and thanked me for caring for him with a teary eyes and started crying telling me that he now realized something. He told me that all his life he was a chauvinist until he set foot in our infusion center then everything changed. He said that he thought male doctors are better than female and women are just secondary being and now realized that he was wrong. All this time he was crying. He told me about his past history coming from a dysfunctional family and how he grew up. Listening to him gave me my utmost respect for him. His being a "chauvinist" didnt bother me at all instead my heart went out for him. He told me that the money they are spending to cure him should be spend for the kids for they deserve more. I told him we all deserve to live.

Enjoyed reading Kitchen Table Wisdom and have almost finished reading My Grandfather's Blessings. One question: what is/are "grand rounds"? How do "grand rounds" differ from an MD making "rounds"? Thank you.

Thank you for your books, Dr. Remen. I find so much comfort in reading them!

Your writing has been a continuous inspiration and source of strength for me. I survived a very painful neuromuscular condition, the treatment and the medication and the isolation I experienced all made me want to give up hope and not live any longer. I kept your book near my bed and read the short stories. They helped sustain me and keep hope during a time when I had no hope. Thank you so much, you have such a big heart. You are an amazing woman.

Dear Rachel
My father in law has A.L.S disease. He is an out standing person, wrote many books him self with blinking his eye since he is paralyzed and can not move at all. It was in his house where I first read your special book:" Kitchen Table Wisdom". (In Hebrew -wonderful translation). I was shocked. Like thunder hit me. I loved the book and since then it is close to my hart. When my oldest daughter left home, I bought her one of her own. At my mothers 70th birthday we gave her your book "MY GRANDFATHER'S BLESSINGS."
As a woman, a daughter, wife, mother and sister, a Jew born to American parents, living in kiriat Shmona, Israel, I feel close to your thoughts and words.
I quote much from your meaningful books to students I work with, to teachers, and friends. Most of the time it is very meaningful for us all.
My English is bad, and this is taking me forever, but it is terribly important for me to thank you for the difference your books brought in to my life.
Hope you will find time to come to Israel. It will be a pleasure to come and hear you.
May I write to you in Hebrew?
Ruth Melamed Cohen
Kiriat Shmona
Israel
ruthieme@gmail.com

Dear Dr. Remen,

It was a treat to take your workshop On Mystery in Mill Valley
few years ago. You are an American icon!
I use your stories in my teaching regularly, so inspiring!
Please write more.
Blessings to you.

Thank you for eloquently synthesizing so many aspects of healing in terms both medical professionals and people coping with illness can grasp. If I hadn't borrowed a copy of your Kitchen Table Wisdom book from a neighbor, I would have dog-eared every page. I must buy a copy of my own.

I have read My Grandfather's Blessings twice and I have just come from Nashville to Michigan to hear your lecture. Your work is amazing and truly inspiring and I thank you for sharing your stories. I look forward to hearing you tonight :)

I'm doing research for strategy recommendations for our medical center. Your writings are inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

I finished My Grandfather's Blessing in a day and found it very inspiring. Thanks very much. Frieda

I picked your book My Grandfathers' blessings for my book club's selection this month. We are a small group of women in recovery and it was a very emotional meeting this afternoon, as we shared our stories and our understanding of "blessings". Thank you so much for this wonderful book, I keep it next to my bed and read a few stories each night. This book is truly a blessing. Journey

Dr. Remen,
Hi. I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from Kitchen Table Wisdom both personally and professionally and tend to recommend it at least sporadically; I attended the Kalsman Healing-Healthcare conference in 2000 at USC/HUC where you were one of the keynote speakers and got a chance to meet you in a small group session; and I wanted to say hello and to thank you for your significant contributions to the fields of medicine, spirtuality, and policy as well as the many people you have helped directly and indirectly.
Thanks.
Marc F.