by Joe Birch | Feb 17, 2025 | Finding and Nurturing Your Spirit
Prior to cancer, I have been a 40-year devotee of Yoga. I did my yoga practice at least 3 times a week in class and at home. When I started my 4-year and 4-month series of treatments for Stage 1 Pancreatic cancer in 2020, (surgery, chemotherapy, ablations,...
by Joe Birch | Feb 13, 2025 | The Battle with Cancer
After 2 weeks of brutal side effects from an increased dose of my Xeloda (5FU) home chemotherapy pills, this is the first day that I feel like my normal, peppy, joyful Self. This rebound from chemotherapy side effects is the result of the loving care I have received...
by Joe Birch | Feb 5, 2025 | Blessings from Nature
Wanted To Share This Joyful Photo TodayThis photo was shot on 9-2-2024 in my garden in Santa Fe.It depicts sheer Love and happiness.Love to people around the...
by Joe Birch | Feb 5, 2025 | The Battle with Cancer
For those who do not know me, I am Judith Anne Desjardins, LCSW, BCD, former Oncology Social Worker, Holistic Psychotherapist treating body, mind, emotions and spirit, and Pancreatic Warrior Maiden living with Pancreatic Cancer since October 23, 2020. I have run the...
by Joe Birch | Jan 29, 2025 | Miscellaneous
It doesn’t matter how strong or healthy you were in body, mind, emotions and spirit. When Overload accumulates, you will be humbled on the most basic level – usually in the body. The body is equipped with a primal level of survival that goes back to...
by Joe Birch | Jan 9, 2025 | Blessings from Nature
Despite the devastating wildfires that have decimated Pacific Palisades and other numerous locations around Los Angeles, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise, the return of our birds, the signs in nature that say, “God is with us,” and a little Token of Love...
by Joe Birch | Dec 27, 2024 | Blessings from Nature
Holidays are meant to be joyful, but for many people, they are not.While many families have the potential to gather together, many times, for many reasons they do not.As we yearn for love, hugs, being with family, there is the potentialwe will be let down, hurt by...
by Joe Birch | Dec 27, 2024 | Developing Healthy Relationships
On this Holy Day I want to share our special Holy Family.They have been with me since I moved into my house in 2003. I bought the beige sculptures and lovingly painted each one and made special clothing for them. My beloved Australian Shepherd was at my side and we...
by Joe Birch | Dec 18, 2024 | Finding and Nurturing Your Spirit
Two years ago, I made a comment in a LinkedIn post: “I’ve never been the kind of person to give myself a Birthday party and I always admired people who did.” I was way too shy to ever do it for myself. I was amazed when 200 people viewed that post and gave me support....
by Joe Birch | Dec 11, 2024 | Finding and Nurturing Your Spirit
Dealing with the holidays when you are a cancer patient in active treatment can be daunting. The same is true for others in active treatment or hospitalization during the holidays. I am pleased to share this video narrated by a Medical Social Worker at City of Hope....
by Joe Birch | Dec 10, 2024 | Understanding and Treating Anxiety
Most of my current Followers on LinkedIn, YouTube, and my HolisticCancerRecoveryHub.com website know me as Judith Anne Desjardins Pancreatic Warrior Maiden. Others know me as being an author and publisher of 2 multi-award-winning books: Creating A Healthy Life and...
by Joe Birch | Nov 25, 2024 | The Battle with Cancer
Death to the cancer protagonist A sensor in the cancer cell illuminates upon impact, providing real-time data to help improve treatmentsThe cancer cell contains a sensor that lights up when it is attacked by the T-cell. This remarkable video clip (credit goes to...
by Joe Birch | Nov 15, 2024 | The Battle with Cancer
I will be sharing some writing from my journal this morning that explains the differences between my first chemotherapy Gemsar, which I took from Jan – June 2021, and this new type of chemotherapy pills.For me, this experience is life-changing and so perfect for...
by Joe Birch | Nov 15, 2024 | Blessings from Nature
Dealing with New Treatment Decisions can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to consider:What is the status of my current cancer?What are the characteristics of this chemotherapy in terms of how it interacts with my cancer?How toxic is this chemotherapy?What...
by Joe Birch | Oct 30, 2024 | The Battle with Cancer
In the long trajectory of “Living with Cancer” there are so many twists and turns, ups and downs, surprises and disappointments, laughter and tears, stress and joy, unexpected good news, discouraging test results – it’s like being swept up with the ever changing...
