Share Your Story: Ben Cooper

Share Your Story: Ben Cooper Cancer U 39:21

Ben Cooper is a Christian, husband, father of five, author, speaker, and beekeeper. Ben used his second cancer diagnosis as a therapy to launch his writing journey of Christian devotionals and children’s books. His love of farming and nature is the backdrop of his writing.

01:13: Take us back to the beginning of that first cancer diagnosis and tell us where your journey began.
03:52: I was already scheduled to have a specialist in Baltimore look at me.
06:29: Was it considered throat cancer?
08:20: My step-grandfather had had neck cancer.
10:07: I don’t want my kids to be shocked to see a different dad come home from the hospital.
12:07: My percentage with the surgery was a 35% survival rate.
15:07: Did you make it to five years?
18:49: Why couldn’t they get you in sooner?
20:28: Writing was my second therapy.
22:42: If I’m involved, I’m 120% involved.
23:42: What was your worst moment?
26:15: I was not wrong in challenging the hospital and saying, why didn’t you tell me this?
28:09: My wife was in tears.
30:05: Almost 20 years later, I have a sinus infection every day of my life.
32:27: People I didn’t even know sent me letters of encouragement.
33:18: What is one thing you wish you had known at the very beginning?
34:19: If you could only do one thing to improve health care in the U. S., what would it be and why?
35:05: Thriver Rapid Fire Questions.
36:19: Aside from Cancer U, what is one resource you would recommend for cancer patients and caregivers?

Resources

Andrea Wilson Woods Podcaster

Andrea Wilson Woods is a writer who loves to tell stories, and a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. Andrea is the CEO and co-founder of Cancer University, a for-profit, social-benefit, digital health company. With Cancer U, Andrea synergizes her talents of coaching, writing, teaching, and advocacy. For over ten years, Andrea worked in the education field as a teacher and professor for public and private schools as well as universities. Andrea obtained her master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California; her nonfiction writing has won national awards. Her new book, a medical memoir titled Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon in multiple categories.