Radio Lady: Want to be part of a re-imagining of radio this year? Please read and reply! Thanks!

[Radio_Lady]

Dear Members of DU. You can be part of the show, and help us launch new programming on HD Radio, FM, or other new channels. Radio Lady Ellen Kimball will relay YOUR questions or comments... please read on.


Bestselling Author Richard M. Cohen offers hope and comfort to people with chronic illness by focusing on five individual histories in his new book. Cohen is the award-winning author of "Blindsided" (2003), a memoir of his own afflictions -- multiple sclerosis and colon cancer.

Are you -- or anyone in your family -- caught in the grip of an illness -- possibly chronic or even terminal -- and you feel you have little or no hope? Worse, you frequently feel that you are all alone?

On Friday, February 8, at 8AM Pacific Time/11AM Eastern Time, I will be recording an audio interview with Richard M. Cohen, author of "Strong at the Broken Places: voices of illness, a chorus of hope." You may also know him as the husband of NBC's Meredith Vieria and the father of three children.

The book is just out from Harper and already it's #14 on the New York Times list of top hardcover, non-fiction books. In this remarkable book, Cohen chronicles the lives of five different "citizens of sickness" -- each one struggles with a different illness, while determined to live his or her life in the on his/her own terms.

You can read more about the book at: www.StrongAtTheBrokenPlaces.com

What would you ask or tell Richard Cohen if you were sitting with him during the recording session?

If you have comments or questions, I'd love to have your input here BEFORE we start to record at 8AM Pacific Time/11AM Eastern Time (please adjust for YOUR time zone) on Friday, 2/08. You can post your comments, questions, or stories or PM me. (I am hoping to be LIVE blogging and possibly LIVE streaming the audio at Oregon Public Broadcasting's Accessible Information Network soon!) Read about this feature at: www.opb.org/accessinfonet

As it is, my audio shows are available on Wednesday evenings at 5PM PT/8PM ET on the Internet and through local SAP Programming in Oregon and southern Washington state. Find out how to hear my show in the right column of my journal page: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Radio_Lady

Cordially,

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

**

[ursi]

1. I'll check it out. Thanks for posting.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Thanks, ursi. Glad you're here tonight.

[Radio_Lady]

2. Share a cousin's difficulties, and also a friend's anguish... part of my personal history.

My husband, almost 74, likes to say that "Nobody gets out of this life alive," and while we know we are all terminal, some of us have so much more to endure than others. Many of us gather here on the Democratic Underground to grumble about big and small ills. We offer comfort to each other and help others know that they are not alone.

My first cousin, Lissy M., a woman in her 70s, was diagnosed several years ago with Parkinson's Disease. Lissy and her husband have had brief visits in New York City since her discovery of the disease. Yet, she remains remarkably active, teaching a yoga class, and trying new drugs to help stop the spread of her disease. Another friend, Natalie C., has psoriasis on her hands and other parts of her body. Yet she perseveres with this unrelenting disease and recently has shown some improvement in her condition.

[Radio_Lady]

4. Thanks to the person who gave it a kick! Any stories or comments?

No worries. This is only the first day of re-inventing or re-imagining of HD LOCAL radio and the promise of three additional TV channels.

There will be a lot more information and a lot more opportunities to participate by email or telephone over the next year!

Cordially,

Radio Lady Ellen in Oregon

[Radio_Lady]

5. Just 55 more minutes to go.....

[zanne]

6. Please tell me it's not about how people with chronic illness....

I really hate it when you're trying to get answers about something like living with a chronic illness, and all you get are "inspirational" stories of people with chronic or debilitating illness who manage to lead productive lives without "pitying" themselves. I'll take a look, but I hope it's something more realistic than that.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Looks like people are going to his forums and speaking to each other.

Please check out his expansive website at www.strongatthebrokenplaces.com

Richard has had multiple sclerosis since he was 25, plus two bouts with colon cancer. He was born on February 14, 1948. He is a US journalist and award-winning television producer, and formerly a senior producer for CBS News and CNN. He has won three Emmys and received a number of honors in journalism.

IMHO, he is right in there with you making each day happen the best he can and dealing with "miserys loves company" details.

I will ask him your question and you can hear his response when the recording replays. PM me if you want details on the show.

Zanne, I cannot imagine how difficult chronic illness must be. Right now, at age 68, I am relatively healthy, and the biggest problem I have has been managed with medications since I was 19 years old. I only have a very small dental problem going on since August 2007. I've been to three dentists and one of them just hung up on me yesterday because I asked too many questions. I guess I was just a bother after paying him $1,000. Or perhaps he was having a bad day himself. Who knows?

Appreciate your comment, and I'll add you to my buddy list if it's OK with you.

RL

[zanne]

9. That's fine, buddy! nt

[Radio_Lady]

10. Zanne, he said, "This is not a self-help book." It is intended to help put people

in touch with others who are ill and trying to cope with their illnesses, a chronicle of five people who contacted him after his first book -- "Blindsided" -- was released in 2003. That book revealed his own story of contracting multiple sclerosis at age 25. He has blood relatives who had the disease but could do nothing about it because there is to this day no effective cure.

Again, you can PM me with any information and perhaps I can pass it along via email. Or consider checking out his free website: www.strongatthebrokenplaces.com

If you yourself are in need of support for some difficult illness, please consider purchasing the book via the usual sources, Amazon.com, your local bookstore, or elsewhere.

Peace, love, and happiness, (This was the sign-off we used on our children's show in 1957-58)

Radio Lady Ellen Kimball
AccessInfoNet
Oregon Public Broadcasting, Portland, OR

[Radio_Lady]

8. You can continue to send DU messages at this forum... for an hour or two.

I will be monitoring questions to the guest, but then will try to respond here after the interview.

Stay with the topic of meeting the challenge of chronic illness -- how you do it, how others you know do it, what else you might suggest.

Our radio service AccessInfoNet is looking to expand its listening base, and you can indicate you were here by just typing your screen name here even without a question.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Thanks to everyone who read about this start-up venture.

I am still doing other subjects if you enter a question or comment here.

[Radio_Lady]

12. According to the count, 201 people at least opened this thread.

I consider that to be a big success for a first day's adventure!

Please PM me if you have further questions.

Peace, love and happiness,

Radio Lady in Oregon