WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:02.002 (female announcer)  Production funding for    this program is made 00:02.002 --> 00:11.512  possible in part by.. 00:11.512 --> 00:18.852 [soft music] 00:18.852 --> 00:21.655 Hello and welcome to "A Conversation with.." 00:21.655 --> 00:25.092 I'm your host, Kelly Cruise and today we have an extraordinary 00:25.092 --> 00:27.461 woman with us that we'll be talking to. 00:27.461 --> 00:32.165 She has an illustrious career and a very demanding career 00:32.165 --> 00:33.166 on her resume. 00:33.166 --> 00:36.970 But what her biggest battle has been is a fight 00:36.970 --> 00:38.639 with breast cancer. 00:38.639 --> 00:40.941 She's a ten year survivor. 00:40.941 --> 00:43.176 Welcome to our show, Patricia Brown. 00:43.176 --> 00:44.244 Thank you, Kelly. 00:44.244 --> 00:45.479 Thank you for joining us today. 00:45.479 --> 00:46.813 I'm thrilled. 00:46.813 --> 00:48.649 You are amazing, first of all. 00:48.649 --> 00:52.119 You do not look like you're battling cancer. 00:52.119 --> 00:54.655 That's what a good make up job will do for you. 00:54.655 --> 00:55.989 Thank you though. 00:55.989 --> 01:01.128  No, I've never felt bad   and I've never looked ugly. 01:01.128 --> 01:04.898 But what goes on inside my body is not a pretty picture. 01:04.898 --> 01:07.701 You've been battling it since 2005. 01:07.701 --> 01:08.635 Is that right? 01:08.635 --> 01:10.637 That's correct, May 10. 01:10.637 --> 01:14.975 Let's talk about your history before the battle started. 01:14.975 --> 01:20.113 You have a very long career as the president and C-E-O of the 01:20.113 --> 01:22.983 Make-A-Wish Foundation here in the Mid-South. 01:22.983 --> 01:25.552 Tell me a little bit about that and all your experiences 01:25.552 --> 01:31.625 granting wishes to children who had very bad illnesses and most 01:31.625 --> 01:33.727 often were facing death. 01:33.727 --> 01:35.095 Yes. 01:35.095 --> 01:38.532 Make-A-Wish Foundation is an organization that brings hopes, 01:38.532 --> 01:40.834 strength and joy in to families lives. 01:40.834 --> 01:44.237  And for 12 years, I was honored   to serve as their president 01:44.237 --> 01:45.238  and C-E-O. 01:45.238 --> 01:49.843  And I was able to be a part of   over 2000 wishes fulfilled and 01:49.843 --> 01:52.379  about $25 million raised. 01:52.379 --> 01:56.616 It's not an easy task to go in to a person's home where there 01:56.616 --> 01:59.820  is a child that is facing a   life-threatening illness. 01:59.820 --> 02:01.488  It's a family in crisis. 02:01.488 --> 02:05.025  And you learn a lot   about that, and the culture, 02:05.025 --> 02:07.928  and the   spirituality of families. 02:07.928 --> 02:13.467 And it became an opportunity for me to learn not only for myself 02:13.467 --> 02:17.204 but for other people of how to cope and deal with tragedy 02:17.204 --> 02:19.573 and scary situations. 02:19.573 --> 02:23.910 It was the most fulfilling job ever to be able to look at a 02:23.910 --> 02:28.715 child that was sad and see that magic come in to the mix and 02:28.715 --> 02:29.716 they were glad. 02:29.716 --> 02:32.119 And the parents were always so grateful. 02:32.119 --> 02:33.887 It truly was a privilege. 02:33.887 --> 02:35.856 And then it became a passion. 02:35.856 --> 02:38.458 And then it became a fulltime, lifetime, 02:38.458 --> 02:40.227  twenty-four seven job. 02:40.227 --> 02:44.097  And for 12 years, I totally   enjoyed it and was happy to be a 02:44.097 --> 02:47.200 part of such an incredible organization. 02:47.200 --> 02:50.203 And I know through working with Make-A-Wish with you that you 02:50.203 --> 02:52.806 got very close to some of the patients. 02:52.806 --> 02:56.209 Tell me about one or two of those situations. 02:56.209 --> 02:59.746 Well, we met in a wish for a little girl 02:59.746 --> 03:03.784  named   Jennifer Singler. 03:03.784 --> 03:08.155  And Jennifer really still   lives with me in my heart. 03:08.155 --> 03:13.794  The ability for a child that was   12 turning 13 to have an impact 03:13.794 --> 03:18.331 on people, I learned right then it wasn't about how long 03:18.331 --> 03:19.566 you had lived. 03:19.566 --> 03:22.202 It was what you did with your life while you were on Earth. 03:22.202 --> 03:26.473 And that child was able to have more effect on people than some 03:26.473 --> 03:28.975 people that lived to be 80. 03:28.975 --> 03:30.210 It was startling. 03:30.210 --> 03:34.681 And she had such a zest for life and to the point that she came 03:34.681 --> 03:38.285 in my office frequently and made her own business cards. 03:38.285 --> 03:40.787 And when I'd leave town, she'd leave me notes that she needed 03:40.787 --> 03:42.055 to be left in charge. 03:42.055 --> 03:45.592 And then one day, she came in and she was pulling all the hair 03:45.592 --> 03:46.593 off of her head. 03:46.593 --> 03:50.097 And I knew what her prognosis was. 03:50.097 --> 03:53.266 She I don't think really ever understood that. 03:53.266 --> 03:56.503 Kids don't understand life. 03:56.503 --> 03:59.372 So, they don't really get death. 03:59.372 --> 04:00.740 But the adults do. 04:00.740 --> 04:03.710 So, as I watched her pull her hair out of her scalp, 04:03.710 --> 04:05.645 I was like, "Jennifer, go home and get that stuff 04:05.645 --> 04:07.180 "off your head. 04:07.180 --> 04:10.617 You're making a mess in my office." 04:10.617 --> 04:12.886 She came back the next day and she said, 04:12.886 --> 04:14.287 "Now who am I?" 04:14.287 --> 04:17.324 And she had a wig on, much like the one I have right now, 04:17.324 --> 04:18.892 and red finger nails. 04:18.892 --> 04:19.793 And I looked at her and I said, 04:19.793 --> 04:21.128 "I don't know, Jennifer Singler?" 04:21.128 --> 04:22.295 And she said, "No, I'm you. 04:22.295 --> 04:27.033 I want to be you when I grow up." 04:27.033 --> 04:29.035 That's when I knew my job mattered. 04:29.035 --> 04:30.036 It mattered a lot. 04:30.036 --> 04:33.106 Everything I said and did impacted these kids, 04:33.106 --> 04:34.808 and the staff, and the volunteers. 04:34.808 --> 04:38.678 And I'm not a perfect person but I took it a lot more seriously 04:38.678 --> 04:40.680 after Jennifer Singler came and went. 04:40.680 --> 04:46.153 And it wasn't a good day when we all attended her funeral. 04:46.153 --> 04:50.524 But I was at peace knowing that Jennifer left the earth in a 04:50.524 --> 04:52.826 better place because of her life. 04:52.826 --> 04:56.129 I want to read an excerpt from your manuscript. 04:56.129 --> 04:59.266  You're actually hoping to get a   book published in the next year 04:59.266 --> 05:00.200  or so. 05:00.200 --> 05:04.304 This quote says, "She views her time at the Make-A-Wish 05:04.304 --> 05:09.142 "Foundation as God's way of giving her on-the-life training 05:09.142 --> 05:11.678  that prepared her to   fight her biggest battle." 05:11.678 --> 05:16.016 So, when you look back at your years in Make-A-Wish, 05:16.016 --> 05:20.387 do you really feel so much that it really was a way to prepare 05:20.387 --> 05:22.389 for your own battle with cancer? 05:22.389 --> 05:23.557 Totally, 100%. 05:23.557 --> 05:27.093 It was like going to get a degree in understanding how to 05:27.093 --> 05:31.364  be your own advocate, how to   have joy even in the bad times, 05:31.364 --> 05:34.234  how to make fun of yourself   when you're bald and not looking 05:34.234 --> 05:35.735  so cute. 05:35.735 --> 05:37.103  It did prepare me. 05:37.103 --> 05:39.573  And, of course, I learned   a lot about the terminology 05:39.573 --> 05:41.007 and the different diseases. 05:41.007 --> 05:45.212 Childhood cancer is so much of what I learned was through my 05:45.212 --> 05:48.815 time with these families hearing their story over and over 05:48.815 --> 05:49.816 and again. 05:49.816 --> 05:51.818 It would give me new information. 05:51.818 --> 05:55.722 So, when I had the opportunity to champion my own battle, 05:55.722 --> 05:59.926  I turned myself in to my own   project and I became a granter 05:59.926 --> 06:02.562  of wishes for   myself and other people. 06:02.562 --> 06:05.765  And I had a lot   of humor with it. 06:05.765 --> 06:12.572  I was able to   powerfully, with confidence, 06:12.572 --> 06:13.773 become my own advocate. 06:13.773 --> 06:18.879 Because I understood if I didn't speak up and I didn't learn and 06:18.879 --> 06:22.682 I didn't invest in myself, then my odds were not going 06:22.682 --> 06:24.818 to be good. 06:24.818 --> 06:27.554 It's extraordinary because you really talk about, 06:27.554 --> 06:28.555 in your manuscript.. 06:28.555 --> 06:29.556 Let me just.. 06:29.556 --> 06:34.594 You said, actually, then it hit you. 06:34.594 --> 06:37.697 You cried and weeped for hours after you were told 06:37.697 --> 06:38.698 you had cancer. 06:38.698 --> 06:42.702 And then remembered "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective 06:42.702 --> 06:48.341 People," habit two -- begin with the end in mind. 06:48.341 --> 06:50.443 That was a hard reality to take. 06:50.443 --> 06:51.444 It is. 06:51.444 --> 06:55.115 But again, through Make-A-Wish, I learned we're all terminal. 06:55.115 --> 06:57.917 And there is no way to know whether it's going to happen 06:57.917 --> 07:02.922 when you're two years old, or when you're 20, 07:02.922 --> 07:04.758 or when you're 80, or 60. 07:04.758 --> 07:06.493 You don't know. 07:06.493 --> 07:08.428 So, begin with the end in mind. 07:08.428 --> 07:14.634 And what I wanted to accomplish with my life, 07:14.634 --> 07:17.704 I needed to make sure that I stayed true to my own goals and 07:17.704 --> 07:20.974 wishes and pledged ahead. 07:20.974 --> 07:22.575 And I did. 07:22.575 --> 07:23.944 You really did. 07:23.944 --> 07:24.944 I did. 07:24.944 --> 07:27.213 I mean, I don't think a lot of people know that as soon as you 07:27.213 --> 07:31.284 had your mastectomy, then you had a staph infection after 07:31.284 --> 07:33.186 that, which had to be excruciating. 07:33.186 --> 07:34.654 It was the worst. 07:34.654 --> 07:36.356 Let's talk about that a second now. 07:36.356 --> 07:39.225 This is very rare that something like this would happen. 07:39.225 --> 07:42.295 I mean, you had your breasts removed basically, 07:42.295 --> 07:44.097 had all this surgery. 07:44.097 --> 07:46.833 You were starting reconstructive surgery, correct? 07:46.833 --> 07:47.834  (Patricia)   True. 07:47.834 --> 07:50.837 And then you find a staph infection in that location. 07:50.837 --> 07:51.838 (Patricia)  Right. 07:51.838 --> 07:52.839 What was that like? 07:52.839 --> 07:56.443 Well, it was confusing at first because no one seemed to know 07:56.443 --> 07:57.444 what was going on. 07:57.444 --> 08:00.046 I just had a high fever I couldn't get rid of. 08:00.046 --> 08:01.047 There was no signs. 08:01.047 --> 08:03.049 The blood work didn't demonstrate 08:03.049 --> 08:04.050 any kind of infection. 08:04.050 --> 08:05.051 So, it was confusing. 08:05.051 --> 08:08.088 And after about a week of running 103 fever, 08:08.088 --> 08:12.225 and then I had symptoms, which was my reconstructed breast was 08:12.225 --> 08:16.496 starting to bruise and ooze pus. 08:16.496 --> 08:18.665 It was like, okay, there's a bigger problem here. 08:18.665 --> 08:22.335 And thanks to friends, you being one of them, 08:22.335 --> 08:27.607 we got me in the hospital and that was a week's stay. 08:27.607 --> 08:32.912 And two surgeries of debriding the area to the point my fist 08:32.912 --> 08:36.049 could almost fit in my chest wall. 08:36.049 --> 08:38.051 They did not think the wound would heal. 08:38.051 --> 08:39.953 And I went, oh yes it is. 08:39.953 --> 08:42.122 Because I got the power of the Holy Ghost in me. 08:42.122 --> 08:47.127  And I went on a prayer   campaign with friends and family 08:47.127 --> 08:48.128  across the country. 08:48.128 --> 08:49.996  And it was wonderful. 08:49.996 --> 08:53.767  After 30 days, seeing a   wound specialist in my bedroom, 08:53.767 --> 08:55.769 because they had to debride it every other day, 08:55.769 --> 09:00.240 look at me, because he was the guy who said it may never heal, 09:00.240 --> 09:02.242 and said, "I've witnessed a miracle. 09:02.242 --> 09:07.113 I have never seen this in my 25 years of wound care." 09:07.113 --> 09:11.217 And I said, I told ya! 09:11.217 --> 09:14.454 And so, that was my approach to everything was, 09:14.454 --> 09:17.857 no, it's in Jesus' hands. 09:17.857 --> 09:19.292 He's the determiner. 09:19.292 --> 09:20.293 I'm just a vehicle. 09:20.293 --> 09:24.731 You know, when you say this, a lot of times I hear you refer 09:24.731 --> 09:25.732 to your faith. 09:25.732 --> 09:30.403 And I've actually heard people who have had cancer say, 09:30.403 --> 09:34.641 shockingly, cancer has been a blessing in my life. 09:34.641 --> 09:36.776 And obviously you think that. 09:36.776 --> 09:38.077 I do think that. 09:38.077 --> 09:43.116  I feel honored to get the   opportunity to do the journey 09:43.116 --> 09:44.184  of battling cancer. 09:44.184 --> 09:47.387  It is a gift I think. 09:47.387 --> 09:49.022  I don't like it. 09:49.022 --> 09:50.290  I wish I    didn't have it. 09:50.290 --> 09:52.292  It affects my   life and lifestyle. 09:52.292 --> 09:53.293  It's not fun. 09:53.293 --> 09:54.861  It's not pretty. 09:54.861 --> 09:57.864  The drugs are -- have   interesting side effects that 09:57.864 --> 10:00.266  aren't very enjoyable. 10:00.266 --> 10:04.237 That is not good. 10:04.237 --> 10:08.208 But what is good of it is it did increase my spirituality. 10:08.208 --> 10:12.879  It has impacted hundreds   of other people's lives. 10:12.879 --> 10:15.815  Not just the people I meet in   the chemo clinics but I get 10:15.815 --> 10:19.853  written to by lots of people   that say I made a difference 10:19.853 --> 10:20.854  in their life. 10:20.854 --> 10:21.855  And it's not me. 10:21.855 --> 10:23.156  It's my battle. 10:23.156 --> 10:24.424  It's how   I championed it. 10:24.424 --> 10:26.626 And it's to glorify God. 10:26.626 --> 10:33.833 Because without that strength and that core belief that he has 10:33.833 --> 10:35.034 a plan and a purpose. 10:35.034 --> 10:41.307 He had the end in mind for me when I was born that then this 10:41.307 --> 10:42.709 would just be a sickness. 10:42.709 --> 10:43.710 It's not. 10:43.710 --> 10:45.245 It's an opportunity. 10:45.245 --> 10:48.548 And I do seize it and have fun with it and make fun of myself. 10:48.548 --> 10:52.585 And if I die today, I'm all good. 10:52.585 --> 10:55.455 Well, I don't think you're going to be dying anytime soon. 10:55.455 --> 10:57.457 I mean, really, actually, recently, 10:57.457 --> 11:02.028 I mean, it's been recent that you got the word flying from 11:02.028 --> 11:04.864 M-D Anderson on a recent check-up that, 11:04.864 --> 11:07.000 you know, you were doing so much better. 11:07.000 --> 11:11.604 And then you find in your paperwork flying back to 11:11.604 --> 11:15.842 Northwest Arkansas something about your brain in this 11:15.842 --> 11:17.577 paperwork that nobody caught. 11:17.577 --> 11:19.379 And so, tell me about that. 11:19.379 --> 11:21.948 That's why you have to be your own advocate and get copies of 11:21.948 --> 11:26.119 all your clinical information so that you read it 11:26.119 --> 11:27.220 and understand it. 11:27.220 --> 11:30.757 Yeah, it's kind of shocking to be on a plane and it says 11:30.757 --> 11:34.394 there's edema in the brain from the pet scan they discovered. 11:34.394 --> 11:37.630 And I'm like, "Edema in the brain?" 11:37.630 --> 11:40.099 And seizures are possible. 11:40.099 --> 11:42.435 And they recommended I have a brain M-R-I. 11:42.435 --> 11:43.903 And nothing had been said. 11:43.903 --> 11:45.905 So, you know, you get off the plane, 11:45.905 --> 11:46.906 you make a phone call. 11:46.906 --> 11:48.908 Of course they're not in the office. 11:48.908 --> 11:49.909 And it was a couple of days. 11:49.909 --> 11:51.911 By the time I got the word, I had already scheduled 11:51.911 --> 11:52.912 my own brain M-R-I. 11:52.912 --> 11:59.552 And yes, went in and here we're conquering the reoccurrence Mets 11:59.552 --> 12:00.687 in my body. 12:00.687 --> 12:03.656 And then, all of a sudden, it's in my brain? 12:03.656 --> 12:06.025 Well, that's the goal of cancer -- to get in your brain 12:06.025 --> 12:07.427 and kill you. 12:07.427 --> 12:11.731 So, I was scared but it was like, 12:11.731 --> 12:14.434 okay, we just got to figure out what to do. 12:14.434 --> 12:15.435  So.. 12:15.435 --> 12:17.837  I did 15 rounds   of brain radiation. 12:17.837 --> 12:20.707  Took my hair, made me   kind of half way crazy, 12:20.707 --> 12:22.642 and silly, and goofy, and ditzy. 12:22.642 --> 12:24.811 And they wouldn't let me drive for two months. 12:24.811 --> 12:33.620 So, be alone, be in your home, can't drive, can't work. 12:33.620 --> 12:35.154 I said I got to find a purpose. 12:35.154 --> 12:36.756 Change of life experience. 12:36.756 --> 12:39.926  So, I started finding different   non-profits that I could do some 12:39.926 --> 12:43.596  philanthropy with and   strategic planning. 12:43.596 --> 12:45.198  And I could   do that from home. 12:45.198 --> 12:47.634  I cannot not   have a purpose. 12:47.634 --> 12:48.868 (Kelly)  Energizer Bunny. 12:48.868 --> 12:54.340 And kind of goofy Energizer Bunny at times but always fun 12:54.340 --> 12:55.875 and with a good end result. 12:55.875 --> 12:59.679 And thankfully, I'm good. 12:59.679 --> 13:03.249 But in May when they told me I might have months to live, 13:03.249 --> 13:05.118 it was time to plan my funeral. 13:05.118 --> 13:06.552 You know, I'm an event planner. 13:06.552 --> 13:08.554 I wasn't going to have a boring funeral. 13:08.554 --> 13:09.555 I had to get with it. 13:09.555 --> 13:10.556 You know, get on the stick. 13:10.556 --> 13:11.557  And so, I did. 13:11.557 --> 13:14.494  I did all the pre-arrangements,   got speakers lined up, 13:14.494 --> 13:16.462  got musicians lined up. 13:16.462 --> 13:19.799  And if I was only going   to live a few months, 13:19.799 --> 13:21.901  I was going to go   out with a bang. 13:21.901 --> 13:24.537 But obviously you passed that. 13:24.537 --> 13:27.006 And didn't they call you a miracle again? 13:27.006 --> 13:32.078 I've had numerous front row seats to miracles. 13:32.078 --> 13:36.783 So, today, how are those brain tumors? 13:36.783 --> 13:37.784 They're almost gone. 13:37.784 --> 13:45.892 The tumors that were in my lungs and the spots on my bones they 13:45.892 --> 13:48.361 believe are totally inactive now. 13:48.361 --> 13:53.099 And then the spots in my brain are almost all gone except for 13:53.099 --> 13:54.300 just a few. 13:54.300 --> 13:58.404 And they've all diminished over half the size in the course of 13:58.404 --> 14:00.773 this last six months. 14:00.773 --> 14:02.909 How does this make you feel? 14:02.909 --> 14:05.011 Blessed, very blessed. 14:05.011 --> 14:06.813 And happy, and joyous. 14:06.813 --> 14:10.983 And it gives me the energy and the attitude to continue to tell 14:10.983 --> 14:12.452 the story. 14:12.452 --> 14:14.687 I want people to understand there is more to life 14:14.687 --> 14:16.589 than death. 14:16.589 --> 14:18.925 That's a given. 14:18.925 --> 14:21.227 But what are you doing every single day? 14:21.227 --> 14:23.096 Seize the day. 14:23.096 --> 14:24.263 (Kelly)  You do seize the day. 14:24.263 --> 14:25.131 I want to hear. 14:25.131 --> 14:28.534 Go back about your career because this woman's career 14:28.534 --> 14:32.739 looks like a lifetime of somebody maybe 100 years old. 14:32.739 --> 14:34.774 (Patricia)  I feel like it sometimes. 14:34.774 --> 14:38.811 But you started out being a dental hygienist years ago. 14:38.811 --> 14:42.081 And then you worked at Porter-Leath Children's Home. 14:42.081 --> 14:44.083 Then you went to Make-A-Wish. 14:44.083 --> 14:45.351 There for 12 years? 14:45.351 --> 14:46.352 Yeah, 12 years. 14:46.352 --> 14:49.789 Started the John Daly Make-A-Wish golf tournament. 14:49.789 --> 14:51.057 That is amazing. 14:51.057 --> 14:54.227 And then even after you had the breast cancer, 14:54.227 --> 14:56.028 you actually toured? 14:56.028 --> 14:58.097 I had it but I didn't know I had it. 14:58.097 --> 15:02.802 But I was touring with him and working exclusively for John 15:02.802 --> 15:04.704  with his   charitable foundation. 15:04.704 --> 15:10.476  It's kind of hard to be in a   different city every week and 15:10.476 --> 15:12.545  then, also fight breast cancer   and be in the chemo clinic. 15:12.545 --> 15:16.149 So, we discontinued the professional relationship. 15:16.149 --> 15:17.450 We're still good friends. 15:17.450 --> 15:21.087 And then later on, when I went to work for the nationwide tour, 15:21.087 --> 15:23.089 the P-G-A tour event in Fort Smith, Arknasas 15:23.089 --> 15:25.358 as their tournament director, 15:25.358 --> 15:29.662 I recruited John to come back and work with me again. 15:29.662 --> 15:33.099 This time, I'm the director and he's just a golfer. 15:33.099 --> 15:37.670 Let's talk about that because really you are the only female 15:37.670 --> 15:41.107 to ever have that position in the nation, correct? 15:41.107 --> 15:43.109 Right, female tournament director. 15:43.109 --> 15:47.146 I did not realize when I got the position that was the case. 15:47.146 --> 15:49.949 I went to their annual meeting. 15:49.949 --> 15:51.951 And I'm like, where's the other girls. 15:51.951 --> 15:53.152 They said, no, you're it. 15:53.152 --> 15:56.189 You're the only one that's ever been hired out of a pool of men 15:56.189 --> 15:58.324 to be the female tournament director. 15:58.324 --> 15:59.959 My predecessor was a female. 15:59.959 --> 16:03.029 But she had promoted in to the job. 16:03.029 --> 16:05.798 But I'm like, what? 16:05.798 --> 16:10.469 And then the different ladies that were support staff for the 16:10.469 --> 16:12.471 guys, they were coming up to me. 16:12.471 --> 16:15.474 You broke through the ceiling and maybe we'll have a chance. 16:15.474 --> 16:16.709 And I was like, wow. 16:16.709 --> 16:20.012 I mean, it wasn't like something I set out to do. 16:20.012 --> 16:23.649 I just needed a job in Arkansas and I was qualified. 16:23.649 --> 16:27.119 Were these people knowing of your breast cancer? 16:27.119 --> 16:28.120 No. 16:28.120 --> 16:29.589 (Kelly)  Did they ever find out? 16:29.589 --> 16:31.290 Oh, yeah. 16:31.290 --> 16:36.195 Because I started a new program called Pink on the Links. 16:36.195 --> 16:39.932  It was the only dedicated today   in the P-G-A Tour history back, 16:39.932 --> 16:42.835  I mean,   a few years ago. 16:42.835 --> 16:47.306  They all came out and supported   breast cancer awareness by 16:47.306 --> 16:49.642  wearing pink   during tournament play. 16:49.642 --> 16:50.643  That was   the big thing. 16:50.643 --> 16:53.946  And it was recognized by   the national tour as one 16:53.946 --> 16:55.147  of the best practices. 16:55.147 --> 16:59.752  And in the next year, I was able   to go on stage after being asked 16:59.752 --> 17:02.121  what qualified me to be a   tournament director and 17:02.121 --> 17:05.791  explained to them,    here's why. 17:05.791 --> 17:09.929 Branding, marketing, fundraising and I'm creative. 17:09.929 --> 17:11.931 I came up with Pink on the Links. 17:11.931 --> 17:12.932 What 'chu got? 17:12.932 --> 17:13.933 (Kelly)  Wow. 17:13.933 --> 17:17.536 Again, you know, your manuscript that you're writing and hope to 17:17.536 --> 17:22.074 published soon in to a book, you talk about at one point, 17:22.074 --> 17:24.076 you know, when you got your head shaved, 17:24.076 --> 17:26.746 that you looked in the mirror in the morning and realized, 17:26.746 --> 17:29.115  "I am my dad." 17:29.115 --> 17:30.116 (Patricia)  Yes. 17:30.116 --> 17:33.119 (Kelly)  It's extraordinary when you    look at this picture and finally 17:33.119 --> 17:37.390  figure out, "I really   do look like my father." 17:37.390 --> 17:38.391 (Patricia)  Right. 17:38.391 --> 17:39.759  It's another blessing. 17:39.759 --> 17:41.761 You know, I wouldn't have ever known that 17:41.761 --> 17:42.762 if I didn't have hair. 17:42.762 --> 17:44.897 I was brushing my teeth and I went, 17:44.897 --> 17:46.232 I'm George Redden. 17:46.232 --> 17:47.233 Oh my gosh. 17:47.233 --> 17:49.835 And I went out and asked my brother. 17:49.835 --> 17:51.837 I was like, "Who do I look like?" 17:51.837 --> 17:54.240 And he went, "Dad but I won't tell." 17:54.240 --> 17:55.408 Because he's bald, you know. 17:55.408 --> 17:56.475 Almost bald, you know. 17:56.475 --> 17:57.810 And I'm like, oh my! 17:57.810 --> 18:00.479 And then I went and lived with my parents for six weeks while I 18:00.479 --> 18:04.116  did radiation   therapy back in 2005. 18:04.116 --> 18:07.053  And I learned we   like the same food. 18:07.053 --> 18:09.355  We like the   same T-V shows. 18:09.355 --> 18:11.257  It was,   again, a blessing. 18:11.257 --> 18:16.195  I would have never gone as an   adult to live with my parents 18:16.195 --> 18:17.463 for six weeks. 18:17.463 --> 18:22.535 And I would have not known how much I'm like my family. 18:22.535 --> 18:23.536 A blessing. 18:23.536 --> 18:27.907 You talk, also, about the devastation of losing your hair. 18:27.907 --> 18:30.576 But you've actually had fun with that. 18:30.576 --> 18:33.245 Talk about how you're the Energizer Bunny. 18:33.245 --> 18:35.948 Let's talk about some of those experiences, 18:35.948 --> 18:37.183 the henna crown. 18:37.183 --> 18:38.184 (Patricia)  Well, okay. 18:38.184 --> 18:40.386 When everybody sees you with a bald head, 18:40.386 --> 18:41.921 they look at you so pitiful. 18:41.921 --> 18:45.191 And I'm like, you know, I don't want them to feel bad and I 18:45.191 --> 18:46.192 don't want to feel bad. 18:46.192 --> 18:47.193 And it's awkward. 18:47.193 --> 18:52.298 So, I went and had my head tattooed. 18:52.298 --> 18:53.532 Not permanent, with henna. 18:53.532 --> 18:55.201 And it was a henna crown. 18:55.201 --> 18:59.605  And therefore,   people look at me differently 18:59.605 --> 19:00.573 and they react differently. 19:00.573 --> 19:02.341  And I chanced it. 19:02.341 --> 19:04.710 I was at a concert and I had a hat on. 19:04.710 --> 19:07.046 And I decided I was going to pull this hat off right here and 19:07.046 --> 19:08.080 now and see what happens. 19:08.080 --> 19:11.450 And it was like I was the most popular person walking out of 19:11.450 --> 19:12.785 the ladies room. 19:12.785 --> 19:13.786 That is so cool! 19:13.786 --> 19:14.787 That is wonderful! 19:14.787 --> 19:17.823 And from then on, I realized, okay, 19:17.823 --> 19:22.528 let's do things with this and make people laugh or smile or be 19:22.528 --> 19:26.665 amazed and not pitiful because I don't have any hair 19:26.665 --> 19:27.933 and I'm probably sick. 19:27.933 --> 19:29.402 And I am sick. 19:29.402 --> 19:30.436 I mean, technically. 19:30.436 --> 19:34.507 I have a disease but don't pity me. 19:34.507 --> 19:37.176 I mean, yeah, if you want to bring me a casserole, 19:37.176 --> 19:39.211 I'm all about it. 19:39.211 --> 19:40.980 But don't feel sorry for me. 19:40.980 --> 19:43.115 I'm happy. 19:43.115 --> 19:46.485 On your blog, you do a blog regularly with the City Wire. 19:46.485 --> 19:50.756 And also, you have a Facebook page that you blog on regularly. 19:50.756 --> 19:54.994 And you have people from all over the world following you and 19:54.994 --> 19:58.864 getting news from you and learning more about how to deal 19:58.864 --> 20:01.667 with cancer, how to have humor during cancer. 20:01.667 --> 20:05.738 You said you even have people from, 20:05.738 --> 20:08.941 like, South Africa contacting you. 20:08.941 --> 20:11.377 I have a great lady that I've never met, of course. 20:11.377 --> 20:13.079 She's not been here and I've not been there. 20:13.079 --> 20:16.782 But we chat sometimes at 3:00 a-m when I can't sleep. 20:16.782 --> 20:19.618 And it's amazing. 20:19.618 --> 20:21.620 I feel like I know her. 20:21.620 --> 20:23.389 I feel like I know a lot of these people. 20:23.389 --> 20:28.194  You hang up a telephone call   from someone that responds to a 20:28.194 --> 20:31.097  blog and right   before you hang up, 20:31.097 --> 20:33.432  the lady is in   Pennsylvania and she says, 20:33.432 --> 20:36.702  "For the first   time, I have hope." 20:36.702 --> 20:37.870 See, it's a blessing. 20:37.870 --> 20:39.138 And it's an opportunity. 20:39.138 --> 20:41.207 And it's a calling. 20:41.207 --> 20:44.076 I'm Helpy Helperson and I'm a fixer. 20:44.076 --> 20:49.415 And I want to share everything I have learned and be helpful and 20:49.415 --> 20:51.117 an encourager to people. 20:51.117 --> 20:55.321 I don't care if it's cancer or some other disease 20:55.321 --> 20:57.022 or a family problem. 20:57.022 --> 20:58.858 There is always hope. 20:58.858 --> 21:01.794 And you just can't let Satan steal your joy. 21:01.794 --> 21:05.664 Well, I remember you telling me one time you were getting 21:05.664 --> 21:06.665 a little bored. 21:06.665 --> 21:10.269 You were how many years in to your remission? 21:10.269 --> 21:12.271 I think five years, seven years. 21:12.271 --> 21:16.008 Seven years in remission and you actually remember praying and 21:16.008 --> 21:18.177 saying, "God, I'm getting a little bored. 21:18.177 --> 21:19.211 Give me a project." 21:19.211 --> 21:21.814 And then tell me what happened almost immediately thereafter. 21:21.814 --> 21:23.682 Well, right then I was afraid. 21:23.682 --> 21:27.253 I went, oh my gosh, he's going to let me go through this again. 21:27.253 --> 21:29.155 And sure enough. 21:29.155 --> 21:32.992 I mean, I knew when I got the phone call after my routine 21:32.992 --> 21:38.030 bloodwork that it appeared tumor markers were telling them that 21:38.030 --> 21:40.799 the cancer might have come back. 21:40.799 --> 21:43.936 And generally when you have breast cancer, 21:43.936 --> 21:45.938 it doesn't come back in your breasts. 21:45.938 --> 21:46.939 Your breasts are gone. 21:46.939 --> 21:48.274 It comes back somewhere else. 21:48.274 --> 21:52.912 And in my case, it was my hip, my right hip and my lymph nodes 21:52.912 --> 21:53.913 in my lung. 21:53.913 --> 21:57.449 And a lot of people don't know that breast cancer does not ever 21:57.449 --> 21:58.918 become another cancer. 21:58.918 --> 22:02.354 It's just that the breast cancer has morphed a little bit and 22:02.354 --> 22:04.356 gone in to these other organs and, 22:04.356 --> 22:06.358 of course, eventually in to your brain. 22:06.358 --> 22:07.359 Yes. 22:07.359 --> 22:09.361 When it gets in to your lymph nodes.. 22:09.361 --> 22:11.363 So, cells circulate through your system. 22:11.363 --> 22:14.834 That's why you di chemotherapy is to treat the full body and 22:14.834 --> 22:16.836 try to kill all those cells off. 22:16.836 --> 22:20.039 And we were very successful in 2005. 22:20.039 --> 22:22.641 And there was no evidence of disease. 22:22.641 --> 22:25.678 And then seven years later, there was. 22:25.678 --> 22:29.648 Well, here you are looking the picture of health. 22:29.648 --> 22:31.817 And you've beaten the odds so many times, 22:31.817 --> 22:33.819 been called a miracle so many times. 22:33.819 --> 22:38.691 Where do you see your life going in the next five to ten years? 22:38.691 --> 22:42.127 Well, God obviously has the end in mind. 22:42.127 --> 22:44.129 And I just kind of float along with him. 22:44.129 --> 22:49.068 However, it seems that I've become a requested public 22:49.068 --> 22:53.305  speaker, which was one of my   wishes and dreams and prayers 22:53.305 --> 22:56.041  when I had my reoccurrence to   be a national public speaker. 22:56.041 --> 23:00.980  And I get to do that on a big   stage in front of lots of people 23:00.980 --> 23:04.583  and stomp my foot and   tell people to work harder 23:04.583 --> 23:05.584  and quit   your whining. 23:05.584 --> 23:10.089  And I just have a joyful   time in sharing with people 23:10.089 --> 23:11.190  as a speaker. 23:11.190 --> 23:14.526 I also didn't really understand that I had the talent of writing 23:14.526 --> 23:16.128 until I started blogging. 23:16.128 --> 23:18.397 And I've been a blogger for two-and-a-half years. 23:18.397 --> 23:22.501 And I am able to also blog on other publications besides the 23:22.501 --> 23:23.636 Citywire.com. 23:23.636 --> 23:28.407 But that lead in to coming off the stage one time 23:28.407 --> 23:31.210 and being a blogger. 23:31.210 --> 23:33.779 A marketing group came up to me and said, 23:33.779 --> 23:35.014 "You need to write a book." 23:35.014 --> 23:38.217 Well, that was also another prayer that I had two-and-a-half 23:38.217 --> 23:41.854 years ago was to be a writer and write a book and tell my story. 23:41.854 --> 23:45.424 Because I think it's entertaining and informative. 23:45.424 --> 23:46.425 It's very entertaining. 23:46.425 --> 23:47.426 It's not boring. 23:47.426 --> 23:49.228 I don't do boring real well. 23:49.228 --> 23:52.598 And it's also a tribute to a lot of people that have helped me 23:52.598 --> 23:53.799 through this. 23:53.799 --> 23:55.301 I mean, I'm one person. 23:55.301 --> 23:57.303 I can't do this just by myself. 23:57.303 --> 23:59.338 And I've had friends, and girlfriends, 23:59.338 --> 24:03.375 and guy friends, and family, and doctors, and nurses. 24:03.375 --> 24:07.680 I mean, I've had a team of people that have allowed me to 24:07.680 --> 24:14.019 get to this point to where I can broadcast through this show and 24:14.019 --> 24:16.522 through my speaking and writing. 24:16.522 --> 24:18.891  And then I spend a lot of   time with philanthropies. 24:18.891 --> 24:19.892  I'm a fixer. 24:19.892 --> 24:21.894  I'm sort of a   non-profit doctor. 24:21.894 --> 24:22.895  I go in. 24:22.895 --> 24:24.897  When they have a   problem, I diagnose them, 24:24.897 --> 24:29.668  create a strategic plan or a   treatment plan and then we get 24:29.668 --> 24:32.204  to work and make the   world a better place. 24:32.204 --> 24:34.206 Move the needle, make a difference. 24:34.206 --> 24:35.207 That's my goal. 24:35.207 --> 24:37.910 Well, with hopefully your book being published soon, 24:37.910 --> 24:42.981 for all the viewers out there who are either battling cancer 24:42.981 --> 24:46.785 or may find out near in the future that they're going 24:46.785 --> 24:47.786 to have cancer. 24:47.786 --> 24:51.123 So, if you have one thing to say to these ladies, 24:51.123 --> 24:52.791 what would you say? 24:52.791 --> 24:54.293 Get a mammogram. 24:54.293 --> 24:56.962 Don't be always satisfied with that. 24:56.962 --> 24:58.697 Go get a diagnostic mammogram. 24:58.697 --> 25:01.800 And you have to become your own advocate. 25:01.800 --> 25:04.737 Do not put your head in the sand. 25:04.737 --> 25:06.205 Take care of yourself. 25:06.205 --> 25:09.141 Get healthy now before you get the diagnosis. 25:09.141 --> 25:13.178 That's one of the key things that has created the opportunity 25:13.178 --> 25:16.849 for the miracles to happen is that I was healthy 25:16.849 --> 25:17.950 to begin with. 25:17.950 --> 25:19.051 Never ever sick. 25:19.051 --> 25:20.152 Didn't have diabetes. 25:20.152 --> 25:21.253 No heart problems. 25:21.253 --> 25:24.556 So, therefore my range of options from a treatment 25:24.556 --> 25:25.657 standpoint is wider. 25:25.657 --> 25:30.796 And then when you have a gut in your feeling -- a feeling in 25:30.796 --> 25:33.732 your gut that you -- something isn't right, 25:33.732 --> 25:35.200 get a second opinion. 25:35.200 --> 25:36.301 I did. 25:36.301 --> 25:39.138 And if I hadn't, I wouldn't have -- I would not be sitting here 25:39.138 --> 25:40.139 right now. 25:40.139 --> 25:41.140 (Kelly)  That's huge. 25:41.140 --> 25:43.675 And you also said, I believe, in your manuscript 25:43.675 --> 25:45.644 to see an oncologist. 25:45.644 --> 25:46.645 Very important. 25:46.645 --> 25:50.349 Very first thing you do after you do your yearly mammogram is 25:50.349 --> 25:57.356 if you do or they think -- even think there's a possibility of 25:57.356 --> 26:00.426  cancer, go to an   oncologist first thing. 26:00.426 --> 26:02.428  And let him be   your quarterback. 26:02.428 --> 26:06.331  He will be your friend for the   rest of your life because just 26:06.331 --> 26:10.469 because they have no evidence as a disease to go in to remission, 26:10.469 --> 26:14.072 or say you're cancer-free, those cells were in your body at one 26:14.072 --> 26:16.074 time and they can come back. 26:16.074 --> 26:19.478 I am a living example of that. 26:19.478 --> 26:22.848 So, your oncologist is your best friend. 26:22.848 --> 26:25.984 You know, you can like your surgeon and love your plastic 26:25.984 --> 26:30.155 surgeon, but your oncologist is the key. 26:30.155 --> 26:31.590 (Kelly)  Very good words. 26:31.590 --> 26:34.593 Patricia Brown, thank you for being on our show tonight 26:34.593 --> 26:35.594 with us. 26:35.594 --> 26:37.763 You've really given an insight in to what it's like 26:37.763 --> 26:38.764 to have cancer. 26:38.764 --> 26:41.700 We appreciate you so much being on our show and sharing. 26:41.700 --> 26:42.768 Well, you're most welcome. 26:42.768 --> 26:43.769 My pleasure. 26:43.769 --> 26:57.382 [soft music] 26:57.382 --> 27:01.382 CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY WKNO, MEMPHIS.