Ugh.
NBC’s Tom Brokaw diagnosed with cancer
Ugh.
Update on the Morton’s Steakhouse/cancer patient debacle
Tim Whitlock, the Senior V.P. of Operations and the C.O.O. Morton’s The Steakhouse has issued this statement on the incident:
“Our executive team has been in contact with Mr. Chambers who fully accepted our apology.
“There was a complete and total misunderstanding by our staff who had no idea that our guest had a medical condition. Our actions were uninformed and our intentions were not malicious.
“As a sign of our sincere apology and commitment to the community, we are donating on behalf of Mr. Chambers, $2,000.00 to the St. Jude’s Hospital. In addition, Morton’s The Steakhouse will also partner with Mr. Chambers to underwrite a cancer fundraiser.”
According to Think Progress, one of the company’s top executives personally phoned Chambers to apologize and pledge to donate the dinner’s $2,000 tab to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as well as coordinate with him about holding a cancer fundraiser.
Nashville: Morton’s Steakhouse in social media firestorm over alledged treatment of cancer victim
Morton’s Steakhouse in Nashville has a big problem on their hands over asking a cancer victim with cold sensitivity due to undergoing chemotherapy to remove his wool beanie. From FOX 17:
The diners say their friend was asked to remove his hat, and explained the situation to the manager, who allegedly said that the gentleman should bring a doctor’s note or call ahead so that he could be seated in a private dining area.
Witnesses say the cancer patient along with his wife and kids became very upset over how the situation was handled and they stormed out to leave. The police even arrived. The incident has created a firestorm on social media.
One witnesses account posted on Facebook has been shared nearly 6,000 times already. Dozens of people have commented on sites like Facebook and Yelp. One witness named Ashly posted this on Yelp. I will never step foot in this establishment along with everyone else who was a part of our party. And we will spread the word of this terrible treatment until an apology is received. Unacceptable to say the least.
Morton’s responded on their Facebook page say, “Morton’s fans: We are aware of the situation that happened at our Nashville location over the weekend. We appreciate you all bringing it to our attention, and we have reached out to the parties involved and can assure you that all facts will be uncovered.”
FOX 17 News has talked with the victim who says that the restaurant has not contacted him.
As a cancer survivor myself I can attest to how chemo can make you very sensitive to cold temperatures. I could barely walk down a frozen food aisle at the grocery store during my treatment.
Sad that an assistant manager couldn’t use common sense and compassion in a delicate moment.
Here’s just one of several comments on Yelp about the incident.
(source)
Five year old cancer survivor becomes “Batkid” for a day
What happens when a five year old battling cancer decides his “Make A Wish” is to be Batman?
Even better – what happens when thousands of people decide to help make that wish come true?
Five year old Miles Scott, who’s cancer is in remission after his final chemo round in June, told the Make-A-Wish Foundation that his greatest wish was to be “Batman.” The Foundation jumped into action and, along with thousands of volunteers, an elaborate event is about to unfold in San Francisco:
The effort will include Miles’ own Batmobile, a personal call from Police Chief Greg Suhr for help, the apprehension of the Riddler and then a flash mob involving hundreds of people in Union Square alerting Batkid to the fact that Penguin has kidnapped Lou Seal, the San Francisco Giants mascot.
Batkid will then chase the Penguin around AT&T Park, rescuing Lou Seal and earning a key to the city during a presentation at City Hall.
All of these exploits were kicked off by a live television news bulletin carried by KGO-TV and covered in the “Gotham City Chronicle,” 1,000 copies of which were printed by the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, the top A1 story penned by — who else? — Clark Kent.
What truly made the event even more heart-warming was how thousands of people lined Batkid’s route or camped out in front of his next point of adventure. What a great show of love and humanity.
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| Batkid appears at AT&T Park to stop crime |
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| Batkid stopping “Gotham City” crime spree |
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| As a fellow cancer survivor I agree – “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” |
44 years ago today…
Today is the 44th anniversary of my mother passing away. I was only 6 when she died.
I’m running my blog post from 2011 in her memory, and for everyone affected by cancer.
I’m on your side.
******************************************
42 years ago today my birth mother passed away.
Of cancer.
I never forget the date.
Ever.
I refer to my “birth mother” because I was always aware of the fabulous women she sent to watch over me and mother me after she was gone. Truly, I was blessed to have the women around me who make me who I am today.
I just heard from a friend that his friend is going into surgery within hours for her cancer.
As the child of a cancer victim, and as a cancer ‘thriver’ myself (two years past my own journey), sometimes it takes a long, heavy sigh to accommodate these moments.
On Facebook there’s a campaign called “I wish Cancer would get Cancer and die”. I couldn’t agree more.
The cancer journey is truly like a bad movie. It’s unreal, surreal, long and incredibly scary. It’s not a funny Seth Rogen movie that has a funny, happy ending. It’s tough. I won’t sugar coat it.
I was lucky. I know it every day.
But a lot of people have much more difficult roads to travel with this insidious thing. I met them in the hospital, I watched their incredible courage.
My mother was one of those people. I was so young I don’t remember much about my birth mother except she fought hard, and was beautiful.
I like to joke I got one of those qualities from her. And it’s not my sexy good looks.
While October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, let’s think about all those who are fighting cancer. Period.
Let’s all think some good thoughts their way.
Let’s all think of those fighting the good fight in those fabulous times before the fight. They are still those same people. They just have a little more on their plates.
I’m on their side. Every day.
I’ll end this with my favorite picture I have of my parents. My mother is gorgeously stylish, and my dad looks like the stud he was. This was right before her battle began. This is how I think of her. Cancer can never change that.
No fear. Forward.
Short term memory
This is especially funny to folks who’ve done the chemotherapy/cancer thing. We laugh about it now, but right after my cancer journey in 2009, Michael would refer to conversations that we had apparently had and I had NO idea what he was talking about.
Eventually, a friend of mine – Kevin Hoyt, cancer warrior super-hero for It Ain’t Chemo – shared with me the fact that a lot of people who undergo chemo end up with some swiss cheese short term memory issues.
Kevin posted this today.
I have no idea what he meant by it 🙂
Dancing with the Stars – Valerie Harper Week 1
Inspiration. National treasure. Go, Valerie, go!
The Wellness Walk benefitting the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre
This Sunday, September 15th, in Melbourne, Australia, Olivia Newton-John will lead the 1st Annual Wellness Walk in a fundraising effort to benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.
As regular readers of The Randy Report know, my husband has been Olivia’s long-time publicist. Olivia is everything you hope she would be in person, and I am not shy in extolling her extraordinary virtues aside from her amazing talent but as a cancer “thriver” advocate.
She has dedicated years raising funds for the ONJCWC, with her focus on the Wellness Centre. The Wellness Centre component of this world-class facility helps bring comfort and non-traditional therapies into play with Western medicine approaches. The Wellness Centre provides massage therapy, art therapy, music therapy, meditation and a whole host of complementary programs to help those traveling their cancer journey.
As a cancer “thriver” myself, I know first hand how much these programs and therapies can help.
I don’t ask Randy Report readers often, but on this special occasion – the 1st anniversary of the opening of the ONJCWC – I’d like to ask, if you feel so inclined, to make a donation (however small) to the ONJCWC via the Wellness Walk this coming Sunday. Ten dollars, twenty dollars, whatever amount you may feel comfortable giving. My husband Michael is traveling there to take part in the event with Olivia and has set up a donation page under his name to make the process easy.
Michael sends this message:
Having worked with Olivia as her publicist for so many years I have watched everything she has done for the world and, being so closely involved with the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre since its inception – my goal is to help continue to raise funds and awareness for this place that is so near and dear to our hearts!
Please help and donate – every little bit helps and cancer impacts EVERYONE!
And thanks for being a part of The Randy Report.
Valerie Harper to appear on new season of “Dancing With The Stars”
TMZ has the scoop:
Valerie Harper — whom doctors gave three months to live back in March due to her terminal brain cancer — hasn’t just defied medicine by staying alive … she’s signed on to “Dancing with the Stars.”
As previously reported, 74-year-old Harper — famous for playing the role of Rhoda on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — announced she had been diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, a rare form of cancer in which cancer cells spread into the membrane surrounding the brain.
Doctors gave her roughly until June to live … but it’s already August, and we’ve learned she’s doing so well she is set to appear on the upcoming season of “Dancing,” an extremely physically-demanding reality show.
We’re told Valerie and her partner Tristan have already been practicing for two days, and she’s surprisingly good. Our sources say she’s completely self-sufficient and doesn’t need any special assistance.
Bette Midler sings WIND BENEATH MY WINGS to dying fan
Anna Greenberg, who was a huge fan of Broadway star Bette Midler, died last month after battling a rare form of cancer — rhabdomyosarcoma — at the age of 28.
Only days before Anna passed away, Bette, whom Greenberg met last December, called Anna in the hospital and sang to her ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’
Watch the video above. Bette begins singing at the 4:45 mark.
Very touching. And wonderful that Bette Midler would take the time to make Anna’s dream come true. That’s a great star.
Bette is currently starring in the hit play I’ll Eat You Last on Broadway.
(source)