Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul (38 page)

Rita Kluny, R.N., B.S.N., C.H.T.P., C.H.T.I., H.N.C.,
is a Healing Touch (energy healing) instructor. She founded the Healing Touch for Babies program, and teaches workshops and consults internationally. She practices Healing Touch seasonally at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, and was named the 1994 American Holistic Nurse of the Year. Her Web site is
www.healingtouchforbabies.com
.
E-mail her at
[email protected].

Elsie Schmied Knoke, R.N.,
received a bachelor of general studies with honors from Roosevelt University and a master’s in management from Northwestern University. She wrote articles and two anthologies for nurse managers. Now retired, she writes essays and short stories. Her novel
Apple
Blossom Time
is on
www.enovel.com
.

Dawn Koehn
is an OB nurse/sonographer in Enid, Oklahoma. She and her husband, Ron, have three sons. Dawn enjoys reading, gardening, travel and spending time with family and friends. She plans to continue her nursing education at Oklahoma University. You may reach her at
[email protected]
.

Laura Hayes Lagana
is a registered nurse, professional speaker, author of a forthcoming inspirational book about caregivers, patients, nurses and is one of the coauthors of
Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul
. She may be reached at Success Solutions, P.O. Box 7816, Wilmington, DE 19803 or by e-mail at
[email protected]
. You may visit her Web site at
www.LauraLagana.com
.

Debbie Lukasiewicz
is the blessed mother of seven children and wife to one terrific man. Baby Ty is a happy, healthy five-year-old. Debbie and Del give thanks daily for all their miracle babies.

Christy M. Martin
is a nurse in a small town with a big heart—Chillicothe, Texas. She loves the outdoors and spending time with her two children. She dreams of some day hanging up her nurse’s cap and becoming a full-time writer.

Maxine,
America’s Queen of Attitude, has graced Hallmark products since 1986. When Maxine speaks her mind, more often than not she’s speaking our minds, too. With her own nationally syndicated cartoon, Maxine always tells it like it is—and her fans wouldn’t want it any other way.

Shirley McCullough
’s insights come largely from her experiences as a registered nurse, home health agency administrator and community health educator. Please reach her at
[email protected]
.

Donna McDonnall, R.N.,
graduated from Immanuel Medical Center, Omaha. Donna recently retired after working eighteen years as a public health/school nurse. She was named Colorado School Nurse of the Year in 1999 and received the Nightingale Award in 1991. She enjoys writing, traveling, photography and her family. You may contact her at
[email protected]
.

Linda McNeil
was a physical therapist in her first life. She is now an author, professional speaker and consultant specializing in change, customer service and team building. “Lin” is the author of
7 Keys to Changing: Your Life, Health and
Wealth
. You may reach her at 1-800-745-3488 or at
[email protected]
. Visit her Web site at
www.linmcneil.com
.

Roberta L. Messner, R.N., Ph.D.,
is widely published in the nursing and lay literature. She speaks on a variety of nursing and inspirational topics, including the popular
Stories That Shape Nurses,
a presentation that encourages nurses to believe in the power of their own stories. She can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Joyce Mueller, R.N.,
is a retired nurse, mom, grandmom and world traveler. She has lived and worked in Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Solomon Islands. She enjoys her life on the Oregon coast, where she writes fiction, poems and memoirs. Please contact her at P.O. Box 718, Port Orford, OR 97465.

Terri Murcia,
born November 26, 1963, received her B.A. degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1985. She has been happily married for twelve years and has a three-month-old son. She walked in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day in October 2001 in memory of her mother and grandmother. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].

Janis Nark, Lt. Col., U.S.A.R. (Ret.),
served for twenty-six years in the Army Nurse Corps with assignments that included Vietnam and Desert Storm. She is a highly sought-after motivational speaker addressing the areas of change and stress, who touches the heart, tear ducts and funny bones of all who hear her. She is published in four books and has three presentations on tape, including “Finding Control in the Chaos” and “Tools for Transformation: Change Does Not Equal Stress.” You may contact her at
www.Nark.com
or
[email protected]
. Her phone number is 828-652-2155 and fax is 828-652-4547.

Marianne Neifert, M.D.,
is commonly known as “Dr. Mom,” is a pediatrician, author of parenting books, national speaker and the mother of five grown children— all born during her medical training. She is a contributing editor for
Parenting Magazine
and writes a bimonthly medical column for
BabyTalk
Magazine.
She can be contacted for speaking engagements on parenting issues and life balance at Dr. Mom Presentations, P.O. Box 880, Parker, CO 80134 or
[email protected].
Visit her Web site at
www.Dr-Mom.com
.

Chris S. Patterson
is a “man of many hats.” An accomplished chef, his career was cut short by lung cancer, directing him to pursue his loves of drawing and writing. As a survivor, he has established himself as a published freelance cartoonist, illustrator, and published writer of humor and poetry. Please contact him at
[email protected].

Susan Pearson, R.N.,
received her degree from Quincy College in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She is the mother of six sons, and works in long-term care with many wonderful “roses.” Susan enjoys writing, gardening and working on her student nurse Web site, the Snurse’s Bookmark. Visit her at
www.tripod.com/susanp/index.html
.

J. C. Pinkerton
graduated Stonewall Jackson Nursing School and attended Southern Sem College in Virginia. After a career in nursing, she now enjoys freelance writing. She is constantly researching ancient history, America in the 1800s and children’s stories. For more information on J. C. Pinkerton, contact her at
www.angelfire.com/journal/writersdream
or e-mail her at
[email protected]
.

Corrine Pratz
is a freelance writer with a passion for creating works that make an impact. She has had stories and articles published in magazines, newspapers and online. She is the author of
Color Me Happy!! An Approach to
Expressive Arts for Children
and has conducted workshops and seminars relating to various art forms. Her second book
Losing Dad
will be completed in 2001. She lives on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, with her four great kids and wonderful husband. She can be reached at Box 1573, Lake Cowichan, BC, Canada V0R 2G0 or through
[email protected]
.

Rhona Knox Prescott, R.N., L.C.S.W.,
is a nurse, clinical diplomate in social work and author. She coauthored
Another Kind of War Story: Army Nurses Look
Back to Vietnam
in 1993 and has had many poems and short articles published that deal with the combat experience from a nurse’s perspective. She graduated from the University of Houston. Her stepmother and daughter have also served with the U.S. Army providing three generations of female military service. Her clinical specialty is trauma counseling. Maureen W. Southorn, her daughter, is also published. Her son, Mike Prescott, works for Executive Books. Marianne Austin, her daughter, is a chemist. You may reach Rhona at
[email protected]
.

Maryjo Relampagos Pulmano
is an R.N. working for Kaiser Permanente in southern California. She thanks her parents for raising her to become a writer, singer and nurse. She thanks her husband, Rayne, son Nathaniel and the Pulmano family for teaching her the true meaning of family. You may reach Maryjo at
[email protected]
.

Zaphra Reskakis, M.S., R.Ph.,
has a B.S. in pharmacy from Columbia University and an M.S. in clinical pharmacy from St. John’s University. She has been published in
Clever, Reminisce, Hellenic Chronicle, Lose Your Identity
and
What’s Cooking
. Zaphra is a storyteller, enjoys theater, traveling and being the
yiayia
(Greek for grandma) of Amanda, Brendan, Cory, Nicholas and Michael. You may e-mail her at
[email protected]
.

Naomi Rhode, R.D.H., C.S.P., C.P.A.E.
Speaker Hall of Fame, is past president of the National Speakers Association, recipient of the 1997 Cavett Award and is known for her inspirational, dynamic speaking to both healthcare and general audiences. She is co-owner and vice chairman of Smart Practice, a marketing and manufacturing company, which provides products and services to the healthcare industry worldwide. Naomi is the author of two inspirational gift books,
The Gift of Family—A Legacy of Love
and
More Beautiful Than
Diamonds—The Gift of Friendship
. She is also a contributor and coauthor of
Meditations for the Road Warriors
and many other books and publications. You may visit her Web site at
www.smarthealth.com/rhode
.

Anne Riffenburgh
received a master’s of social work degree from the University of Southern California in 1988. She has worked extensively with patients and families impacted by cancer. Recently she completed
Helping
Children Cope with Grief: A Handbook for Parents, Teachers and Therapists.
She may be reached at
[email protected]
.

John Wayne Schlatter
is a frequent contributor to
Chicken Soup for the Soul
and can be seen and heard on the video and audio versions of this series. In 1993, Professional Speaker Network named him Speaker of the Year. He can be contacted at 760-787-9134.

Victoria Schlintz, R.N., M.A.,
is a registered nurse and has a master’s degree in education. She has an emergency nursing background, and currently directs education services at a Northern California hospital. She is also a student at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, and an ordination candidate in the United Methodist Church.

Georgann Phillips Schultz, R.N., M.A.,
lives in Virginia with her husband and two preschool daughters. She writes poetry, picture books and MG fiction for children and moderates three children’s writing groups. Her picture book,
Foghorn Hannah,
Munchweiler Press, Spring 2002, starts, where else? In a hospital nursery! You may reach her at
[email protected]
.

Margie Seyfer
is a nationally known motivational speaker who conducts high-energy keynotes and workshops on attitude enhancement and telephone customer service. She has inspired thousands of people to become more effective in the areas of communication, interpersonal skills and workplace harmony. Please reach her at
[email protected]
.

Duane Shaw
is a retired business entrepreneur. He is a highly decorated combat Vietnam veteran and is currently writing a military autobiography. Plans for future books include a men’s handbook
How to Love and Treasure Your Partner
and
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Inside Out
. Publisher inquiries welcome. You may e-mail Duane at
[email protected]
.

Beatrice Sheftel
received her associate’s degree from Manchester Community College, her bachelor’s from the University of Connecticut. She is a substitute teacher, freelance writer. She is published extensively online and in regional and national publications. She is completing an inspirational novel and memoir about growing up in Brooklyn, New York. You may e-mail Bea at
[email protected]
.

Dennis Sibley
is a former United Kingdom hospice nurse who has a master’s of arts degree in Death and Society from Reading University. Dennis is chairman of The Buddhist Hospice Trust, which offers spiritual support from within a Buddhist perspective. He can be reached at
dsibley@
ukonline.co.uk
.

Bernard S. Siegel, M.D.,
who prefers to be called Bernie, retired from the practice of general surgery in 1989 to speak to patients and their caregivers. In 1978, he originated Exceptional Cancer Patients, a specific form of individual and group therapy. EcaP is based on “carefrontation.” In 1986, his first book,
Love, Medicine and Miracles
was published, followed by
Peace, Love and Healing
and
How to Live Between Office Visits.
Bernie’s realization that we all need help dealing with the difficulties of life, not just the physical ones, led to his fourth book,
Prescriptions for Living.
It helps people become aware of the eternal truths and wisdom of the sages through Bernie’s stories rather than await a personal disaster. Bernie and his wife and coworker, Bobbie, live in a suburb of New Haven, Connecticut. They have five children and eight grandchildren. Contact Bernie through his Web site at
www.ecap-online.org
,
via e-mail at
[email protected]
or by phone at 814-337-8192.