My REAL Breast Cancer Story As Shared With a Twitter Friend

In Breast Cancer, Creating Happiness, Recent Posts by Barbara Jacoby

Barbara Jacoby On UBN RadioMany years ago, Ana Garcia, an award-winning TV journalist with a unique storytelling style that has earned her 8 Emmy’s, 10 Golden Mikes and the honor of being named TV Journalist of the Year for a record 5 times by the Los Angeles Press Club became my Twitter friend. While we do not remember exactly who “stalked” whom in this arena, we have followed each other’s journey over all this time, never having met in person. Therefore, I was completely surprised and appreciative when Ana reached out to me with the offer of sharing my story within her current Universal Broadcasting Network Radio/TV show titled, “Shut Up!” with Dorothy Lucey and Deborah Kobylt. These well-known and greatly respected TV journalists combine their unique personalities and talents to create a unique series that covers issues across the spectrum of everything from politics, current events, travel, entertainment and social issues – and then some. And while they address such a wide variety of compelling topics, they present everything in a free-wielding style in an environment that is without broadcast restrictions that will have you laughing out loud one minute and totally in tears the next as they craft an adventurous program that will keep you coming back for more.

I walked away from this experience without any feeling of this being an “interview” but rather with a sharing of my experiences with new friends. Barbara Jacoby

I lay out this background about these talented women for a very special reason. I walked away from this experience without any feeling of this being an “interview” but rather with a sharing of my experiences with new friends. As a result, I felt inclined to listen back to the show and was so surprised and delighted by the results. With their unique talents and interview skills, these women revealed the “real” story of how I was able to heal not only from my 2x breast cancer ordeals and my years of domestic violence but also to be able to find a voice to help others who also have similar experiences. It is because of and through the love and support and talents of my husband, Kirk.

With their unique talents and interview skills, these women revealed the “real” story of how I was able to heal not only from my 2x breast cancer ordeals and my years of domestic violence but also to be able to find a voice to help others who also have similar experiences.Barbara Jacoby

If you listen to the interview yourself, you will find that the origins of “Let Life Happen” actually date back years before the website when Kirk suggested that we take some of the poems that I wrote and turn them in to songs. Kirk then created all of the melodies and sang all of the songs on this CD, including the one that he wrote for me. I chose to share the music with a friend who passed it on to one of her friends who was dealing with breast cancer at that time and this woman felt inspired by what she heard. Therefore, when a friend of mine shared that she was dealing with breast cancer, I shared the music with her, too. She was so grateful for the inspiration that she received and she indicated that she wanted to be able to share with others in her support group. So we donated CD’s to be included in gift baskets that were being given to newly-diagnosed women in the area being supported by my friend and her fellow survivors. This all occurred more than 5 years before I was first diagnosed myself.

UBN crew

From left: Jason Daks, Ana Garcia, Barbara Jacoby, Dorothy Lucey, Deborah Kobylt and Charles Stewart

Therefore, after the second breast cancer diagnosis, when Kirk convinced me that if I was willing to write about my experiences he would create the website, it seemed only logical to him that it should carry the same name as our first joint project and I totally agreed. But, if it were only a website to display my writings, no one would probably even be aware of what I was trying to do. So, with every aspect of what has been needed to create the platform that we wanted, Kirk has made it happen and continues to grow it and update it and enhance it all of the time. Therefore, to every person who has ever received something of value from the Let Life Happen website, know that we truly owe it all to Kirk and his vision and his desire to help others as a driving force that has always been a part of his very essence.

I want to give a very special thank you to Ana Garcia, Dorothy Lucey and Deborah Kobylt for having me as their guest and for the wonderful way in which you created the forum to acknowledge the true story behind Let Life Happen and its purpose. These ladies also included Dorothy’s mother on the set along with their friends Charles Stewart and Jason Daks with whom these ladies have worked and who are also fans of their show, giving the whole experience a feeling of love and support all around. I hope that all of you will check out this show and that you will add “Shut Up” to your list of “must tune-ins” if you appreciate a truly unique listening and viewing experience.