ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have to start by thanking my awesome husband and daughter who put up with me writing on vacations, writing on the walls when I couldn’t use a computer, and who valiantly tried to take dictation from my messed-up head to help me get my work done. Thank you for leaving me alone with my research and our dogs to “do my thing.” I still haven’t gotten over one of you killing Mr. Fish when I was traveling and researching this book, but eventually my grief will subside. Another Mr. Fish would help.
My admiration and respect for my editor Cheryl Segura can’t be put into words. We had the idea for this book five years ago, and at our first breakfast together in 2015, we clicked. Then life happened and we almost didn’t get the book done. Her tenacity of purpose and her dedication to me are unsurpassed. I also want to thank “Baby” Segura for being so good to Mommy during a very critical time of editing the book. Thanks to everyone at McGraw Hill who was part of Cheryl’s team. Special thanks to Nora Hennick, Amanda Muller, Mauna Eichner, and Lee Fukui.
I would not be here without the love and amazing care of Dr. Yasmin Rahim, who works at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake. Yasmin, without you, I think I may have simply asked for chemo all those years ago. With you, I climbed mountains.
A huge thanks to Dr. Hassan Sibai, my brilliant oncoloxgist and his research team, including Nancy Siddiq and Verna Chung, the clinical nurses I have the privilege of working with at UHN. Even though you persist in testing my blood and making me show up for appointments when I really want to forget, I appreciate you. You have not only taught me how to thrive but how to eat and survive. Every visit with Dr. Sibai is a huge intellectual hug. He encourages my research, my routine, and my passion to help others heal.
I would also like to thank Dr. Vikas Gupta, director of the Elizabeth and Tony Comper MPN Program at Princess Margaret Cancer Center, who, along with Dr. Hassan and Dr. Yasmin, encouraged and supported my research pursuits. This wonderful group of doctors and nurses at UHN believe in my research so much they have agreed to run clinical trials on my digital therapeutic, called Footle. A digital therapeutic is an evidence-based therapeutic that is run with software to prevent, manage, or treat a disease, based on the research in this book. Our goal is to help other leukemia and chronic disease patients reduce their stress. Last but not least, I would like to thank Dr. Daria Love, who introduced me to yoga, supplements, and “cleaner” living. Because of all my doctors and nurses, I thrive with this disease, instead of being left to wither on the vine.
Speaking about withering, without my friends, I think I would have just shriveled up and hid. Thank you to Karen Howe for always feeding us physically and emotionally. Karen, Randy, Connor, and Maura—you have always been there at critical times in our life and I appreciate it so much. Thanks for introducing my daughter to cooking and all the expensive foods that go with haute cuisine (like caviar—really, Karen?).
Christine Thomlinson and Jane McLeod are both awesome at cooking. My daughter is a fixture at both their houses, usually with her head in their cupboards. (Apparently our house has no food in it.) Both are executive working moms and have been my friends since our kids were in daycare together. We have traveled together as families and for girls’ weekends. Together, we have drunk too much and eaten some amazing food (and some really bad food tainted by my blood due to my clumsiness in the kitchen). Much to Jane’s husband Patrick’s chagrin, we have raced to rides at Disney and run to beat the line to meet Mickey Mouse. Heath, Chris’s husband, will tell you that, as a group, we have spent far too little time together with Elvis. Last, we have mourned together. We have weathered the storms of parents, parenthood, and pandemics—thank you.
To my dear friend Beth Gordon Henry, who shares three special bonds with me: rescue dogs, martinis, and an occasional really good steak. Your friendship, love, and willingness to teach me “corporate” speak is invaluable.
To the best-selling author Jeremy Miller, my work-husband who is always there for me. He always picks up the phone and always has time for a brainstorm or chat, especially when I just riff on ideas. Keep up the rants, pal; they are awesome.
To Don Loney, my friend and fellow dog lover, who has edited not only my corporate work and helped me with this book but my husband’s book as well. We have windsurfed together, enjoyed many a pint or glass of wine together, and really enjoyed our walks with the dogs together.
My thanks to my hero Mike (Michael) Camp, who not only embraced my system at Walmart when we first met in 2012 but championed it. Mike, without you I doubt I would have written this book. Thank you.
Speaking of champions, I couldn’t continue without my xiifriend Trish Ronan, who has been my “bestie” since the first day of undergraduate together at the University of Windsor, when people mistook me for her and her for me. Thanks for always taking care of everything and everyone when I needed you, pal. Now please stop spoiling my daughter!
My other champion is Christina Hois, whom my family originally called my “yoga friend” but now calls her “our friend.” This giving woman—who is a cancer survivor, warrior mommy, and brilliant banker—is an amazing supporter whose truth seeking in conversation is equaled by her love of Bikram yoga, exercise, and opera. Hopefully we can one day travel to every opera house in the world together!
Whenever I have needed to understand “why,” I have called on my pal Jordan Sheridan. He is one of those humans who you meet and immediately like. Thank you, Jordan, for texting, meeting, brainstorming, and always buying me lunch. You are a true gentleman.
Breaking bread with people seems to be a theme so far in this acknowledgment, so why not continue? I have had the privilege of sharing a meal many times with my mentors: Chris Ishii, Mark Tinnerman, Dr. Alan Middleton, Tom Bitove, and John Barnett. Each has unwaveringly believed in me. They have always picked up the phone or bought me lunch. When discussing my ideas and products, at times, they have been harsh and at other times, they have been effusive in their praise. Thank you, boys!
My business coach Samy Chong is not only a brilliant cook and charming dinner companion, he is my philosophical rock who weekly helps me find my way. Thank you, Samy! My dear friend Sarah Collins is my brand coach. Sarah, thank you for encouraging and supporting not only me but my daughter as well. Thank you.
A big thank you to my friend Pam McElvane, whom I met because of my work in Arkansas and who was responsible for xiiime meeting Dr. Ronald Copeland of Kaiser Permanente. Dr. Copeland and Jabo Floyd of Walmart inspired the research that became this book. Pam, thank you for inviting me to present at the Diversity MBA conferences and for always finding me a glass of wine and a sandwich with chips.
Speaking of wine, I have to thank my colleague and friend Mohammad Mahasneh, who, until recently, was director of communications at my company and who continues to be a dear friend. Mo encourages me and, like me, enjoys a good bottle of Chablis. Mo, thank you for always buying me the best presents, including Veuve Clicquot. Thank you to my friend Marcel Bregstein, the assistant general manager at the Toronto Hunt Club, for his talent as a sommelier and for finding the aforementioned Chablis and champagne. Thank you to my friend Leslie Lorenz Karduck, who had an even worse year than I did but still found time to be my “lifeline” whenever I went to an AI conference (and who, of course, drank wine with me whenever I was in Seattle). Speaking of Seattle, thank you to Dave Heller and Raanah Amjadi, my Envision pals who have become my friends. Thank you both for your support and love and for the drinks!
Last, but not least, I would like to thank my Friday night family, the team at Souvlaki Hut (Queen and Wineva), who feeds me every single Friday night. Because of you, the sadness of always writing alone on the weekends was felt a little less.