DENISE'S BIO Reverend Denise DeSimone is a motivational and inspirational public speaker, and workshop leader, with an extensive background in Interfaith Ministery, and a wide range of holistic healing practices. These healing practices include: Sound Healing, Reiki, Polarity Therapy, Reflexology, Shamanism and Process Therapy.  For the past 10 years she has been a member and a Chaplain at Unity on the River, “A Church of Celebration” in Amesbury, MA. Denise recently completed a two-year ministerial program through CHIME of Maine.  She was ordained as an inter-faith minister on June 7th. She travels extensively throughout the United States speaking and teaching. Denise resides in the Newburyport, MA area where she has lived for the past 15 years. Presently Denise is penning her first book. DENISE'S STORY - The short version... “You have cancer.  You have a very serious, fast moving cancer and you need to do something about this immediately.” These were the first words I heard upon awakening after a “routine” biopsy to determine the pathology of the lump on the left side of my neck.  My response, “Do I have lymphoma.”  Dr. Bentley looks straight into my eyes and says, “I wish I could tell you that you have lymphoma.  What you have is much more serious. It is called ‘squamous cell carcinoma’ and you are a very sick woman.” Given three months to live because of stage IV throat/neck cancer (August 2005), to singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park in Boston, MA (July 2007), to riding my bicycle 85 miles for the Pan Mass Challenge in one day (August 2007) while personally raising over $11,000 for children’s cancer research through the Jimmy Fund - all in less than two years, I am living proof that the unexpected can be achieved. This is a story of a woman’s journey with cancer.  Not just any woman, me, a dedicated health nut.  My usual routine of working out at the gym three days a week, swimming on the off days, walking, riding my bike, playing golf and taking care to eat well didn’t make me immune. Spirituality was at the top of my list, as I was and always will be a seeker and a person who walked closely with God.  I was certain this multi-pronged, master combination would keep me in a good healthy body.  I guess there are no guarantees. It was clear to my family and me that we needed to get to Boston ASAP. A team of doctors at Mass Eye and Ear, Head and Neck Oncology Department’s diagnosis was stage IV cancer on both sides of my neck, with a primary tumor on the back of my tongue. It was mid-September and the doctors warned me, if I didn’t move quickly with treatment I would not be alive for Christmas.  Chemo therapy along with daily radiation treatments for two and a half months would hopefully keep me alive. Two weeks later a feeding tube was surgically inserted into my stomach, and the rigorous treatments began. As the white coats predicted, I lost all ability to eat, drink, and could barely speak. It took three months before I could drink anything and, for nine months, all nutrition came by way of my feeding tube.  What little voice I had would fade completely by mid-afternoon, and the most devastating aspect of this journey was my inability to sing a single note.  I always had a song in my heart and most often walked around with the melody on my lips. My doctors warned me of the possibility that I might never sing again. Early on I made a commitment to myself, my family, and my spiritual community, the more these treatments wracked my body, the more my spirit would soar.  Choosing to view this as having an “opportunity” as opposed to having cancer was what, I believe, saved my life.  Addressing my spiritual community at Unity On The River in Amesbury, MA one Sunday morning, I asked, “please, if you would, do not label me as a cancer victim. I do not have cancer, I have an opportunity. Hold the’ high watch’ for me and know this is my opportunity to take a closer walk with God.” This is not to say I was not angry and confused.  I’m human and my spirituality needed to make room and allow for my personality to express itself. And it did.  By the same token, I was determined to work with this cancer and approach it from a very different perspective. I didn’t look at this as most people do, as a “battle.” I think our culture makes a huge mistake in looking at “battling” cancer as opposed to embracing it.  My cancer came as a teacher and a sage.  Naming this cancer PIN- an acronym for Pain In the Neck, I gave it a pen and gave it permission to teach me. The lessons were rich and enlightening and taught me something deeply critical to healing…self love. When we love ourselves we don’t want to battle anything.  When we love ourselves we allow our vibration to be in a place where we attract life at a higher frequency; a frequency that promotes healing on all levels, emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Self love is the all-time greatest healer. Early on I had to make a decision to either let myself die or go through the rigors of hell to stay alive.  During this discernment process I often talked to God… “should you choose to keep me alive, please use my life in a big way to help inspire others.”  There is no doubt that God was listening because on July 14th, 2007, just 22 months after my diagnosis, I sang the National Anthem before 35,000 fans at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.  The exposure from just that one night touched so many and reached thousands of people. And yes, God is using my life in a big way. Weekly I am contacted to pray for and often times work with people struggling with cancer. The trajectory of my life has shifted tremendously as I am now an Interfaith Minister. I am blessed to be able to travel the country offering ceremony, speaking, and teaching workshops.  I live in the moment -- continually open to what God has in store for me next.  Every day is a gift and each day I open this gift with a heart full of gratitude.