Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt
After a 25 year career with the United Nations, US government, and non-profit organizations on human rights and conflict resolution, I made a change to provide leadership coaching and consulting to purpose-driven leaders and organizations. Working as a leadership coach has realized my dream to provide deeper support to those working on the frontlines for social change.
Then, at the age of 51, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer). Traveling and working all over the world (over 80 countries!) gave me a front seat to a universal law : Everything changes. While we can’t control the external events that happen to us, we choose how to interpret and live them. My cancer journey has brought rich learning about the human experience and how others have dealt with similar circumstances; a greater appreciation for life and relationships; and a deepened desire to expand my personal strengths, service in the world, spiritual development, creativity and connection.
Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt
A month ago I gave a speech at the #Cholangiocarcinoma Conference in Salt Lake City where I delivered a message of hope, while inviting participants to reflect on how we are ALL terminal and how the process of dying can be, if we choose, about living fully. My cancer journey has helped me appreciate that a shorter life of profound meaning has beauty that a longer life not deeply lived might lack. I knew that given our death-averse culture, addressing this issue so directly — particularly at a medical conference filled with doctors, scientists, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies — would be confronting, but we really need to see a change in our national discourse around death and dying and turn it into a more open and honest discussion. The speech also focuses on the mental health aspects of navigating a terminal diagnosis. It got a standing ovation which was completely unexpected!
#terminalcancer #stagefour #stage4needsmore
#cancerlife #cancerjourney#cancersurvivor #cancercommunity #rarecancer #cholangiocarcinoma #nevertooyoung #cancerthriver @survivorshipchronicles #cholangiocarcinomafoundation @cholangiocarcinoma @charityammf @memorialsloankettering @Cholangiocarcinoma #cancertreatment #oncology #tumor
2 years ago | [YT] | 0
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