In the worst situations, strength and compassion shine brightest. Terrible times strip away everything but what’s essential, leaving bare the best in us and those we encounter during our trials.
The first time I learned the depth of this truth was when I co-produced a video for the Leukemia Society of America (nowadays Leukemia and Lymphoma Society). They’d hired my business partner, David Hunt (who has written for HBT here and here), and me (our non-profit company was called, Vista Educational Media) to encourage therapists, as well as people struggling with leukemia to get involved in the agency’s support groups. Executive Producer was Maureen Nunn. We videotaped at Wellness Community South Bay Cities, which is now Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach. The Los Angeles Times wrote of participant Roger Kahl’s valiant life here.
The way David and I worked was always to let subjects speak their truths, then we’d do our best to edit and narrate accurately. For each project, David and I would alternate who would be in charge and who would assist.
Thank goodness for this one David conducted the interviews, wrote, edited, and narrated. It took all I had not to sob while I stood to videotape behind the tripod. Reviewing it all these many years later, I still cry at the incredible bravery of the interviewees and David’s outstanding storytelling.
On David’s site, he details his experience with this project. Here’s his preliminary description for my site here…
“By the 1990s health educators understood that video-assisted storytelling was an effective way to engage patients and get them involved in their own health care. But many of the nation’s top health organizations, including the Leukemia Society, used actors as stand-ins for actual patients in their health education videos. In 1992 I was part of a documentary team that convinced the organization to trust people with leukemia to share their own stories.”
Happiness Between Tails by da-AL 
Video works now!
This is fantastic, such a good idea to get an insight into those with these conditions through that support group. Where the woman says about the “We don’t all live forever” speech she was given.. I could have cried too. Definitely better than staged videos and actors/actresses. xx
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so glad – thanks much, Caz ❤
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BTW, the video won’t play here but it directs to a You Tube site where it can be viewed.
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ok – tx for letting me know
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Daal, I don’t know how you held the camera straight. I can see your tears as you listen to these people who are so gravely ill and so bravely honest. Such a powerful film, one that puts my own life’s irritations into perspective and humbles me.
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some of us model how we should be — others how we shouldn’t — I hope I’m mostly the first one, tho am sure I’ve been the 2nd one plenty of times lol
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I can imagine how hard that project must have been with such interviews. Sadly I can’t see the video but I think it’s a wonderful thing to do, to raise awareness of the support groups, and to give a voice to those with leukaemia to share their experiences themselves. I think that’s incredibly important. xx
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just changed setting – perhaps works now?
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What a wonderful post! The video didn’t work for me either, but your words were enough to convey the feelings of what you did and witnessed.
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many thanks for your kind words – have adjusted a youtube setting, so fingers crossed will work now…
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I cannot view the video either. But wow, that was brave of both, the patients and you!
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thank you, Birgit – youtube problematic lately…
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Birgit – on second thought, I just changed a setting on youtube for that video – if you get a chance, could you let me know if now works for you?
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Yes, it works for me now, thank you very much!
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thank goodness – many thanks for checking back ❤
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the video did not play for me – but I got the essence thru the post – and da-Al – and those patients sound brave and awesome and nice to have their voice and not actors
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thank you!
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What an extraordinary experience, da-AL. I can well envision being unable to stop the tears when the interviewees told their stories. I was similarly effected when the wife of an attorney I worked with told me why she couldn’t attend a company function. I couldn’t bear that she routinely bore so much pain. She eventually passed away shortly after I went to work for another firm. I’ve never known anyone so very brave.
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so sorry, Barbara – some people truly are amazing. why are they the ones who often don’t stick around long?…
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