?Roxanne has learned, no doubt the hard way, that some of us inherit the arduous task of paving the road and leveling the bumps for others. Citizens of sickness seek community. She understands. This young woman?s journey offers us a roadmap, for which I am grateful.?
?Richard M. Cohen, N.Y. Times Best-selling author of Blindsided and Strong at the Broken Places.
?Life happened to Roxanne while she was busy making plans. Her heart felt experience reminds us of the sacred experiences we all share." ? Dr. Mehmet Oz
?Roxanne Black is a dream of a writer ? right up there with Anne Lamott. Unexpected Blessings is full of light, humor, and soul. It is not just helpful for those facing illness, it is a great read!? ? Christiane Northrup
?Unexpected Blessings describes the heroic journey of an extraordinary woman, who has turned her experience with chronic illness into a vehicle for healing others. Throughout history the ?wounded healer? has been the most effective healer, and Roxanne Black is one of the greatest examples of a wounded healer I know. Anyone will be uplifted by her message of hope, courage, and renewal.? ? Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions
?I have known and worked with Roxanne Black for many years. She is a true survivor and has been one of my teachers and someone I truly admire. Her attitude and will to live are contagious. I feel her desire to help others who are wounded reveals how important our relationships and connections are to our survival. In love's service only the wounded soldier can serve. Read this inspiring book and let it guide you in your life and surviving your difficulties.?
- Bernie Siegel, MD author of Love, Medicine & Miracles, Help Me to Heal and 365 Prescriptions for the Soul
?With wisdom and grace, Roxanne Black shows us that we can find laughter amid tears, and a sense of deep optimism in spite of our struggles and pain. UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS is deeply moving.?
?Deepak Chopra, author of The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
?Roxanne has learned, no doubt the hard way, that some of us inherit the arduous task of paving the road and leveling the bumps for others. Citizens of sickness seek community. She understands. This young woman?s journey offers us a roadmap, for which I am grateful.?
?Richard M. Cohen, N.Y. Times Best-selling author of Blindsided and Strong at the Broken Places.
?Life happened to Roxanne while she was busy making plans. Her heart felt experience reminds us of the sacred experiences we all share." ? Dr. Mehmet Oz
?Roxanne Black is a dream of a writer ? right up there with Anne Lamott. Unexpected Blessings is full of light, humor, and soul. It is not just helpful for those facing illness, it is a great read!? ? Christiane Northrup
?Unexpected Blessings describes the heroic journey of an extraordinary woman, who has turned her experience with chronic illness into a vehicle for healing others. Throughout history the ?wounded healer? has been the most effective healer, and Roxanne Black is one of the greatest examples of a wounded healer I know. Anyone will be uplifted by her message of hope, courage, and renewal.?
? Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions
?I have known and worked with Roxanne Black for many years. She is a true survivor and has been one of my teachers and someone I truly admire. Her attitude and will to live are contagious. I feel her desire to help others who are wounded reveals how important our relationships and connections are to our survival. In love's service only the wounded soldier can serve. Read this inspiring book and let it guide you in your life and surviving your difficulties.?
- Bernie Siegel, MD author of Love, Medicine & Miracles, Help Me to Heal and 365 Prescriptions for the Soul
When Roxanne Black was only fifteen years old, she was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can attack the vital organs of the body. As a teenager with a frightening and sometimes life-threatening disease, she yearned to connect with others who knew firsthand what she was experiencing. So she started a support group from her hospital room to bring patients together. That group now has become Friends? Health Connection, a nationwide community that matches people with similar conditions, from cancer and lupus to paralysis and chronic pain and more. Along the way, Roxanne Black has inspired millions.
Roxanne?s mission each day for the last twenty years has been to turn her ?bad news? diagnosis into something positive. As she says, ?When I might wonder ?Why me?,? I know the answer: ?To help others.?? Unexpected Blessings is an extension of that goal, bringing to life not only Black?s moving personal story but also the lessons of courage she?s learned from all the famous and not-so-famous people she?s met over the years. From a poignant encounter with Christopher Reeve to her intimate experiences with patients around the globe standing strong in the face of extraordinary challenges, these are stories of heroism and hope. They are also reminders of the healing that comes when we can connect from the heart.
Warm and down-to-earth, Unexpected Blessings offers support and encouragement to anyone touched by illness or just facing a difficult time in life. It is a powerful testimony to the strength of the human spirit.
Roxanne Black is the founder and executive director of Friends? Health Connection an internationally recognized organization that connects people with similar illnesses or conditions. Friends? Health Connection also offers events across the country and a wellness lecture series featuring such high-profile speakers as Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oliver Sacks, Elizabeth Edwards, and many others. Black has received several honors, including recognition as one of former president Bush?s Thousand Points of Light, and her story has been featured in publications such as The New York Times and USA Today.
When Roxanne Black was only fifteen years old, she was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can attack the vital organs of the body. As a teenager with a frightening and sometimes life-threatening disease, she yearned to connect with others who knew firsthand what she was experiencing. So she started a support group from her hospital room to bring patients together. That group now has become Friends? Health Connection, a nationwide community that matches people with similar conditions, from cancer and lupus to paralysis and chronic pain and more. Along the way, Roxanne Black has inspired millions.
Roxanne?s mission each day for the last twenty years has been to turn her ?bad news? diagnosis into something positive. As she says, ?When I might wonder ?Why me?,? I know the answer: ?To help others.?? Unexpected Blessings is an extension of that goal, bringing to life not only Black?s moving personal story but also the lessons of courage she?s learned from all the famous and not-so-famous people she?s met over the years. From a poignant encounter with Christopher Reeve to her intimate experiences with patients around the globe standing strong in the face of extraordinary challenges, these are stories of heroism and hope. They are also reminders of the healing that comes when we can connect from the heart.
Warm and down-to-earth, Unexpected Blessings offers support and encouragement to anyone touched by illness or just facing a difficult time in life. It is a powerful testimony to the strength of the human spirit.