Andrea Wilson Woods, Gen X, joins Yo to discuss the book she’s edited: I’d Rather Be Dead than Deaf. The book is the journal of Adrienne Wilson, a teenage artist, poet, and Andrea’s beloved sister. Before her death from liver cancer at the age of fifteen, Adrienne expressed her funny, bright soul in this prolific journal. Her musings on life, relationships, music, love, and the beautiful grime of her adopted hometown of Los Angeles leap off the page; her deep sensitivity and perspective are captured in full-color prints of her award-winning artwork.
We will all relate to their love story!
Andrea is a keynote speaker, a writer who loves to tell stories, and a patient advocate who founded the nonprofit Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association. For over ten years, Andrea worked in the education field as a teacher and professor for public and private schools as well as universities. Andrea obtained her master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California; her nonfiction writing has won national awards. Her best-selling and award-winning book, Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days, is a medical memoir about raising and losing her sister to liver cancer. Here are the topics we covered:
- Blue Faery Foundation’s mission
- Misconceptions around liver cancer
- Adrienne’s view of herself as a leader
- Challenging the common sense view of grief
- Lessons learned leading Blue Faery
- Advice for different generations
Here are the three takeaways from the series:
1. Adrienne didn’t see herself as leader but she is taking the lead to teach us about cancer and death
through her art and poetry.
2. Grief isn’t linear or predictable – It took Andrea 17 years to be angry.
3. Liver cancer is filled with misconceptions with resources lacking to support patients, especially
women, and Andrea’s book provides a voice from a patient to patients.
As Mentioned:
Andrea’s books:
Better Off Bald: A Life in 147 Days
Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Foundation
More About Andrea:
In 2002, Andrea founded Blue Faery: The Adrienne Wilson Liver Cancer Association after losing her 15-year-old sister Adrienne, whom she raised for seven years, to stage IV liver cancer. Blue Faery’s mission is to prevent, treat, and cure primary liver cancer, specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), through research, education, and advocacy. Andrea established the articles of incorporation; wrote the bylaws, mission statement, and goals; and developed the organizational structure of the corporation. Currently, she attends board meetings, serves on committees, stays informed about liver cancer, and governs the organization. Andrea represents Blue Faery and its mission at conferences, seminars, and special events. Blue Faery has been honored for community service by U.S. Congressman Adam B. Schiff, California State Senator Jack Scott, and the County of Los Angeles, and was inducted into the Burbank Business Hall of Fame for receiving the Best of Burbank Charity Award from 2013 – 2017.
Free Offer:
Free sample of the book: https://www.bluefaery.org/review
How to Reach Andrea:
https://linktr.ee/bluefaery
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