Category: Empowerment

An Encouraging and Supportive Time-Out By and For the Caregiver

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Today’s guest post is by Brent Hoag. Reprinted with permission. Originally published on Facebook.

*****

A BOND
A PLEDGE
A COMMITMENT
LOVE

A husband caring for his wife
A wife caring for her husband
A daughter &/or son caring for their mother &/or father
A grandchild caring for their grandfather &/or grandmother
A relative caring for someone related to them
A friend caring for a friend
A partner caring for a partner
A human being caring for a stranger
A human being caring for someone they know
Human beings caring for human beings who are vulnerable and in need

I just read for 90 minutes various Posts & Comments in a few support groups that were written by a cross section & diversity of members/caregivers. I don’t often do this for a number of reasons. I was overwhelmed yet again at the pain, despair, grief, and anxiety and so much more that we share in common. And the sadness, oh the sadness in our lives & hearts.

However, in complete candor, I felt such a sudden unexpected pride because of what each of you, & we collectively, are doing. I honestly felt such a sense of pride to be associated with you even though we have never met. I empathize. I cannot overstate the importance of our being able to relate to, & rely upon, one another as caregivers.

This is about feeling privileged & honored about being in a group of people who notwithstanding our sadness, frustrations, challenges, & yes again the exhaustion, are caring for another human being who is so vulnerable. You have not only endured & coped but you have risen above and persevered in spite of daunting challenges in order to care for another human being. You are pushing through an incredible amount of sadness & difficulty in order to care for another human being. You are trying to afford them some peace, comfort, dignity, respect, & level of care that they so desperately need.

Your own selflessness & sense of responsibility & compassion for another human being is making a difference in their journey. We don’t expect or want recognition or applause. That’s not why we are doing this. Why we do it is so personal & can be simple or profound. However, here we are.

Love for another human being is often the most powerful & compelling element that each of us feel and have in our hearts. We then care, share & support.

Tonight I read & read. There are so many of us & we are such a diverse group of people who are at very different places in our journeys with our loved ones. And yet here we are under one “bubble” sharing, empathizing, & supporting.

No cheerleaders, no bands, no celebrations, no speeches, no oscars, no victory laps. However there is something that I want to share with you caregiver to caregiver. We’re “doing it”. We’ll get through this. I understand only too well your sense of humility but now & then we need help to get back up & to carry on & some deserving recognition & praise can give us the ability & required strength. And yet in our very special group of human beings not only are we selflessly caring for another human being but we are lending assistance to one another as caregivers.

You, your steadfast dedication, your ongoing sacrifices, your compassion, your perseverance, your doing the best that you can, and yes your love are a bond that we share. Whoever you are & whatever your connection with the person that you are caring for, I just want you to know how sad it was for me to read so many of your posts/comments but how much of a sense of pride & honour it allowed me to feel during such dark times. Thank you for that.

You are pretty remarkable even though you likely don’t feel that way. Most of us don’t. However, I hope that in some way when you hear it from a fellow caregiver that it resonates with you & that you can carry some of this in your hearts & minds in going forward.

I have sometimes been criticized for my Posts being too long. Caregiving & the challenges that Alzheimer’s/Dementia presents doesn’t often have a short version when it comes to supporting, sharing, & feeling for a fellow human being. In this Post, I could have simply written “I’m proud of you & honored to be associated with you”. However, in my opinion the topic/message was too important to abbreviate, condense, or underemphasize. You deserved so much more than that.

It’s bittersweet for all of us, but I wanted to take a rare “time out” to acknowledge you for what you are doing.

It’s tough. It’s almost impossible at times, but here we are caring as best as we can for a fellow human being. I will never take that for granted & even though it is a long Post it is one of the rare one’s where a caregiver reminds other caregivers just how remarkable they are.

Who knows, when times are especially low, sad, & challenging perhaps you will allow yourself a “time out” to re-read this as a source of encouragement, support, etc. After all, that is one of the reasons why I wrote this, one caregiver to another caregiver. 💜

How to Get Dementia – Top 10 Tips (Satire)

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A break from my usual programming…

I have been reading a lot about how to prevent dementia. My books on dementia caregiving have made me think a lot about how we can prevent getting dementia or some other form of neurocognitive disorder such as Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a condition in the brain that affects our capacity to remember things, process information, and organize our thoughts. It can impact our ability to make safe and wise choices and it can affect our language and movement. I have been listening to webinars, reading books, and scanning the Internet for organizations who have authority on the subject. Here’s a satirical piece on the subject, a break from my usual kind of writing.

Top Ten List of Ways to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Dementia Diagnosis

1.Live a very long life. The older we get, the better our chances are to get dementia. Dying at a younger age can work against you if you really want to experience the joys of dementia. If you are lucky, you may end up getting early-onset dementia which is when it comes when you are under the age of 65.

2. Don’t exercise. Stay very sedentary. The less you move, the better it is for dementia to set in. The less stress you put on your heart and your muscles, the more chances your brain and vascular system has to suffer the consequences of very slow and gentle blood circulation. Moving more and getting your blood pumping would deliver more oxygen and healthy cells to your organs, so the less chances of that happening, the better.

3. Smoke and drink alcohol. The more you smoke and drink, the better. If you started smoking and drinking (they go hand-in-hand!) at a younger age, that would definitely increase your chances for getting dementia. If you haven’t smoked or drank in your life, you should start now. The unfiltered cigarettes are the best. Any kind of alcohol is perfect (just remember if you don’t want to get cancer or heart disease, you may faced with a difficult decision.)

4. Eat lots of junk food. The more sugar in your diet, the better! Dementia (and cancer – what a bonus!) loves sugar. If you have diabetes that is even better. Poorly managed blood sugars can also increase your risk for stroke and heart attack. They don’t call dementia Type 3 diabetes for nothing. Eat whatever you want to your hearts content. Just avoid nutritious meals like what they recommend for the MIND or Mediterranean Diet (you know like lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds). They say “What’s not good for your body is not good for your brain” so that’s a good mantra to put on repeat. The more processed foods you can add to your diet would be very advantageous. And while you are at it, stop drinking so much water. That way you don’t have to piddle so much (that tip comes from my mom!).

5. Invite and create lots of stress in your life. Studies show that stress can cause lots of stress on your system which can lead to lots of bad things happening in your body – including cognitive decline. It would be advisable to avoid things like meditation, self-care, having fun, and taking breaks. If you are still of working age, find a job that is really stressful that pushes you to the limits. You may also end up getting high blood pressure, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, so these combined can really enhance your chances of getting some sort of brain drain and cognitive problems.

6. Stop doing novel things. If you like to be bored and thrive on doing nothing new, this is the perfect thing for you! Keep on turning down opportunities that can enhance your learning. Your brain will feel good and learn how to build new neural pathways, so this is a no-no when it comes to wanting an unhealthy brain. Traveling can also cause an increased risk of learning and expanding the brain cells. People who want to get dementia stop traveling and especially refuse to learn new things such as a new language or take a dance class.

7. Welcome and encourage head injuries. If you want to increase your chances of banging up your head and causing some damage, you can do risky things like riding a bike without a helmet, or be in a motorized vehicle without a seatbelt (one downside of not wearing a seatbelt is that you may be fined or you may get a really bad body injury, not just a “traumatic brain injury” or even death). If you are a bit unsteady when you walk, don’t use a cane or walker. Using mobility aids can help prevent you from falling, and therefore it could help prevent a bonk to the head. Taking a risk to go from here to there with the walker will only decrease your chances for bumping the old noggin.

8. Try not to sleep so much. The less sleep you get, the better. Your brain cleans itself at night, so the less sleep you get, the less chance your brain has to clean itself. It’s better to let the impurities build up in hopes it could cause some build of of plaques and maybe even tangles (I am not quite sure how the plaque and tangles form, but I am thinking it may have something to do with poor sleep habits.)

9. Avoid contact with others. Stay in to win! One of the best ways to get dementia is to stay home on your own, most of the time. If you live with family or have a roommate, try to avoid them as much as possible. They say the more you converse with and interact with people, the more healthy your brain is. If you play bridge or scrabble, stop playing it. The brain is stimulated by sitting with others, strategizing the next move, and it’s really bad for (helps reduce the risk of) dementia. “Just say no!”

10. Don’t correct your poor vision or hearing. Toss away your glasses and hearing aids. It has been proven that if you can see and hear well, it reduces your chances to get Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. I am not completely sure of how that works, but they are learning that people who have poor hearing and don’t wear hearing aids have a bigger chance of getting dementia. Same goes for difficulties with vision.

What other things can we do to help ourselves get dementia? I want to hear it!

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Addictions Counsellor Amber – Helping People Break Free From Their Addictions

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Addictions Counsellor Amber

Amber Dittberner is an addictions counsellor in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She is known as “Addictions Counsellor Amber.” Her main focus is on counselling people with addictions, however she also helps with other issues such as anxiety and depression.

After achieving sobriety in 2011, Amber decided to focus on improving the lives of those living with problematic substance use by providing tools for assessment, goal-setting, strategies, education, and talk therapy. She supports accountability and offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help pave the road to recovery. As a recovered alcoholic herself, she states, “Helping others is so important both for myself and because I want others to break free from their addictions, too.”

I love helping others and seeing the changes that can be made in rebuilding a life that is sober and enjoyable!

– Amber Dittberner

Amber says, “Alcohol Should Be Banned” – View her popular YouTube video to hear her talk about why it should be banned.

Amber is a member and is on the board of the Manitoba Chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She obtained her Applied Counselling Certificate specializing in addictions from the University of Manitoba.

Amber’s majority of clients are adult men and women, ranging from ages 21-50. She sees clients both in-person and virtually. Amber states, “Addiction affects those of all walks of life. There is still a stigma against addicts that needs to change. I try to help many though my social media posts by creating awareness. Lots of young people reach out looking for guidance.”

Addiction Counsellor Amber’s Office

People choose to see Amber because she has lived life experience. This can mean a lot to those struggling with an addiction to see someone who has the counselling education as well as having had the experience of struggling with addiction, recovery, and is living a sober life now. Amber provides the hope and strength needed during tough times.

Amber is dedicated to help people through their recovery journey. She is currently accepting new clients and would love to hear from you.

Where to reach Amber Dittberner:

Website: Addictions Counsellor Amber

Instagram: addictions.counsellor.amber

Facebook: Addictions Counsellor Amber

TikTok: addictionscounseloramber

YouTube: addictionscounselloramber

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Energy Healing – A Metaphysical Experience

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Priscilla (L) and I in the treatment room at Just for Today Reiki

I went to my first official Reiki session and it was fabulous! The experience left me feeling more happy, settled, and confident, right down to my soul. Priscilla Robert, certified Medium, Reiki Master, Crystal Therapy Practitioner, delighted and thrilled me in a one hour Reiki session.

Just for Today Reiki

Priscilla practices out the the “Just for Today Reiki and Holistic Services” clinic at 806 Osborne Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Once I found the place, I had a little trouble finding parking. I found a free parking spot on Clare Avenue, which was nearby.

The door was open when I arrived. To the right was a small reception desk with lots of interesting items for sale. The sign painted on the wall, “Just for Today”, set the mood. The sign reads: “Just for Today. I will not be angry. I will not worry. I will be grateful. I will do my work honestly. I will be kind to every living thin.”

The second thing I noticed was the smell of burning incense. I am not sure what the fragrance was, but it was pleasant. Not too overwhelming. I hadn’t smelled incense for years, so that was a real treat!

Priscilla greeted me and she was getting the treatment room ready (there are two). I told her a little about what I was dealing with and what kind of help I was looking for. She explained to me that she was going to do a combined treatment, depending on what she felt was needed. There could be a combination of mediumship (spirits, both past and present, around me that have messages for me), Reiki (energy healing), Crystal Therapy, and Chakra balancing. She may be touching my head, but most likely no other body parts would be physically touched. She added that in terms of mediumship, sometimes she sees more than others, so it will all depend on how things go.

The clinic room was warm and had dimmed lights and some candles burning. There was some pleasant, relaxing, instrumental music playing. The volume was very low. She showed me the massage table and said I would be laying on my back. There was a pillow for my head, and one for under my knees. There were sheets and a weighted blanket. The eye pillow would also be used, as she pointed out.

Priscilla said she would leave me for a minute or two, and asked me to get comfortable on the bed. I have had many massages over the years so I had to remember to lay on my back, not my front, as would be required if I was getting a massage. The weighted blanket was a nice touch. I felt safe and secure.

Priscilla came back shortly after and put the eye pillow on me then started the treatment. She walked me through every step of the way. She started with a pendulum, and said she was checking my chakras. If the pendulum went in a circle, that meant my chakras were good.

A big portion of our time together was her use of her gift of mediumship. There were many special messages passed along to me from people who I had been in contact over the years. It was very emotional, touching, enlightening, and sometimes it brought a tear to my eye. There was even a discussion about fairies!

The crystals were also used. There was mention that I should put a big piece of rose quartz near my bedside. I just happened to have purchased a piece of rose quartz so that was perfect advice!

The Reiki portion of the session was very short. She did not touch me, but placed her hands just above my body. I have taken Reiki Level 1 so I understand how this type of energy treatment helps promote balance and healing.

I left with many good words of advice and a clear focus on what I needed to do. I felt enlightened.

Priscilla works with all people including those who have a history of trauma. She said many people who have trauma tend to hold it in their stomachs and a few sessions with her can help heal that trauma. Priscilla is currently accepting new clients.

If you are at all interested in learning more about energy healing, or if you are curious and want to give it a try, I would highly recommend Priscilla Robert. Her bio can be found at ReikiToday.ca. Follow Just for Today Reiki on Facebook. She has a new crystal shop called, “Crystals and Beyond” here in Winnipeg. Contact Priscilla to book an appointment or to find out more about how she can help you.

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Book News: Updates

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I have been working on my books and I have two updates to tell you about.

Now in hardcover: “Flourish or Fade”

My newest book, “Flourish or Fade: A guide to total well-being for women at midlife and beyond” (2021) is now available in hardcover! This is the first book that I have been able to make into a hardcover version. Amazon had approached me to see if I would be interested in trying out this new feature they were offering, so I took them up on it. Let me know if you decided to get a copy of it in hardcover. I would love to know what you think.

Paperback updated for 2021: “Caring for a Husband with Dementia”

I have updated the paperback version of “Caring for a Husband with Dementia” for 2021. I have taken out some links that no longer worked. Many of the links were from the “Alzheimer’s Reading Room” which has been removed off the internet. I have also added a reference to a book by Marie Marley and Daniel C. Potts which has a lot of the information that was in the links which have been removed. Their book is called, “Finding Joy in Alzheimer’s: New Hope for Caregivers” (2015).

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Flourish or Fade: A guide to total well-being for women at midlife and beyond – Book Now Available

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  • Flourish or Fade by Angela G. Gentile

Angela Gentile’s newest book is now available for purchase from Amazon.

>>>Buy the Paperback on Amazon ($16.99 USD) 

>>>Buy the ebook (Kindle) on Amazon ($5.99 USD)

TAKE CHARGE OF THE WAY YOU AGE

Flourish or Fade: A guide to total well-being for women at midlife and beyond provides you with the information and tools needed to improve life satisfaction. The Flower of Wellness Method will help you devise a plan to balance your body, mind, and soul. 

You will learn how to enhance your overall well-being by exploring the ten dimensions of wellness: 

Physical, Emotional, Brain, Social, Sexual, Spiritual, Environmental, Recreational, Financial, and Occupational.

This anti-ageist, realistic, and optimistic approach to life in the middle years and beyond will provide you with inspiration and tips that will have you feeling confident, happy, and satisfied with whatever may come your way. 

The Flower of Wellness Method is a fresh and contemporary approach to finding balance.

Do you want to flourish or fade in the later years? It’s your choice. 

Angela G. Gentile, M.S.W., R.S.W., is a registered clinical social worker/specialist in aging with more than 25 years of experience working with older adults and their families. She was born and raised in Ontario and now lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

www.AngelaGGentile.com

Weaknesses Are Only As Strong As We Allow Them To Be

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I saw this quote on Instagram, on the Optimal Living Daily account (@oldpodcast) — “The more willing you are to face your weaknesses, the less likely they are to remain weaknesses.” I wanted to know more about Tynan, the person who was quoted. I took his quote, put it onto a picture my husband took while on vacation in Hawaii, and wanted to share it. I hope this inspires you to face your weaknesses, too.

weaknesses

What weaknesses are you willing to face?

Angela G. Gentile, MSW, RSW

Cancer Up the Wazoo Book Launch — Photos and Video

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Reading

Angela Gentile reading from Cancer Up the Wazoo

Portrait

Purple suit to match the ribbon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday, September 27, 2018, my two latest books Cancer Up the Wazoo and How to Edit an Anthology were presented and launched at McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was also a fundraiser for the “CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.” 60 people attended and Tache Pharmacy sponsored the beverages. There were also decorated sugar cookies (made with love by me, Sheila and Simone) and brownies (made by Cupp, my husband).

 

Hope

Cancer Up the Wazoo, How to Edit an Anthology, Hope symbol, and Me (Angela Gentile)

I also revealed my latest project — a symbol of HOPE. It includes the anal cancer ribbon in green and purple and a dragonfly. The logo was created with the talented help from Fusion Communications. The dragonfly is a creation of Chinese brush artist Virginia Lloyd-Davies. Her artwork is also found in the book, Cancer Up the Wazoo. I have plans to help share this beautiful logo with those as a symbol of strength and hope.

Although there are 25 people who contributed to the book, only 5 of us were able to be at the launch. These three short speeches were very touching.

Speakers

Three guest speakers. Left to right: Lynda Sie Greaves, Maureen Warren, Me (Angela Gentile) and Virginia Davis Wilson).

Fr Sam

Me and Father Sam, one of my esteemed guests!

The presentation was 26 minutes in total. I have put it on YouTube, in two parts.

Part 1:

Part 2:

 

Signing

People bought books and I signed them if they wanted me to!

cookies

 

Overall, the launch was a success and we raised $300 for the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation! In addition to that, $1 from the sale of each copy of Wazoo will be donated to the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation.

To purchase copies, you can find Cancer Up the Wazoo and How to Edit an Anthology on Amazon or at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

 

A special thank you to all who attended, donated and purchased books.

Warm regards,

Angela G. Gentile

www.AngelaGGentile.com

A Wild, Life-Changing Roller Coaster Ride in the Dark (Book Review)

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51+TXv-YH+LIt was very hard to put down Michele Longabaugh’s book, If You’re Not Laughing, You’re Dying: The dawning of hope from the shadows of darkness…blogging through Stage 4 Anal Cancer (2012). Being diagnosed with anal cancer myself, I was drawn to read this book in the hopes of getting some insight into the disease and how to manage it. Being diagnosed with this type of cancer in her late 40s makes Michele relatively young (as the average age of diagnosis of anal cancer is in the early 60s). Anal cancer is quite rare, and can be difficult to find support. Not only do some consider it a stigmatizing and shameful disease, the treatment for it is torturous. Michele’s courage and the sharing of her experience helps destigmatize anal cancer and her rise from shame to advocacy is very inspiring.

The book starts with a beautifully written Foreword by Michele’s loving husband, Jerry. The way he describes her writing is “random, raw and honest.” I would definitely agree with the random and raw, as this book is comprised of her blog posts (typos and all!) written over a period of about two years. The honest part, well, we’ll have to take his word for it!

The writings are very engaging, and each chapter (blog post) has a theme and a story or insight to share. The posts are sometimes upbeat and laughable, sometimes they are stories of the hell and torture Michele endures (which is hard to take). Sometimes they are loving tales of family, friends or healthcare providers. The reader can learn a lot about Michele’s experiences with cancer and its treatment (including a lot of crying, grief and scary parts) and she shares stories about things like medications, “narcotic naps”, ointments, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and her fondness for “Dr. Cutie” and her blog-worthy visits with the “butt doctor.”

Michele tends to rely heavily on family, friends, and prayer (she’s Lutheran) for support and strength during her cancer ordeal. I like this about her story, because I can totally relate in many ways. In addition to having a loving husband, she has three outstanding children – Maggie, AJ and CJ. Both Michele and her husband sing high praises for Michele’s sister, “sissy” Renee, who is described as an angel on earth. Michele’s two “besties” Laurie and Marie, also shine as two very important and special people in her life. Michele is a very popular, kind and loving person, and it shows in her writing.

Michele’s adventures of checking things off her “Bucket List” makes for some interesting stories and helps her find joy and pleasure. There are plenty of tears and suffering (both physical and mental) in her life, and she is able to appreciate humourus moments by laughing along or making an odd joke here and there. Near the end of the book, Michele shares some insight about her “Un-Bucket List.” These are things she would never want to do.

Overall, this book did what it was supposed to do; it helped inspire me and gave me hope that this fight against cancer can be won. We can all join Michele on this wild roller coaster ride in the dark by continuing to follow her blog on tumbler – ihavebuttwhat.tumblr.com.

Angela G. Gentile

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Angela G. Gentile  MSW, RSW is a clinical social worker and author of the book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide”, “A Book About Burnout: One Social Worker’s Tale of Survival” and the “Dementia Caregiver Solutions” app for iPhone and iPad. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and has two adult children. She is creator of the Facebook communities – “Aging Well for Women” as well as “God, Cancer and Me.” For more information, visit: www.AngelaGGentile.com

Call For Submissions for Upcoming Book on Anal Cancer

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Write-It-

Call for Summary/Ideas – Deadline for Submissions December 10, 2017

Re: Anal Cancer (AC) Book – A Collection Compiled by Angela Gentile (title to be determined)

 

Dear Potential Co-Author,

This is your chance to become a published author and to help you promote any other work you may have (books, blogs, etc.). Your contribution to this book on anal cancer will provide your invaluable insight, advice and support to others who may be going through something similar. It could help end the stigma of this disease and educate others on the importance of the HPV vaccine.

I am putting together a collection of works by many authors. I have written two other books and they are both on Amazon. This will be my first “anthology.” This book is intended to educate, inspire, strengthen and empower those affected. I am looking for chapters written by anal cancer patients/survivors/caregivers.

At this time, I am looking for 10-20 authors to provide a total of 10-20 chapters for this self-published book. I will put my time, money and energy into making this a meaningful book for those who are affected by anal cancer. It will also be of interest for those who want to learn more about the disease. If you are successful in being selected as one of the co-authors, I will help you write and refine your chapter(s) and I will also have it professionally edited.

There is no cost to you, and there is no compensation (other than knowing you will be helping others!). However, I will ensure you get two copies of the paperback book. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity, and we will decide which one.

I have put together a listing of chapter ideas for you to review (see FILES in the closed members only Facebook group: AC Book or ask me for a listing). If you would like to do something else that is not on the list that is fine, too.

Please submit the following information via the form below, or ask me for my email address:

1. Your Name, Full Address, Phone Numbers (Home, work, cellular), Email.

2. Summary of your idea (up to 500 words). You can submit as many summaries as you’d like. Include the topic, what you want the main points to be, and whom you think will benefit most from your story or topic. The more personal and original the better! (Have a friend or family member review and proofread if you’d like a little more feedback before submitting.) Keep in mind, your completed chapter should be between 2,000 – 5,000 words.

3. Deadline for summary submission: Sunday December 10, 2017. Submit via email in form below. (.doc or .docx is acceptable. Google Docs is also accepted.)

If you already have a completed work (between 2,000-5,000 words), please feel free to submit that instead of a summary. Ideally, each chapter will be about 2,500 words but this is only a guideline.

I will review the submissions and get back to you, either way, on or before January 7, 2018.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to your submission(s)!

Warm regards,

Angela Gentile

P.S. If you have a Facebook account and would like to be a part of the AC Book group, please request to join!

Contact me, here:

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Angela G. Gentile  MSW, RSW is a clinical social worker and author of the book, “Caring for a Husband with Dementia: The Ultimate Survival Guide”, “A Book About Burnout: One Social Worker’s Tale of Survival” and the “Dementia Caregiver Solutions” app for iPhone and iPad. She lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba with her husband and has two adult children. She is creator of the Facebook communities – “Aging Well for Women” as well as “God, Cancer and Me.” For more information, visit: www.AngelaGGentile.com