Courage Takes Guts - Lois Fink, Inspirational Speaker

01/12/2022

Happy New Year everyone!!! Since it is still January, it is not to late for me to say this!!! A toast to a better 2022!

If you are new to the site or haven't heard my story featured on Our American Stories, here's the link and enjoy:

Starting from a young age Lois Fink's battle against Crohn's disease brought much heartache and suffering. Take a listen as she candidly shares how she eventually overcame the disease.

04/17/2021

Nanci Rathbun is a wonderful friend and talented mystery writer. We met at a writers' workshop on self-publishing and have been friends ever since.

If you like a book where the main character is a sassy private eye, with short, edgy hair and drives a Miata and knows who she is, this book is for you!! It is the fourth in the series and I know you want to read not just Blood Kills but her previous books as well in the series!

Blood Kills, book 4 in the Angelina Bonaparte Mysteries series, will launch on April 20th... and pardon my pride when I say that I think it's my best so far (don't let the other 3 know - book-sibling jealousy). Want to pre-order the ebook and get it automatically delivered? Here are the links:
Amazon US --> https://tinyurl.com/BK-Amazon-US
Apple --> https://tinyurl.com/TK-AppleBooks
Barnes & Noble --> https://tinyurl.com/BK-Amazon-US
Kobo --> https://tinyurl.com/TK-Kobo
Google Play Books --> https://tinyurl.com/TK-GoogleBooks
Audiobook and paperback formats will be out soon. Enjoy, faithful readers! And please consider posting a review when you finish it.

12/25/2020

Sending wishes for a wonderful and Merry Christmas to all celebrating. May the love, joy, and spirit of the day surround you with warmth.

12/24/2020

All good things must come to and end and its the same with websites.

Courage Takes Guts will be gone by the end of the day. If you haven't visited and taken a look around, do it now! And then let me know your thoughts! Here's the link:

12/19/2020

As the second vaccine for Covid-19 received emergency use authorization and is being distributed to hospitals in the United States, let's give a huge Shout Out to the countless numbers of front line health care workers for their dedication and courage in the face of what Covid-19 has caused. All of you are my heroes!

10/03/2020

Did you know that today, October 3, 2020 is the 10th anniversary of Ostomy Awareness Day 2020?

I've talked about some of the myths and fears that surround ostomy surgery and cause people to refuse to have the surgery and choose to die from colon cancer.

Here are some additional myths and facts about this live-saving surgical procedure that I underwent over 30 years ago and gave me back everything Crohn's disease tried to take away--my life!

MYTH: People who have an ostomy and wear a pouching system smell.

FACT: Modern ostomy pouching systems are made to be odor-proof. Some pouches have built in filters that act like deodorant--just like we wear!

MYTH: People with an ostomy aren't physically intimate.

FACT: People who have gone through ostomy surgery live active, full, and meaningful lives that include dating, intimacy, have relationships and children and grandchildren.

MYTH: People with an ostomy are home-bound because their pouching system leaks--notice I didn't say "bag."

FACT: A properly fitting pouching system with a secure seal will not leak. There are many different types of pouching systems and accessories. Specialty nurses known as Certified Wound Ostomy Continence nurses evaluate and determine which system is best for each individual. Yes, on rare occasions, an accident can happen, but people without an ostomy have accidents, too!

MYTH: Ostomy surgery is permanent for everyone.

FACT: For some people they are. Mine is permanent due to uncontrollable Crohn's disease. But for many, ostomy surgery is temporary to help the digestive system heal after surgery or conditions such as diverticulitis and then reversed.

Did you know that about 1 in 500 people in the United States have are living with an ostomy?

For more information and/or support, visit www.ostomy.org

09/12/2020

What do you know about ostomy surgery? Do you refer to ostomy surgery as "having a colostomy bag?"

Awareness Day is October 3rd and to help raise awareness that Ostomies Saves Lives, here are some common myths about ostomy surgery and actual facts to fight the negative perceptions about this live saving surgical procedure.

MYTH: Those who have gone through ostomy surgery are not able to work.

FACT: People living with an ostomy work at every type of job you can imagine. The lead active lives, play sports-yes, swim, hike, climb mountains and socialize with friends and family.

MYTH: People with an ostomy can only eat certain foods and most of them are bland.

FACT: People who have gone through ostomy surgery are not on a restricted or bland diet. That are however, aware of the effects of various food that can affect their stool output such as those that cause excessive odor, gas or can cause a food blockage.

09/03/2020

What do you know about ostomy surgery? Do you refer to ostomy surgery as "having a colostomy bag?"

Awareness Day is October 3rd and to help raise awareness that Ostomies Saves Lives, here are some common myths about ostomy surgery and actual facts to fight the negative perceptions about this live saving surgical procedure. Are you ready for the 1st myth?

MYTH: Everyone will know that a person is wearing an ostomy pouch (notice I didn't say the word, "bag!")

FACT: No one will ever know unless the person who has gone through ostomy surgery chooses to tell someone. Clothing rarely reveals an ostomy.

MYTH: Only older people have ostomies.

FACT: People of all ages have gone through this live-saving surgery, even infants!

I'll have more Myths and Facts next week for you. To learn more about ostomy surgery, go to United Ostomy Associations of America at www.ostomy.org

08/30/2020

Love a good mystery novel?

Look no further than Author Nanci Rathbun's novel "Honor Kills," for which she just won a silver medal for fiction from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, a United Kingdom based awards that works to promote excellence in independent publishing.

"Honor Kills" is the third installment of the Angelina Bonaparte series, of a 50-something Sicilian-American, librarian-turned private investigator! Nanci's first two books are "Truth Kills," and "Cash Kills."

You can order all three online through Barnes & Noble, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Kobo, and Amazon, as an e-reader, paperback, or audio book versions.

Nanci and I met a few years ago in a class on self-publishing. Support an independent and self-published author!!

So who do you think is the the perpetrator??

08/11/2020

Many thanks and a Shout-Out to Deb Fox and Jasmine Ingle for liking Courage Takes Guts. If you know Deb or Jasmine, please let them know I appreciate this "like!"

07/16/2020

When you receive a compliment on something you've done, it really makes you feel good.

I received this feedback on the broadcast I did for Our American Stories with Lee Habeeb this past March:

Hearing your story literally brought tears to my eyes and I am so touched by you and how you’ve shared your story to help others. You truly amaze me and what you’ve gone through and how you’ve persevered through it all. Thank you for being such a light to those around you.

Wow! This has not just made my day, but the entire rest of the month. Thank you, Amy Stratton, my dentist!!!!

In case you missed the broadcast, here is the link again:

Starting from a young age Lois Fink's battle against Crohn's disease brought much heartache and suffering. Take a listen as she candidly shares how she eventually overcame the disease.

07/02/2020

Exiciting new to share!!!

I just found out the first year medical students at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus thought I was the highest rated speaker/"instructor" based on student ratings for the academic year 2019!!

I was so honored to share my story of how ostomy surgery gave me back my life, after struggling with Crohn's disease for 19 years. I wish I could tell them how they energized and inspired me!