Connect
Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.
JOHN: @llwortman, what brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?
@llwortman: I began reading Connect upon recommendation from a Mayo Clinic employee. The rest is history.
JOHN: What about Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?
@llwortman: My passion is to save lungs and more lives. My lung cancer journey started out as the most shocking event of my life, especially since I never smoked. Little information was available, other than “If you smoke, you get lung cancer,” and “Survival rate is 15 percent.”
That was 10 years ago. I felt advocacy would be the only way to increase awareness about lung cancer. As a lung cancer patient — who never smoked — and survivor, I am comfortable sharing any of my lung cancer experiences to help give people hope, because lung cancer has come a long way in my 10 years of experience.
JOHN: What groups do you participate in?
@llwortman: Lung Cancer and Lung Health . . . but how can you not read about the other conditions and people’s stories? We are all connected.
JOHN: Who has been a special connection for you on Connect?
@llwortman: Meeting @burrkay (Bill) on Connect led to a very special friendship and an event. Bill cares for his wife who has lung cancer. We first met online in the Lung Cancer group. When he heard about my TEDx talk, he asked if I might be willing to come to his hometown to speak at a lung cancer awareness event, along with two Mayo Clinic experts who Skyped their presentations. Because of Connect, I met not only Bill, but also his wife, Kay. An amazing friendship has transpired, because we understand the need for advocating and uniting with one voice to fight lung cancer, even though we are 3,000 miles apart.
JOHN: What surprised you the most about Connect?
@llwortman: I meet a lot of people through my foundation and the events we host to support funding for lung cancer research, such as the Longitudinal Healthy Lungs Research Project with Bruce Johnson, Ph.D., of Mayo Clinic. So many people I meet just want to meet other lung cancer survivors like them. I love that I can give hope and support online now, too. It keeps me connected between events.
JOHN: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?
@llwortman: My family, and my passion to be healthy and get out and keep moving. My remarkable husband keeps me balanced…when he’s not moving at 208 mph upside down in a race car! And my guardian angels who continue to guide us through harrowing experiences. Grandchildren, also, are great at keeping us balanced!
JOHN: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.
@llwortman: Some of my favorites include running 5K and 10K races, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, our annual Danube River Bicycle Challenge lung cancer fundraiser, listening to Andrea Bocelli, hugs and being with my husband. I also love raising lung health and lung cancer awareness, people watching, listening, meditating and reading Dr. Amit Sood’s books.
JOHN: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?
@llwortman: If you can dream it, you can become it. Just live it!
JOHN: What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
@llwortman: Friends — wow — they are always there, no matter what.
JOHN: What food can you simply not resist?
@llwortman: Chocolate: any shape or size, or hot in milk.
JOHN: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?
@llwortman: Angelina Jolie (my husband would be George Clooney). Ha!
JOHN: What do you love about where you live or vacation?
@llwortman: In Minnesota, the “Minnesota nice” attitude there and great medical doctors at Mayo Clinic the best! In Montana, the Rockies and the beauty of nature where you belong outside!
JOHN: Puppies or kittens?
@llwortman: Maine Coon cats — Lucy and Lotus!
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Hi Linda @llwortman,
I was happy to see your spotlight this morning. Great picture of you and your hubby! Are you running the Med City Marathon?
John
@llwortman, I enjoyed reading your interview and getting to know more about you. Your motto, "If you can dream it, you can become it. Just live it!", is a perfect one for anyone of us to aspire to.
Thank you, for what you are doing to raise awareness of lung health and lung research.
Rosemary
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4 ReactionsHi John: Thank you John and team for the great spotlight! I feel undeserving but I am so grateful for your kind words. Lung health is an important topic
Jerry & I just returned home from our annual European bicycle trip of 9 days in soaking rain! I came down with a respiratory illness. It is difficult for me to climb stairs. Sadly this year the Healthy Human race is not a go for me.
I will work on getting back online with Connect. We have a race coming up on June 2nd where I will be distributing Connect info cards.
Happy weekend! Take care.Thanks again! GreAt work!!!Cyber hugs,linda
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1 ReactionHi Rosemary:You are so kind. Yes lung health education & awareness is something we must work for. I never knew a lot about my lungs until lung cancer! I feel blessed that I had an early diagnosis. Thank you for your valuable work on connect, it takes a village. Happy weekend,linda
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1 ReactionHi John!
Congrats on beating lung cancer!!!
I lost my mom to lung cancer in 1988, she was 67 and just retired. My mom was not a smoker, either. Although she did not smoke, I think she had 2nd hand cancer. My dad smoked for years as did all her brothers, father and many of her friends.
When my mom was diagnosed, she went to Sloan Kettering (we lived in NY). They never found a tumor, just cancer cells, so surgery was not an option. They told us she would survive 2-4 years IF the chemo worked. She lasted the 4 years. I was thankful that she lived to see me and my brother get married, graduate college and start our careers. Most of all, I am thrilled she got to meet her grandchildren.
Three years ago, when I moved to Florida, I saw a new doctor. Based on my family history and even though I did not spoke, she ordered lung tests. It came back with several lung nodules. I was shocked! I've been to 2 different pulmonologists (my original one retired). I get an MRI every 6 months. Thank God, nothing has changed.
I developed a VERY EARLY melanoma so I am hyper-vigilant about seeing all my doctors every 6 months.
I hope your journey remains a smooth one.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
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2 ReactionsHi Ronnie @grandmar -- I've never been diagnosed with cancer but both my father and one of my sisters died of lung cancer but they were both heavy smokers. One of the things I've learned from reading and listening to Linda @llwortman is that you don't have to smoke to get lung cancer so I am very glad she is a strong advocate for raising the awareness of lung cancer to non smokers.
I'm glad you are doing good and being a strong advocate for yourself also!
God Bless,
John
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3 ReactionsLung Cancer is in desperate need of research. Due to unfair stigma lung cancer research gets too little funding
and lung cancer remains the #1 cancer killer. In this centry taking 1 Billion lives.
60% of those diagnosed are non smokers
20% Never smoked just like me.
Dr Ping Yang has written remarkable NIH research papers about lung cancer. You may find her work very informative.
I hope to write a children’s book about lung cancer that will help educate the world about our Amazing Lungs! The profits will go to help researchers like Dr Ping Yang! Everyone is welcome to help by writing a paragraph for my book;-)
Mayo Clinic has a remarkable Lung Cancer & also a Lung Health research team of physicians and researchers.
Thank you for your kind words. I’m both humbled and motivated to try and help more people!
Bless you all,
hugs
linda
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3 ReactionsLinda
I am very impressed with your drive.
It is a great idea to write a book for children about lung cancer.
Since this polluted environment we live in can be a great impetus for cancer, I cannot imagine how you will be able to write the book without scaring a young child.
I wish you luck with all your research and work.
ronnie
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2 ReactionsThank you, John!
ronnie
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1 ReactionTruly enjoyed your time in the spotlight @llwortman It is a lot of fun getting to know each other better in such a fun format! Cheers to you!
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3 Reactions