It Happened To Me: A Rare Disease and Medical Challenges Podcast

What happens when an oncologist suddenly finds himself on the other side of cancer care, not as a physician, but as a husband and caregiver?

In this episode of It Happened To Me, hosts Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman welcome Liza Marshall, a retired attorney and breast cancer advocate, and her husband, Dr. John Marshall, a renowned oncologist and director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown University.

In 2006, at age 43, Liza was diagnosed with high-risk triple-negative breast cancer. Her diagnosis turned their busy family life upside down and placed John in an unfamiliar position: supporting his wife through treatment at the very cancer center where he practiced medicine.

Drawing from their award-winning memoir, Off Our Chests, Liza and John share their experiences navigating a cancer diagnosis, difficult treatment decisions, chemotherapy, mastectomies, and the emotional challenges of balancing their roles as patient, physician, husband, and wife.

Liza reflects on maintaining a sense of normalcy while raising two children, coping with hair loss, and making medical decisions about her own body. John shares how becoming a caregiver transformed his approach to oncology, deepened his understanding of the emotional burdens families face, and ultimately contributed to his own experience with professional burnout.

The couple also discusses the importance of clinical trials, patient autonomy, cancer advocacy, and the unexpected challenges of writing their memoir together.

Their conversation offers a deeply personal perspective on the complexities of cancer care and reminds us that behind every diagnosis are patients, caregivers, families, and relationships forever changed by the experience.

Episode Discussion Topics

An unexpected diagnosis: How Liza's breast swelling, rather than a typical lump, led to her triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis at age 43.

When the oncologist becomes the caregiver: John's transition from treating patients to supporting his wife through treatment at his own cancer center.

The challenges of navigating cancer care: The advantages and emotional complexities of receiving treatment where John worked, including privacy, appointment coordination, and access to care.

Finding normalcy during treatment: How Liza continued raising her children, preparing meals, and participating in community activities throughout chemotherapy.

Hair loss and body image: Liza's experiences with chemotherapy-related hair loss, wearing a wig, and adjusting to the physical changes caused by cancer treatment.

Making difficult surgical decisions: Why Liza chose a second, preventive mastectomy and how she and John approached the emotional and physical implications of that decision.

Patient autonomy and shared decision-making: How John supported Liza's treatment decisions while respecting her independence and helping her understand complex medical information.

The often-overlooked role of caregivers: How their experiences changed John's approach to communicating with patients, spouses, and family members.

Writing Off Our Chests: How writing their memoir during a sabbatical brought unspoken emotions to the surface and helped the couple process their experiences.

Clinical trials and treatment choices: Why Liza withdrew from a clinical trial to pursue a platinum-based chemotherapy and what patients should understand when considering research participation.

The emotional relationships between doctors and patients: John's perspective on receiving gifts from grateful patients, attending funerals, and coping with the loss of people in his care.

The importance of cancer advocacy: How Liza's diagnosis reshaped John's appreciation for breast cancer advocacy and reinforced his commitment to research funding.

Caregiver burnout and emotional recovery: How the experience affected John's medical practice and why taking time away became an important part of his own healing.

About Our Guests
Liza Marshall is a retired attorney, breast cancer survivor, and patient advocate. Diagnosed with high-risk triple-negative breast cancer in 2006, she underwent extensive treatment while raising two children and remaining active in her community. Her experience inspired her advocacy work and her commitment to helping others navigate the challenges of cancer care.

Dr. John Marshall is an oncologist and director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown University. His experience supporting Liza through breast cancer transformed his understanding of the patient and caregiver experience and reinforced the importance of compassionate, patient-centered care.

Together, Liza and John authored the award-winning memoir Off Our Chests, sharing their perspectives on cancer, marriage, medicine, and the emotional realities of navigating a life-changing diagnosis.

Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast
Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me.

It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer.

For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

What happens when life as a young mother is suddenly interrupted by a cancer diagnosis most people associate with older adults?

In this episode of It Happened To Me, Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman are joined by Corinne Torney, a mother of two, elementary school teacher, cancer advocate, and multiple myeloma survivor.

Corinne was diagnosed at just 34 years old with an aggressive form of multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that changed nearly every part of her life. Her diagnosis came with a serious prognosis and treatment that required her to receive care away from home, separating her from her young daughters during an already overwhelming time.

Now in remission, Corinne shares what it was like to navigate cancer as a young parent, how she stayed connected to her family during treatment, and how survivorship has changed her relationship with uncertainty. She also reflects on why she chose to share her story publicly and how advocacy has become an important part of her life.

Corinne is an ambassador for Bristol Myers Squibb’s Survivorship Today initiative, where she helps raise awareness and support others navigating life during and after cancer.

Episode Discussion Topics

What Corinne’s life looked like before her multiple myeloma diagnosis

The symptoms and warning signs that led to answers

Being diagnosed with a cancer at the age of 34 years old

What her medical team told her about the aggressiveness of her disease and prognosis

Processing a serious cancer diagnosis while raising young children

Why treatment required Corinne to receive care away from home

The emotional toll of being separated from her daughters during treatment

Talking to children about cancer in an age-appropriate way

How Corinne and her family stayed connected while she was away

The guilt, pressure, and purpose that can come with parenting through cancer

How motherhood influenced Corinne’s experience during treatment

What remission felt like after such an intense period of uncertainty

The emotional complexity of survivorship and the possibility of recurrence

Why Corinne began sharing her cancer story publicly

What she wants people to understand about multiple myeloma in younger patients

Her work as a Bristol Myers Squibb Survivorship Today ambassador

The message she hopes newly diagnosed patients take from her experience

Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast
 

Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me.

It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer.

For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

At 47 years old, Jack Clifford was hospitalized with severe coronary artery disease and told that he needed emergency triple bypass surgery. As he reviewed the consent forms and confronted the possibility of not waking up from the procedure, memories of his mother’s difficult experience following bypass surgery weighed heavily on him.

Facing intense pressure to act quickly, Jack made the unexpected decision to leave the hospital against medical advice and investigate whether another option existed.

In this episode of It Happened To Me, Jack joins hosts Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman to share how he discovered enhanced external counterpulsation, commonly known as EECP. He describes the extraordinary lengths he went to access the therapy, what treatment was like, and how the experience changed his understanding of circulation, informed consent, and patient autonomy.

Jack also reflects on why patients may not hear about every potential treatment option, what he learned while researching the healthcare system, and how his personal journey eventually became a book and a mission to help others become more informed and empowered participants in their medical care.

In This Episode, We Discuss

The moment Jack was told he needed emergency triple bypass surgery

How his mother’s experience after bypass influenced his decision

What it was like to leave the hospital against medical advice

How Jack discovered EECP

What EECP treatment was like for him physically and emotionally

The sacrifices he made to access treatment

When he began noticing changes in his symptoms and quality of life

The importance of asking questions before making major medical decisions

What patients should understand about informed consent

Why some therapies remain unfamiliar or underused

Jack’s belief that circulation can be supported and trained

How he turned his experience into a patient-advocacy mission

What he hopes other people facing serious diagnoses take away from his story

Resources

EECP Locator — Search for EECP treatment providers and learn more about the therapy.

Why Your Heart Is Not a Pump — Ben Greenfield Life — A conversation exploring alternative perspectives on the heart, circulation, and cardiovascular function.

Medical Disclaimer
This episode shares one person’s experience and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice or recommend that anyone delay, decline, or discontinue cardiac care. Treatment decisions, including decisions involving surgery or EECP, should be made in consultation with qualified healthcare professionals who understand your individual medical history and circumstances.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a possible heart attack or another medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.

Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast
Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me.

It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer.

For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

What began as one handmade bed in a garage has grown into a global movement that has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.

In this episode of It Happened To Me, hosts Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman speak with Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit guided by the mission: “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”

Luke shares the personal journey behind the organization, from his upbringing in small-town Idaho to building what has become the largest bed-building charity in the world. He explains what inspired him to build that first bed, what families have taught him about need and resilience, and why a safe place to sleep can profoundly affect a child’s dignity, emotional well-being, physical health, and ability to thrive.

The conversation also explores the ripple effects of service, the challenges of leading a rapidly growing nonprofit, and how ordinary people can create extraordinary change by responding to the needs directly in front of them.

Trigger Warning
This episode briefly mentions a story involving a shooting and murder. Please listen with care.

In This Episode, We Discuss

The experience that inspired Luke to build his first bed

The often-unseen reality of children sleeping without beds

How Sleep in Heavenly Peace grew from a garage project into a global nonprofit

The emotional and practical impact receiving a bed can have on a child and family

What families have taught Luke about pride, dignity, resilience, and hidden need

The relationship between sleep, mental health, physical energy, and childhood development

How having a bed can support routine, stability, school attendance, and readiness to learn

Why serving others can be transformative for both the recipient and the volunteer

Navigating burnout, fear, doubt, and the responsibility of leading a growing movement

What Luke has learned about generosity and the power of communities working together

How listeners can begin making a difference through small, meaningful acts of service

About Luke Mickelson
Luke Mickelson is the powerhouse founder behind Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a global nonprofit dedicated to the mission that “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”

What started as a single handmade bunk bed in a garage has grown into a movement with more than 400 chapters across 47 states and four countries, and at the end of the summer, they will reach the milestone of 500,000 beds built and delivered to children in need.

A former “farm kid” from Kimberly, Idaho, Luke combines his background in competitive athletics and business leadership with his “Humans Helping Humans” philosophy. His journey from corporate professional to CNN Hero and American Ninja Warrior competitor has been featured on NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, and Today.

Luke now travels the country inspiring audiences to recognize the extraordinary potential within “tiny moments” and rediscover the profound joy of serving others.

Resources
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Learn more about the organization, request a bed, find a local chapter, volunteer, or support its mission:
https://shpbeds.org

The Leadership Evolution Podcast
Hosted by Luke Mickelson, the podcast explores leadership, personal growth, service, and the experiences that shape how people lead:
https://lukemickelson.com/podcast

Luke Mickelson
Learn more about Luke’s speaking, podcast, and work:
https://lukemickelson.com

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World
By Admiral William H. McRaven

Beth references Admiral McRaven’s book, which grew out of the commencement address he delivered to the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014. The book explores how small, disciplined actions—beginning with making your bed—can help people face challenges, support others, and create meaningful change.

Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast
 

Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me.

It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer.

For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.

For most people, stepping into the sunshine is an ordinary part of life. For Craig Leppert, even a few minutes of sun exposure can cause severe pain and swelling.

Craig lives with erythropoietic protoporphyria, or EPP, a rare genetic condition that causes extreme sensitivity to light. Born in Hawaii, raised on the Jersey Shore, and now working in the television industry in Los Angeles, Craig has spent much of his life planning around the sun.

In this episode, Craig joins hosts Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman to share what growing up with EPP was really like, how the condition affected his relationships and everyday choices, and why its often-invisible pain can be so difficult for others to understand.

Craig also discusses founding Shadow Jumpers in 2017. The nonprofit supports individuals and families with photosensitive conditions through sun-safe vacations, home renovations, protective clothing, medical assistance, transportation, and community programs.

In 2024, Shadow Jumpers launched Sun Escape, a free annual weekend camp where photosensitive families can enjoy activities including horseback riding, archery, zip lining, and water park access in a carefully sun-safe environment.

Craig also reflects on participating in a clinical trial of bitopertin, an investigational treatment for EPP, and what it felt like to spend hours outside without the severe pain that had shaped his life.

In This Episode, We Discuss

Craig’s earliest experiences with painful sun exposure

What an EPP reaction feels like

The childhood experiences and social events he missed

How EPP affected relationships, travel, work, and daily planning

Why Craig founded Shadow Jumpers

The practical support the organization provides to families

How Sun Escape creates a safe and joyful camp experience

Craig’s experience participating in a bitopertin clinical trial

His reaction to the FDA’s decision not to grant accelerated approval

Finding resilience, purpose, and community through advocacy

Craig’s message to children with EPP and their parents

About the Guest
Craig Leppert is the founder of Shadow Jumpers, a nonprofit supporting individuals and families affected by EPP and other photosensitive conditions through programs including Sun Escape, family assistance, protective clothing, and sun-safe experiences.

Craig’s diagnostic journey was featured on Discovery Channel’s Mystery Diagnosis in the episode “The Boy Who Kept Swelling,” and he later appeared with his family on The Dr. Oz Show. His life with EPP and advocacy through Shadow Jumpers were also recently featured in People.

Resources

Shadow Jumpers: shadowjumpers.org

Instagram: @shadowjumpers_

Facebook: Shadow Jumpers

People feature: Read Craig’s story

Video: Watch “The Boy Who Kept Swelling”

United Porphyrias Association: Education and support for people affected by EPP and other porphyrias

Bitopertin was previously studied as a potential treatment for schizophrenia but was never approved for that condition. It remains investigational and is not currently approved for EPP.

Connect With It Happened To Me Podcast
 

Stay tuned for the next episode of It Happened To Me. In the meantime, explore our previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, ItHappenedToMe.com, or your favorite podcast platform by searching for It Happened To Me.

It Happened To Me is created and hosted by Cathy Gildenhorn and Beth Glassman. Kira Dineen of Gene Pool Media serves as Executive Producer.

For questions, guest suggestions, or other inquiries, contact us at ItHappenedToMePod@gmail.com.