THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS CANCER. TEA IS THE RELIEF CONVERSATION PROVIDES. VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4 DECEMBER 2023 Conversation 1 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4 UPDATE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 48 LESSONS LEARNED WITH LISA New Values 6 PARTS OF ME 40 REWRITING YOUR STORY WITH CANCER Finding Hope 8 MOSAIC: FINDING NEW IDENTITY AND PURPOSE AFTER CANCER 12 LIFE AFTER THE BELL 24 UNSTABLE GROUND AND HOLDING HOPE GENTLY Cover photo: Christopher Sprowls christophersprowls.com My Changing Body 10 RECONSTRUCTION: A NEVER-ENDING STORY* 30 THIS BODY IS MY HOME 34 HOMECOMING Oversharing is Caring 16 MEETING MYSELF FOR THE FIRST TIME Mixed Emotions 18 TOO MUCH AND NOT ENOUGH 22 SLIVERS OF LIGHT As a Family 26 WORTH THE WAIT 36 THE NEW NORMAL OF MOVING FORWARD FOLLOW ELEPHANTS AND TEA ON SOCIAL MEDIA! 2 ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM DECEMBER 2023 X Instagram @ElephantsTea @elephantsandteamagazine Facebook @ElephantsandTea TikTok @elephantsandteamag LinkedIn @ElephantsandTeahttp://www.christophersprowls.com http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM