Humor, optimism and resilience have helped writer and trained social worker Susan Margolis Stillman get through a host of family medical challenges. Susan is a breast cancer survivor, but her mother lost her battle with malignant melanoma and Susan’s son has a rare Jewish genetic disease called familial dysautonomia. In this episode Susan talks about how her son soldiers through life, how her early career as an oncology social worker unexpectedly prepared her to care for herself and her mother, and how she and her father cared for her mother during the late stages of her mom’s cancer. Susan also talks about her widowed father’s new life and why she supports his decision to remarry. Tune in for a compelling story of living life with grit and grace. Note: this episode originally aired on May 19, 2016.
Check out Susan’s blog: Let Me Tell You Something
More of Susan’s work: Kveller articles
Learn about familial dysautonomia
Susan and her son, Ben
Music: “Deux Temps 5am Hommage” by Project 5am | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archives
Scattered: My Year As An Accidental Caregiver is available in paperback and eBook at
