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  3. Cancer clarity: Ann Teberg and Arusha

Cancer clarity: Ann Teberg and Arusha

Ann Teberg, of Whitworth University, displays her African hand crafts, including a Maasai beaded necklace she was given after visiting St. Margaret's Academy in Arusha, Tanzania. She has taken a leave of absence from teaching to live in Arusha for three months. The cards, letters and drawing, seen at right, are from Colton Elementary School students will who be pen pals to the children of St. Margaret's. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Ann Teberg, of Whitworth University, displays her African hand crafts, including a Maasai beaded necklace she was given after visiting St. Margaret's Academy in Arusha, Tanzania. She has taken a leave of absence from teaching to live in Arusha for three months. The cards, letters and drawing, seen at right, are from Colton Elementary School students will who be pen pals to the children of St. Margaret's. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)

The cancer survivors I have met and interviewed over the years usually tell me that cancer was a great clarifier. They were able to focus on things that mattered more in the long run, at least in their opinion and in their lives.

A woman I profiled in my Sunday story, Ann Teberg, is one of the best examples yet.

She traveled to Tanzania, fell in love with the people and the culture and knew she had to return for a deeper comnmitment.

She will. Ann will leave soon to spend three months in Arusha, Tanzania. She'll bring books for the children and solar lamps to read them by in her project she's calling Read With Me, Arusha!

Ann, now 53, said:

 “Life-threatening illnesses change your knowledge of what’s important in life. The length of time we have, nobody knows. I can’t wait until I’m 67 to do this, because I don’t have a clue if I’ll still be here.”

(S-R photo by Jesse Tinsley)

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.