Guest Blogger: StoryCorps + OHSU

StoryCorps Legacy: Through the cancer journey with Josh

You’ve likely heard the compelling conversations produced by StoryCorps, the national nonprofit organization whose mission is to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. But did you know that StoryCorps has now partnered with OHSU to bring to life the stories of OHSU patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and volunteers?

During this year’s NWNM conference, Jessi Broberg and T Timbreza, employees in the OHSU Patient Experience department, will facilitate a workshop focusing on the healing power of storytelling through the mission of StoryCorps Legacy and their partnership with local and national healthcare organizations.

In addition, two StoryCorps recording sessions will be held during the conference. If you’re registered for the conference and might be interested in recording a StoryCorps interview on October 21 or 22, please send an email to nwnmc.pdx@gmail.com.

Below are a few words from Jessi and T.:

Grief. Elation. Surprise. Frustration. Optimism. Myriad emotions fill the hearts of those whose lives intersect with healthcare. Each of those individuals – patients, loved ones, care providers, and researchers alike – has a story to tell and the OHSU partnership with StoryCorps Legacy is an opportunity to do just that. Participating gives people the opportunity to reflect, in an open and safe space, on the things that are meaningful to them. It allows individuals like Josh Brenneman and his mom, April, to capture and preserve some of their experiences in an audio recording.

The youngest of five children, Josh was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in 2004 at the age of four.  Now 17, he and his mom sat down and discussed this diagnosis and the impact it had on their lives and the community that rallied beside them. Listen to their story here.

This edited story is an example of the type of work we’re privileged to do at OHSU. We have the honor of being facilitators of and bearing witness to the powerful stories told during the 40-minute interviews. We believe in creating space for the experience of others, and that sharing stories that inspire and connect us are some of the greatest gifts we can give.

We hope you’ll join us during the conference as we share learnings and challenges in listening for the multiple stories within the audio recording, understanding the process of honoring the integrity of the story, and identifying the components that tell the most impactful story possible.