A Little About Me
Finding Ways to Embrace Life, Embrace Hope in the Journey
Hey! I thought I’d start by sharing a little about me…
I’ve been using words and images on paper for as long as I can remember.
Words help me understand, learn, process, and make sense and meaning from whatever topic I’m exploring.
Best of all word and images allow me to connect with others like you!
So who am I? I’m many things that have various roles, titles, and labels, but I’d describe myself mostly as a reflective, creative that loves to integrate ideas especially faith and psychology. I love to dabble as a watercolor artist and write Through both mediums I love to inspire others in ways that bring wholeness and hope.
I’m also a published author of Embrace Life, Embrace Hope: Cultivating Wholeness and Resilience through the Unexpected.
Awards - Who’s Noticing?
It was selected by Canada’s The World Guild as 1 of the 3 finalists in the “Christian Living and Spiritual Formation” category.
It was selected by USA’s Illumination Awards and won a Bronze Medal in the “Christian Living” category.
I hope you’ll hang around, keep reading and stay connected!
Be sure to drop a note and say hello!
My Background
Most of my career has involved giving back to my community through non-profit, educational, and charity settings as a faith-based counsellor. My unique combination of education equipped me to draw from the best of two worlds to provide holistic counseling and soul care for many individuals, groups, and couples seeking healing, wholeness, growth, and to live wholeheartedly.
Professionally, I have written and designed training programs and resources, Soul Care Companioning, Unstuck, and Sojourning, along with several other workshops and other peer-led programs to train leaders who wish to journey alongside those seeking healing and wholeness.
I’m an Author and a Watercolor Artist
In 2023 I published “Embrace Life, Embrace Hope: Cultivating Wholeness and Resilience through the Unexpected”.
I often say that it is a book from my heart to yours. It is an inspirational memoir filled with stories, reflections, and insights about how I cultivated resilience and wholeness, and uncovered new meaning and purpose through the devastating and unexpected journey with adversity - oral cancer.
I use my watercolor art for my own soul care and more recently have decided to sell some of my art and donate the proceeds toward Cancer Research (see more on that below).
I’m a survivor and a warrior
I’m a stage III oral cancer survivor and an autoimmune warrior. These two health conditions often are at the core of my blogs because the impact of them are my unexpected, unwanted suffering in my life. They push me into a soulful place of caring for my self well so that I can live and thrive in the best way I can.
What do you do With the Profits of Your Book and Artwork?
I donate all the profits from this book and 4 of my watercolor pieces (as limited-edition prints) to cancer research through Calgary University’s School of Medicine in Alberta that supports our Doctors who conduct research and work at our world-class new Cancer Centre.
We also donate donor-gifted copies of the book to cancer centers across Canada and also to church libraries.
What’s the Book About?
It is a book about how to cultivate resilience and wholeness when going through difficult seasons of life – adversities. It is holistic because it focuses on body, soul, and spirit and about the kinds of soul care that is needed when we go through crises.
Because it acknowledges real life struggles it is designed to help people reconnect with their inner strength whether they’re seeking emotional support, spiritual insight, or crave peace during times of chaos.
It’s a book is like a compassionate companion on the journey toward healing and personal renewal.
Who is Your Book for?
My readers come from all walks of life: pastors, professors, moms, authors, dads, young adults, seniors, counselors, spiritual directors, stay-at-home moms, doctors, and nurses, and those who are suffering from losses, health challenges, or other life challenges, etc.
¼ of the readers have had cancer
¾ have not!
½ are female readers; ½ are male
Have Larger Groups Read the Book?
Yes several have! And many benefit from the group reflection and discussion that follows.
A men’s Bible study group at a local church
A few book clubs (both male and female members)
Cancer support groups for survivors/caregivers
What Readers are Saying:
“You put into words what I have not been able to say for myself. Thank you.”
“The highlights and reflection questions have challenged me to dig deeper.”
“I feel like you were writing to me!”
“I love how you integrate patient, counsellor, and person of faith throughout the book.”
“The stories, humour, and teaching is very helpful.”
“I wanted to highlight everything – there is so much good “stuff” in here!”
“You’ll get out of the book what you put into it.”
How Does the “Cancer” Piece fit?
As an oral cancer survivor I learned many things during a difficult time in my life, but that isn’t the only place I learned so I’ve incorporated stories into the book from that time as well as many others throughout my life – some serious, some funny.
Facing adversity through facing stage III oral cancer and other life experiences have taught me how critically important cultivating soul care and building healthy, whole ways of living as a life discipline is an investment in building a resilient faith to face to weather the storms life brings.
Could this Book be for a Cancer Patient?
Yes, for sure, especially if they are looking to find new ways to cultivate resilience, new disciplines, meaning, and wholeness along their journey and embrace soul care as a cancer survivor.
It is also a great resource for cancer caregivers and family members who are walking alongside someone facing cancer or another kind of adversity that affects their lifestyle.
I touch on topics of faith, emotion, counseling concepts, grief, and suffering into the book using real stories, some teaching, and reflections to explain different ways we can learn to embrace the life we are living and uncover new meaning through those difficult times of suffering to ultimately find ways to embrace a new kind of normal.
I have some Friends Facing Other Kinds of Issues Would it be a Good one for Them too?
Because the book’s main focus is on christian living, spiritual formation, and cultivating wholeness in a life journey it can be suitable for many readers because no one is exempt from trials, difficulties and suffering.
It seems that while our circumstances may be different what we have in common is that we are seeking hope and wholeness through our journey in life. Some of my readers have had heart disease, chronic diseases, loss of a loved one, retirement, struggling with a family issues, etc.
A few Advance Praise Comments From the Front of the Book:
"These pages hold a strange radiance, a dark crimson glow of deepest wisdom. She writes lucidly and honestly from inside her own pain, and so somehow her story, so deeply personal, becomes our story, too. What’s more, she often steps back, gathers a lifetime of accumulated insight about human flourishing, and becomes our teacher and our guide. If you need to embrace life and hope, you’ve come to the right place."
—Mark Buchanan, Author of God Walk
“Fern offers us the beautiful gift of being invited into her unexpected journey. Wrapped with raw authenticity, tenacious truth, and practical application, it is a generous gift that glimmers with the hope of Jesus.”
—Rev. Dr. Bryce Ashlin-Mayo, Dean of Theology, Ambrose University (recently endorsed as President, Ambrose University, 2024)
“This is so much more than the story of a cancer survivor; these are the reflections of a professional counsellor, a life-long learner coming alongside us as we walk through the shadows. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and as you engage in the conversations and reflections, you’ll grow. A ‘must’ for those facing uncertainty and for those of us who imagine we have it all together.”
—Rev. Dr. James Paton, Lead Pastor, First Alliance Church
“Fern has a beautiful way of using her painful and uninvited journey to bring hope to an unfathomable situation. I love Fern’s statement, “A crisis turns life on its head, bringing with it unexpected and unwanted experiences.” That says it for each one of us.
And yet, Fern’s depth of faith and insight brings new life to some age-old truths that we face whenever we are challenged with the unknown. This is a masterful work that takes moments in time to read a bit, ponder a bit, reshape thinking a bit all the while feeling energized by the strength and power that truth has to hold us, to move us forward, and to invite us in to so much more of life. You will be challenged to question your assumptions and you will be given wonderful knowledge and grace to grow and become more of who you were meant to be.
I can’t wait to reflectively meander my way through Embrace Life Embrace Hope in a way that will change me, cause me to stretch and become more like Jesus.”
—Ruth Esau, Leadership Development Educator, Facilitator and Coach
“As part of Fern’s community, I’ve always been aware of her wisdom and skills as a counsellor, pastor and spiritual director. I have watched as my beautiful friend Fern has suffered pain and brokenness through her journey with cancer. I had a front row seat to her hard-fought battle to take that head-knowledge and apply it to her own struggles with doubt, anxiety, despair, grief.
This book bears the marks of her transparency and authenticity in wrestling with God and learning new ways to love Him with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength. Like the kintsugi artists she writes about, her life is even more beautiful today because of the healing and restorative work of God in her heart, soul, mind, and body.
I’m excited to recommend this book to others who are seeking hope and healing."
—Judith Wiebe, Spiritual Director
“This well written and insightful book by Fern E.M. Buszowski is a must-read for anyone who desires to gain wisdom, knowledge and understanding; however, I believe even more strongly that it is a must-read for doctors. As a medical practitioner, I have broken bad news and shared serious diagnoses with patients. I have followed their difficult and painful journeys through treatments to save their lives. But I have never actually gone through the journey with them. I have not fully known their inner turmoil, fear, or anxiety as they walked onto the unknown and frightening road of cancer care. I have not followed them home or watched them cry in front of a mirror, I have not journeyed with them behind the closed doors of the radiotherapy suite.
Fern has taken me to those places that I had not been privileged to go with my patients, and I believe everyone, especially healthcare providers could learn a great deal from the honest details and reflections she shares in this book. She is gracious and appreciative of the high quality care she received from multiple healthcare workers who dedicatedly provided the care to save her life. Healthcare professionals need to hear these encouraging words because they are people too who often help others through self-sacrifice. Fern’s words of encouragement and gratitude are especially meaningful because of her counselling background.
Fern also shares wisdom which I believe we as healthcare workers can learn from in order to improve on the work that we do. As a physician for instance, I have asked my patients probing questions without understanding how threatening or even hurtful those questions could be. I have underestimated the especially negative psychological impact a cancer diagnosis (which is often stigmatised) could have on a previously healthy person. Fern reminded me to be better aware of the deeper details and to realise that every second I have could be a useful tool in God’s hands.
I consider this book to be a gift to people like me. Fern has graciously invited us into her journey; she has shared intimate and innovative details about finding hope through tremendous challenge. This book is definitely worth reading and sharing with others."
—Dr. Tolu Solola, MD
To find out more about me, including my book: “Embrace Life, Embrace Hope: Cultivating Wholeness and Resilience through the Unexpected”, visit my author website or follow me on IG, FB, or Linked-in. Hope to see you there!
