84 ALTERNATIVE THER/\riL-S, [AN/Prfi 2005. VOL I I . NO. 1 Conversations wilh Ticraona Low Dog, MH

CONVERSATIONS

TIERAONA LOW DOG, MDEDUCATOR, SCIENTIST, ANDHERBAL MEDICINE EXPERT

interview by KaroiyTi A. Gazella • Pliolograpliy by Jamie Williams

Tieraona Low Dog. A//), is Clinical Assislinil Professor of theDeparlmcnl of Medicine and Director of Botanical Studies with theProgram of Integrative Medicine al the University of ArizonaCollege of Medicine in Tucson, Ariz. Prior to joining the Universityof Arizona. Dr. Low Dog was Clinical Assistant Professor oJ theDepartment of Family Mvdieiiic at the University of New Mexico.Albuquerque. After studying hiology aud chemistry as an under-graduate, she received her doetorate from the University of NewMexico Sehool of Medieine. President Clinton appointed her toserve on Ihe While House Commission of Cowpletnentary andAlternative Medicine. She was then appointed hv Health andHuman Services Secretary Tommy Thompson under President Bushto serve on the advisory board for ihe National Institutes of HealthNational Center for Complementary and Alternative Medieine(NCCAM). She has been chair of the United States PharmacopoeiaDietary Supplements and Botanienls Expert Committee sinee 2000.Dr. Low Dog is a sought-after speaker and an nceomplished author.Her most reeenl hook is Women's Health in Complementary andIntegrative Medicine: A Clinical Guide (Elsevier 2004).

Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine recentlyinterviewed Dr. Low Dog in Tucson.

Alternative Therapies (AT): What inspired you to become amedical doctor?

Tieraona Low Dog, MD: After practicing herbal medicine foryears, it became clear I needed more knowledge. I needed tounderstand more about the causation of disease, and, to agreater extent, pathophysiolog)'. As an herbalist, I was able todo many good things for my patients. In addition to the herbsthemselves, I often recommended lifestyle changes, massagetherapy and was very aware of the powerful role of empathyand spirituality in the healing process. Yet. while 1 experiencedsuccess in my practice, I also saw gaping holes in my under-

standing of the science of medicine. For me, the journeythrough college and medical school was an incredibly enlight-ening experience. Science has, in many ways, changed theworld for the better, especially in the field of medicine. It wasn'tthat long ago in history that people were told they got sickbecause of evil spirits and iminural thoughts. Today, while werecognize the importance of thought and behavior in health,we also know much more about the microbial world and itsinterface with our defense systems. Medical science, for me,has been eye opening and inspiring. Cioing to medical schoolseemed like a natural extension of what 1 was already doing. !twas the next step for me on my journey.

AT; Describe the sequence of your professional path.

Dr. Low Dog: Actually, martial arts came tirst. It was my lifeand my passion for many years. 1 was heavily involved in TaeKwon Do and trained every day. I lived above a Tae Kwon Doschool and managed the front office, which allowed me to takeclasses for free. Martial Arts was a doorway to Eastern philoso-phy, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine, specificallyacupuncture and herbal medicine.

Herbs have also alway.s been a big part of my life. Formany years, I have been growing, gathering, and experiment-ing with plants. Since I was in my early twenties, I've madehomemade ointments, salves, tinctures, elixirs, teas, andsoaps. I was involved with my local food co-op and interestedin the natural foods movement since I was 19 years old. 1 eatorganic foods. I used natural childbirth and my daughter wasborn at home. I breastfed both of my children. I have alwaysbeen sort of "green" if you will. A simple, more natural lifestylepermeates my personal philosophy.

1 became a massage therapist and apprenticed as a mid-wife. In many ways, midwifery most accurately repre.sents my

Tieraona Low Dog, MD, is shown here in her home inTucson, Arizona.

lieprint rtifuests:imioVKiun Commumfiiliom. 169SILKOIIV Rd. Sutle 103. Emimtm. CA 92024:

phone. <7f<0) BJ,i J S / 0 or (866) S2S-2962:fax. (7m 63J-39IS: i-mail. ulkrn,ilii.T.lhfrapin(^^

iimmiaorwm.com.

C"cinvcrsati(»n> wilh Tieraona Unv Uo", MO ALTERNATIVE TIIERAfMFS. )AN/FEB 2005. VOl. 11. NO. 1 85

healing philosoph): trust in nature and trust in the process. Ofcourse, supporting the process with the best of science andintegralive approaches is the best u-ay for healing to occur.

So. il was all a natural evolution. There wasn't an organizedorder to my training or career—it all simply blended together tocreate the person and practitioner I am today. I try to avoid theartificial boundaries people tend to create. I do not see those bor-ders in my own world-view. I bave an eclectic approach to heal-ing. There is the herbalist, the massage therapist, the teacher, themidwife, the martialartist, the student, the

• VERY SINGLEPERSON IN THUNITED STATES

MUST HAVE ACCESSTO HEALTHCARE. iTHERE IS SOMETHIWRONG WHEN YOLIVE IN A COUNTRYAS GREAT AS OURSAND THERE IS SUCINEQUITY.

ician, and themother. They are all justmelded into who I am.This gives me my ownapproach to medicineand to life in general.

AT: Does your interestin botanicals comefrom your NativeAmerican heritage?

Dr. Low Dog: 1 am of

Lakota/Comanche andA n g l o - A m e r i c a ndescent. 1 am not a"medicine woman."Medicine people studya lifetime to learn themedicine of their tribe.Although I do not prac-tice the t radi t ionalmedicine of any NorthAmerican tr ibe, themedicines of theLakota, Navajo, and Oklahoma nations ha\e certainly iullu-enced my thinking. My time working with the Indian HealthService in New Mexico added to my exposure to local healersbefore going to medical school. There i.s a vast knowledgeabout plants and the spirit of healing to be found among manyindigenous peoples.

I don't practice any one particular system of medicine. Ihave witnessed and personally experienced many differenttypes of medicine in Mexico, Belize, and during my 22 years inNew Mexico. While living in Richmond, VA, I was exposed toJamaican and Asian medicine. I also was exposed to the richtraditions of rural African-American folk medicine in NorthCarolina. Many Western herbalists use a variety of approachesin their practice and look at medicine from differing perspec-tives. I am also a scientist so I view health from a research per-spective. I blend historical use with \ihat ihe scientificliterature tells us.

Botanical medicine has a lot to offer Western medicine,

With botanical medicine we not only treat sickness but we maybe able to help people truly optimize their health. Many peopleare relatively well, but are still looking for ways to feel better.more energetic, and healthier. The idea of tonification, forexample, does not exist in Western medicine; however, the con-cept of tonics is very strong in botanical medicine.

AT: You've mentioned such a diverse mix of professional expe-riences. How important has that been in making you more of a

well-rounded, effective inte-grated practitioner, speaker,and educator?

Dr. Low Dog: 1 ihink weshould always look for men-tors, teachers, and othersthai can ha\'e a positiveintluence on us. You findthem in the most unusualplaces, 'ou don'l jusl fnidthem al uni\'ersities. Youcan find people that havesomething lo leach you inihe most obscure nooks andcrannies . I have alwaysbeen, and will always be, astudent. I enjoy learningfrom people. I'm fascinatedwith people's beliefs, theway they view the world,and how they take care ofsickness in their communi-ty. I lo\e the diversity of ourculture and 1 enjoy knowingpeople from differeiilplaces. Because 1 take that

outlook v 'ith me \\ ht-rt^'er I go, ma\'be it has helped luc in myrelationshijis with paiienls. We li\e in a very culturally diversenation. You'd have to be actively trying to avoid it not to feelthe influence of it in your life. You cannot be an effective physi-cian, or any other type of practitioner, if you do not exploreyour own beliefs, as well as those who come to see you. Everytime you walk into that room to meet with a patient, there aremany "people" in the room with you. You bring with you yourhealth, religion, background, training, and views of the world.And patients bring their beliefs, world-view, and understand-ing of lA'hat made them sick and what the;' believe v ilt makethem better. That is an awful lot of stuif to negotiate in 15 min-utes. One becomes a better practitioner when exposed to a vari-ety of people, dilferenl points of view, and is open to exploringthe different ways people look at the world. It makes you a bet-ter partner in the relationship u'iih your patients.

AT: Is it about empathy?

8 6 A L T E R N A T I V E T H E R A P I E S , ) A N / F E B 2 0 0 5 . V O L I I , N O . Conversations ivitii TiiTiuiTia Low Dog, .vm

Dr. Low Dog; Iiverythiiig is about empathy, isn't it? We allneed to cultivate empathy in our lives. Certainly if you are in ahealing profession, you must actively cultivate empathy Intoyour life. People vvlio are sick or troubled are suffering. Beingable to empathize with people who are suftVring is critical.

AT: Some patients would say that empathj' is a missing compo-nent of our present healthcare system. Would you agree?

Dr. Low Dog: I think itmay be true ofthe sys-tem. I don't think It'snecessarily true ofthepractitioners within thesystem. I've met veryempathetic physiciansand I've met praclition-ers who have lackedempathy. As myinstructor Master Kimused to say. "it's not themart ial art that isimportant , it is themartial ar t is t ."

Whether you studyKung Fu, Tae Kwon Do,or Karate, it is not assignificant as what you"do" with your individ-ual art. It doesn't mat-ter if you are aconventional practi-tioner or a naturopath-ic doctor. No specificdiscipline owns empa-thy. It's also not a caseof either you have it oryou don't, 1 think it canand should be actively cultivated.

Healthcare has become an industry. It'.s a huge businessand people get lost within it. The patient winds up on theshort end. while many practitioners fight to resist the ever-shrinking patient visit. As a practitioner, the system itselfheats you down; the amount of administrative paperworkrequired is phenomenal.

But there are many very dedicated people in the health-care system, both conventional and alternative, who are verycaring and committed to their patients. They are in healthcarebecause they want to serve. For .some it's a job, but for manypeople it's a calling.

AT: One ofthe criticisms about herbal medicine is that it hasbecome allopathic herbology, not truly integrative medicine.Do you have a problem with ihat?

NCE YOU HAVEDEVELOPED THEABILITY TO *

UNDERSTAND PEOPLE,THEIR BELIEES, WHERETHEY COME EROM, WKTHEYTHINKTHE WAYTHEY DO, AND YOU CANHONOR THAT YOU CANLEARN COMPLEMENTARY,OR ANY OTHER TYPE OEMEDICINE.

Dr. Low Dog: Why would I have a problem with that? If youhave an herbal product that is safer than a pharmaceuticalproduct, why not use it? It's not the way 1 practice, bul I fhid itunfair to first accuse conventional physicians of not beinginterested in alternatives and then when they become interest-ed, criticize them for not doing it properly. To begin feelingcomfortable with alternative therapies, a medical doctor willoften want to use them in a way they understand. That may

mean recommending sawpalmetto instead ol analpha-blocker for benignpro.static hyperplasia orcranheiry tablets insteadof prophylactic antibi-otics in women withrecurrent urinary tractinfections. We must getpast the things that divideus and .start looking atthings that can bring ustogether.

AT: What needs tochange in our presenthealthcare system?

Dr. Low Dog; livery sin-gle person in the UnitedStates must have accessto healthcare. There issomething wrong whenyou live in a country asgreat as ours ami theri' issuch inequity. Healthcarehas become a privilege.That has to change. Ifyou are the poorest of thepoor you can get basic

medical care and if you are middle income you can pay formedical care, lf you are a single woman with three kids and youare working for $7.25/hotir, how in the world are you supposedto pay for insurance? How in (he world is thai wumaii sup-posed to pay for any kind of health coverage? That is some-thing we are going to have to address as a nation, 1 am abeliever in integrative medicine hut if you asking me what myl)iggest wish for medicine would be, it would be equal acce.ssand care for all Americans regardless of age. gender, race, eth-nicity, or income.

The second change would be the reintroduction of human-ity into medicine at the undergraduate and graduate levels.Courses in ethics, sociology, and anthropology should berequired. Taking calculus isn't going to really help you and yourpatient. Yes, physicians need to understand the science in orderto be good doctors. However, science will not help you explain

Convers;!lions with Tienioiia Low Dog, A L T E R N A T I V E T H F R A P i B S , I A N / F E 1 W 0 0 5 . VCM.. II . N O . 87

lo il 29-year-oid woman why IUT nine-month old child is dyingfrom cancer. Or answer the heartbreaking question: Why mybaby? Unde^st;^ntiin^ and emphasizing science does not helppractitioners deal vvith these difficnlt issues.

How many people live their entire lite without ever seeinga birth or being in the same room when someone dies? Theva.st majority of .American.s have never personally witnessed abirth and most will never be sitting in a room with somebodyuhen they die. Healthcare providers are asked to do thi.s all thetime. We witness miracles on both ends of the spectrum. Aphysician is no! only there when somebod) dies. The physicianis the one who must go and tell the family that their loved oneis gone. There is no ritual for that in the current medical educa-tional sy.stem. There is no training that adequately prepares usas human beings for these types of situations. This is what Imean by bringing the humanities, humanity, back into medi-cine. If I had to choose between teaching coinplementar)' andalternative medicine or the humanities to medical .students, Iwould definitely choose the humanities. Because once you havedeveloped the ability to understand people, their beliefs, wherethey come from, why they think the way they do, and you canhonor that, you can learn complementary, or any other type ofmedicine. But it is hard to teach people humanity and there i.svery little room for it in major medical schools.

AT: Is that being addressed right now?

Dr. Low Dog: .A number of family practice and primary careresidencies are trying to deal with this issue. Some medicalschools are attempting to do more in the area of the humani-ties but it has been pretty much lip service for many. It's diffi-cult because nobody wants to give up his or her turf. Thebiochemistry professor wants to have all her biochemistrytime and doesn't want anyone taking e\en an hour away. Thephysiology, pharmacy, and other basic science professors feelthe same way. To add an hour of something else means youhave to take an hour from someplace else. There are accredita-tion issues and certain levels of requirements must be met.Students are already overwhelmed by the amount of materialthey are being asked to learn. It must be done, though. Wehave to be strategic.

So. if 1 had a magic wand and could implement changes inour healthcare system, there would be two: to find a way to getall people access to healthcare; and change medical education loembrace the science while balancing it w ith the art of medicine.

AT: When you look at your career as a practicing physician,lecturer, researcher, author, and educator, what do youenjoy most?

Dr. Low Dog: All of them. I only do things 1 am passionateabout. I learned a long time ago how to be joyful, or at least noiantagonistic, about the things 1 do. So, all of these areas havibeen things that I love.

Patients fill \ou up. At the end of the da) you ieel full, youdon't feel empty or tired, you feel full. They come in feeling badand they share with you the most intimate parts of their lives.They let you in, they trust you to help them, to be honest witbthem and help care for them. Ihoutih the hours can be verylong and the paperwork demanding, the blessings are toonumerous to count. Many of my patients would send me cards,most would give me hugs, some brought tortillas or home-baked bread: even the tnost cantankerous of my old womenpatients melt after a while and in turn melt me.

As for education, I love education. I enjoy teaching. It'sdefinitely a passion. I love being a student and therefore Ilove to teach. I love both ends of the spectrum. Students keepyou on top of your game. They are always studying the latestof everything and are constantly challenging you. I love stu-dents. When I am an old woman. I will probably just go teachhigh school science somewhere. I love getting kids excitedabout science.

Creating public policy is interesting. I was honored toreceive a presidential appointment to the White HouseCommission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM) b)' Bill Clinton. It was an interesting process for some-body such as me uho i.s favorable to many aspects of comple-mentary and alternative medicine. However, in the end, 1 foundmyself writing a minority report. In my heart. I just was unable

88 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES, lAN/FEIi 2005. VOL 11, NO. ons ivilli Tierann;] l.nw ting. MD

to support recommendations to start covering scientificallyunsubstantiated complementary and alternative medicine ther-apies when we still have millions who can t even get a Papsmear. 1 felt the Complementary and Alternati\'e MedicineCommission was a little ahead of its time. Coverage is some-thing that should be added after people have basic medicalcare, or obviously, when something has been shown to work,regardless of rather it is defined as conventional or comple-mentary. Remember the timing of our final report, as well. Itwas 2001 and 9/lJ had just happened. We turned in our reportjust six months after September 11. We were a nation that hadjust been attacked. Budgets were getting cut and HomelandSecurity was being developed. It seemed irresponsible to rec-ommend that we pay for everything, regardless of evidence.

Spirituality as a CAM therapy is another issue that hasalways troubled me. No one should attempt to co-opt spirituali-ty. Spirituality does not belong to any one group, conventional oralternative. Its interesting that some surveys consider prayer as acomplementary and alternative medicine. Many people who areJewish, Christian, Buddhist, or another faith, do not considerthemselves using complementary and alternative medicine whenthey pray or meditate. That disturbs me a little. There areenough complementary' and alternative medicine therapies thatprovide us with hope for the future. Spirituality crosses all cul-tures, nationalities, races—no group can stake a claim to it.

AT: Were CAM community professionals surprised or disap-pointed with your White House Commission Minority Report?

Dr. Low Dog: Writing the minority statement was difficult.There were those that were unhappy with what i had to say, butI was there to represent the public not any particular group orsubset ofthe population. The President of ihe United Statesappointed me and the other members lo help find ways lo eval-uate complementary and alternative medicine and maximizeaccess to it. He wanted me to help with public policies in thisarea. I supported most of what was in the fuial report, especial-ly In the areas of quality control, information, and much oftheresearch. I simply felt there were several areas that needed fur-ther eliibonition, especially when consensus between the groupmembers could not be achieved.

AT: Did you have any bias and if so, how did you pvercome that?

Dr. Low Dog: We all bring hias. I am biased too. The key isrecognizing antl utiderstanding the bia.s. I am definitely favor-able to many aspects of complementary and alternative medi-cine. I make my living leaching and practicing integrativemedicine. 1 buy organic foods and shop at natural foods gro-cery stores. I had an herbal practice for many years and wasthe President ofthe American Herbalist Guild. The question is.

ConvLTsatioris with Ticraona Low Dog. ALTERNATIVF THERAIMB, |AN/FER 2005. VOL. 11. NO.

not did 1 have jiny hias. but was I tonscioiis of il?Tlie answer isyes. Bul 1 also knew I was being asked lo step away frommyself, and my own agenda, and look at the situation from thepublic's perspective. Not just the 30%-40% who actively useCAM, but the entire public. At the end of the day, I just wantedto be honest with myself about what 1 really believed. 1 don'twant to be a 70-year-old woman looking back on that timethinking 1 simply signed oft on something just because it waseasier. Long after everyone has forgotten about the WhiteI louse ( oniniission, 1 must live with the decisions I have made.

AT: Have you always been drawn to women's health?

Dr. Low Dog: Yes.Actually.! most enjoy tak-ing care of both womenand children, though Ienjoy men's health aswell. Men are a pleasurebecause they are typicallyvery direct. They want toknow what is wrong andhow to llx it. While thereare many exceptions, gen-erally, most male patientsare not looking for longconversation or a need toexhaust every option.

Women, on the otherhand, often want tounderstand exactly what sgoing on. Why am 1 sick?Why is this happening?What are my options?What are the conse-quences of those options?And most women want tobe involved in the deci-sion-making process.Women process informa-t ion. VVe want to talkabout it and understandit. We want to feel it. I

love that. Of course, that doesn't fit well with 15-minute officevisits.

I have always loved working with pregnant Momen. It'sjusl amazing to be in a room when a woman gives birth.Women's issues are interesting and often complex. I trj' toadvocate for women, not any particular dogma. For example.I believe breastfeeding gives a baby the best head start in life.And it's certainly an incredible experience to watch your babytake its life and noitrishment from your own breast. It's a verypowerful teeling. But it may not be for every woman. We havelo be careful not to be the "women's health police." Some

lENITHINOF WHO 1A>AND WHAT I

BRING TO MEDICINE,I THINK I AM THEBRIDGE BETWEEN THLADY GROWINGPEPPERMINT IN HERGARDEN AND THERESEARCHER ISOLATINMENTHOL AND EVERY^THING IN BETWEEN.

folks seem to believe a woman is a failure if she chooses to usean epidural. Healthcare professionals, especially those spe-cializing in women's health, should not judge. We should pro-vide women with options and then supporl their decisions.We also need lo support women by letting them know thatnot everything they feel is pathological Everything does nothave to be treated. It is just fine to be sad. We experience upsand downs and everything in between. We don't need a curefor every down time. It alt doesn't have to be explained inmedical (erms all the time.

Our healthcare system doe.s not nurture women and chil-dren, in general. Until very recently, most of our medicalresearch was conducted on men. Pediatricians are one ofthe

lowest paid physi-cians. Of course, thatis also true of schoolteachers. Children areour future, yet we payMie people who carefor and teach ihem theleast. Even thoughwomen make up halfthe populat ion andconsume 80% ofhealthtare, it is amaz-ing thai these statisticsdo not translate intoequivalence in

women's healthresearch dol lars .Although this ischanging, our lack ofpolicies in this area isa reflection ofthe waywe value women andchildren in our society.

.AT: Are you hopefulabout the fijture of inte-grative medicine andmedicine in general?

Dr. Loiv Dog: My per-sonal philosophy is to quietly do what needs to be done eachday without really becoming invested in the outcome.Worrying about something you can't really affecl can be dam-aging to your health and sense of well-being. Healthcare is ahuge system and the role I play is very small. I concentrate ondoing my best in the small area I can affect. Oo 1 know what'sgoing to happen with integrative medicine in the future? No.Am 1 hopeful or doubtful? Neither. I am just doing my best,like everybody else.

When I think of who I am and what I bring to medicine, Ithink I am the bridge between the lady growing peppermint in

ALTLRNATIVt TliFKAritS. |AN/FKR 2005. VOI. M. NO. Conversations witli Ticranna Low DOJ;, MII

her garden and the researcher isolating menthol and every-thing in between. I want to travel along the entire coniinuum. Ienjoy advocating at the government level, working to influencestandards for quality control and quality research.

We need to invest both time and money researchingherbal medicines. Some of the underexplored areas that mayyield great beiiefit include herbs for stress reduction andimmune enhancement. Adaptogens or tonics are herbs thatbuild and strengthen an individual's system in a multitude ofways, \4any patients are lacking vitality. They are tired and notsleeping well. Often it's not fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue—it's simply a circumstance of living in the 21st century. Ourpatients are bombarded with personal and work commitmentsand responsibilities, leaving them feeling pressured, over-whelmed, and stressed. In addition to working towards lifestylechanges and adopting strategies such as exercise, meditation,etc, these individuals may benefit tremendously from herbaltonics such as ginseng, ashwaganda. or reishi.

Another untapped area for research involves cancer.Conventional cancer treatments can have devastating effects onthe patient's quality of life. Patients are often extremelyfatigued and plagued with numerous side effects from treat-ment. Some herbs, such as astragulus, may help protect thebone marrow and strengthen overall immune health in cancerpatients. This is an area worth exploring. A clinical trialthrough the NIH is already addressing the use of ginger forchemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Herbs may help us, in part, with the growing problem ofantibiotic resistance. Many plants are quite complex, making itdifficult for microbes to get a foothold. It is worth exploring ifplants with documented antimicrobial activity can be used tofight infection without increasing bacterial resistance in humanbeings. Plants such as goldenseal and tea tree are just twoexamples of plants that might fit into this research category.

It's always been fascinating to me that many herbs can beused at home for self-care and also researched to provide cut-ting edge medicine. It is exciting to watch the incorporation ofinnovative technologies in both manufacture and research tohelp move the field forward. I enjoy growing herbs in my gar-den and drinking lemon balm tea. I also enjoy discussions ofbioassays, limitations of standardization, and isolation ofpotent compounds from mushrooms.

Using the best evidence-based medicine, while consideringthe patient and their beliefs, is the foundation of integrativemedicine. 1 moved to the University of Arizona to work withthe integrative medicine program because I believe in this phi-losophy. It is a philosophy that values the therapeutic relation-ship. The most important part of medicine is the relationshipbetween the patient and the practitioner.

When I think about my life, 1 realize, however, that health-care has not had the most profound influence on me. Besidesmy children, there is no question that martial arts have beenthe most important thing in my life—not medical school, mas-sage school, or herbal education. There is no question that

martial arts has profoundly and positively impacted my life. Itchanges you to be able to discipline both the body and mind toaccomplish things one never thought possible. As 1 earned mythird degree black belt, I gained a tremendous sense of peace-fulness. It is this pcacetulness that I bring Io my practice ofmedicine and my view oftlie future of integrated medicine.

AT: What are you most proud of?

Dr. Low Dog: Being a mother. No question. 1 don'l even haveto think twice about it. It'.s the most joyful, rewarding, difficultresponsibility 1 have ever been given. As a mother, you areresponsible for holding the soul of your child or children untilthey are old enough to go into the world on their oivn. Everyword, every thought, every action you share with them impactsthe way they are going to live, grow, think, and feel, and howthey feel about themselves. While it is an awesome responsibil-ity, it is absolutely the most joy I could ever imagine. So that'sdefinitely what I am most proud of When I am old and lookingback on my life, it will not be about what I did in my career, itwill be about my family. I want my children to know they wereloved and believe I did a good job. If that happens, then my lifewas worth living.

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