Insightful thoughts on what to do while battling a serious illness.

1. Edwards Credo

2. Edwards Credo
From the book
Peace Love and Healing
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Harper and Row Publisher

3. Edwards Credo
From a sign posted on Edwards hospital
door. He was attempting to set a realistic
tone to his health challenges while he
fought for his life.

4. What I know
1. I have a bad cancer. I have read my
protocol and know it may kill me.
2. I know how bad this cancer is
— I used to be in hospital management.

5. What I know
3. I know all treatments involve risks,
including death.
4. Many people die from what I have.
I know the statistics.

6. Please Know
1. I know you can help me in a positive way if
you want to. But please remember that my life
belongs to me, those I love and those who love
me.

7. Opportunities
2. My wife and I are convinced that good
medicine is more than highly important
knowledge and skills, chemicals and
protoplasm. We also believe in the body’s
mental powers and immunological abilities as
well as the spiritual. We need all the help we
can get to bring all of these resources to bear
on my problem and to help you help me.

8. Opportunities
3. I have much to live for and I am trying
very hard to do whatever I can to be
effective as possible.

9. Opportunities
4. I personally know of people with what I have
who have done well despite the poor odds. I
intend to also, by buying as much good time as
I can for me and those I love. Perhaps we can
do even more. That is why I am here. Otherwise
I would not be.

10. Opportunities
5. There is hope in my heart. Do not do
anything to encourage its replacement with
bitterness, for it will inevitably lessen my
comfort level and worsen my condition.

11. Therefore:
1. There is no need to repeat the above. I
have heard it many times from well
meaning people who feel it is the
physicians duty to level with the patient on
the dark side, particularly when I have
appeared too hopeful at times.

12. Therefore:
2. Good thoughts, friendship, advice
encouragement, hope, love, energy,
smiles, are all gratefully accepted. Please
leave pessimism, downers bitterness, pity
and negative preachiness at the door,
without of course being dishonest.

13. Therefore:
2. Good thoughts, friendship, advice
encouragement, hope, love, energy,
smiles, are all gratefully accepted. Please
leave pessimism, downers bitterness, pity
and negative preachiness at the door,
without of course being dishonest.

14. Edwards Credo
From the book
Peace Love and Healing
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Harper and Row Publisher

15. Edwards Credo
From the book
Peace Love and Healing
Dr. Bernie Siegel
Harper and Row Publisher
Courtesy Michael H Ballard of Resiliency for Life