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tus and actually encouraged me to apply. I guess I had a decent ple out there wishing me well and praying for my speedy recov-
policy with own occupation because they covered me for partial ery, it gave me hope. I figure God will get tired of listening to all
disability for 6 months and waived my premium payments for a these prayers and say, “Okay, okay! Enough already! I’ll make
year. Honestly, without it, I wouldn’t have had the peace of mind her better.” So I decided to do the same for others. Today, I am
that financial security brings. I would have probably pushed feeling good and doing well. But there are so many others who
myself to work more hours which would have hindered my heal- are still fighting. My prayers go out to them each and every morn-
ing and recovery. So my advice is, please do yourself a favor and ing. I am hopeful that my nagging – I mean my prayers – will be
get a disability insurance. You will be glad you did. answered.

8) Count your blessings - be happy and thankful. ————————————————————-
My pastor once said, “The things you take for granted, someone So these are the 10 things I learned from cancer. Here I am,
else is praying for.” Getting cancer really opened my eyes. It almost a year later. I am back to working almost full time. (I
sounds like such a cliché but it’s true. I am truly grateful for all the promised my mother that I would only work 8 hours a day, 5-6
blessings and all the amazing people in my life. I used to pray for days a week. I used to work 10 hours. Don’t look at me! It’s the
things that I wanted. Now I give thanks for the things that I have. crazy Korean work ethic my parents instilled in me. They used to
Funny thing is, the more I give thanks, the more things I find I’m work 12 hours, 6 days a week. They said that if God worked 6
grateful for. Throughout my treatment, I tried to stay positive and days a week, they will do the same.) I am back to teaching part-
tried to find humor wherever I could. As they say, “Laughter is time at NYU, and learning to live with “Sue 2.0”. My post-chemo
the best medicine.” Because it was breast cancer, I had to disrobe body is different than my pre-chemo body. So I am trying to
pretty much every time I went in for treatment. In the beginning, respect that, take things slowly, and continue to try to find humor
I was very shy about it. But in no time at all, I was telling my sis- wherever I can. The hot flashes are awful (early onset menopause
ters, “Guess how many people I flashed today?” I became such a – courtesy of chemo) but sometimes handy on cold winter days
hussy! One of my very wise patients once told me that it takes the (like having my own little heater). I also got this wicked new hair-
same amount of energy to be happy or sad – so you might as well do – I have curly hair now! I never had curly hair before and it is
choose to be happy. quite exciting. My doctor said these are “chemo curls”. While
my dad is looking at my mom and questioning my parentage (“No
During my treatment, I participated in two studies at NYU one on MY side of the family has curly hair. Whose daughter is
Langone where they examined the benefits of exercise on patients this?”), I have been getting a lot of compliments on them.
who have undergone chemotherapy and surgery. It made me feel
good to be a part of something that will make people’s lives bet- During my treatment, my friend and fellow breast cancer survivor,
ter. It’s incredible. 1 in 8 women in the U.S. have breast cancer. Liz, told me to make a list of 10 things I would like to do once my
In addition, I also got to meet Elizabeth OuYang, a fellow breast treatment was over. This past year, I have been having a blast
cancer survivor and founder of PlumBlossoms.me, a wonderful doing everything on the list. I finally got my MAGD in Boston.
site that supports and empowers Asian-American women living Check! I got to teach my nephews, Kevin and Brian, and my
with breast cancer through shared stories of strength and laughter. niece, Becky, how to catch hermit crabs at Cape Cod – one of my
I was honored when she asked me to share my story. When asked favorite places in the whole world. Check! I am spending more
how she came up with the name, Liz explained to me that plum time with my family and friends. Check! I took a 2-week vacation
blossoms flower in the winter, amidst the snow and cold. It is a to Greece with my friends Bob and ZiZi (The last time I took a 2-
symbol of endurance through hardship and promise of spring. week vacation was 20 years ago.) It was a trip of a lifetime! I ran
in the original Olympic stadium (definitely heard the theme song
9) Live your life. This is not a dress rehearsal. from the “Chariots of Fire” there!), marveled at the Parthenon,
Before cancer, I took my life and health for granted. Work was a walked the same hills of the Acropolis as Socrates, and sailed the
priority and took up most of my day. I told myself that I will have Aegean Sea like Ulysses did. Santorini was a dream and I even
time for it later, whatever “it” may be. But “later” is not guaran- visited Delphi, where the famous Oracle made prophesies of the
teed. “Now” is. I told myself that I will never say that I don’t future. Want to know what she said about my future? She said,
have time to do something. Life is too precious and health is too “You got a second chance in life, kid. Go live it!” Check!
important to take a backseat to work. I made a promise to myself
that I will work to live and not live to work. Hard to implement Dr. Seung-Hee Rhee is ecstatic to finally be a
but I am trying.
Master of the Academy of General Dentistry!
10) Power of prayer. She is an Associate Clinical Professor in the
During my treatment, many people wrote and told me that I was Department of Cariology and Comprehensive
in their thoughts and that they would be praying for me. I sin- Care at the NYU College of Dentistry and is a
cerely believe those prayers kept me strong and helped me to heal member of OKU. Dr. Rhee has been a member
faster. My big Jewish brother, Steve Resnick, told me that every- of the Board of Trustees of NYSAGD since 2003
one at his synagogue knew my name because when the rabbi and was honored to be its President from 2013-2014. She is
would ask for requests for special prayers during the service, he serving on the Membership Council at the AGD and is a Fellow
would shout out my name “Seung-Hee Rhee” amidst prayers for of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. She maintains a full-time pri-
Cohens, Levines, and Bergers and would draw curious glances vate practice in NYC.
from the congregation. My aunt also told me that she would say
a prayer for me daily during the early morning mass. I believe in
the power of prayers but if you do not, then believe in the power
of positive thinking. When I thought about all these lovely peo-

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