Dave Balch

Dave Balch has a unique, inspiring, and loving story to share, coupled with the experience, desire, and ability to share it.

Dave supported his wife through four successful battles with breast cancer, going with her to over 250 medical appointments and caring for her during six surgeries, two rounds of chemotherapy, and three rounds of radiation treatments. He did everything from bathing her to making her meals to changing her surgical dressings, all while maintaining his home software business and taking care of a ranch, two horses, two cats, two dogs, and a really mean parrot.

Most importantly, he and his wife both kept their sense of humor through it all (well, most of it) as they laughed and ate their way through the entire ordeal. Together.

Dave says that this experience, although difficult, was the most rewarding and fulfilling of his life. And, as a professional communicator, he is in the perfect position to help other caregivers.

Now Dave is on a personal, full-time mission to help other patients and their families.  As a result, he

• founded The Patient/Partner Project
• founded CopingUniversity.com™
• authored Cancer for Two: An Inspiring True Story and Guide for Cancer Patients and Their Partners
• speaks professionally, sharing coping strategies in his program You Can Handle More Than You Think You Can: Your Amazing Ability to be Brave and Strong
• has been featured in The Wall Street Journal
• is a contributing author to Coping With Cancer Magazine
• offers a free monthly newsletter Caring and Coping: a Caregiver's Perspective on Serious Illness
• was named "Star of the Month" for October, 2007 by The Wellness Community
• is sponsored by a major pharmaceutical company

When Dave's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer he thought, “This is impossible; how are we going to get through this?”

Now it’s over and they’re both still here!

How did they get from “I can’t do this” to “I did this?”

In this lively and entertaining 1-hour presentation for 1,000 oncology professionals, Dave reveals some of the secrets that helped them cope with the most difficult time of their lives.  He calls these secrets "The 11 L's of Caring and Coping," specific things that you can do right now to help you get through your challenges.

Although cancer was his teacher, the lessons are universal and apply to all types of serious and/or chronic illness

Here is one of the "L's"