| Illness is a journey like no other. One thing I know now is that I am not illness. When I see pictures of myself from the past, I see sickness moving through my body. I can also see that the person inside remains the same. -Tiffany Christensen |
| CF patient and two-time double lung transplant recipient * Author of "Sick Girl Speaks!" Certified Advance Care Planning Facilitator/Instructor * TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer National Speaker and Workshop Leader * Illness and Transition Coach Chair Elect of the Duke Patient Advocacy Council |
Tiffany Christensen has lived with illness from the time she was born. At 6 months of age, she was diagnosed with
cystic fibrosis, a genetic illness that primarily affected her lungs.
After a sickly childhood, Tiffany began her acquaintance with in-patient hospital care at the age of 12. In spite of
extensive ongoing treatments and procedures—at home and in various hospitals throughout the United States—at
twenty-one years of age, Tiffany was placed on the list for a double lung transplant at UNC Memorial Hospital.
Waiting a total of five long and difficult years, during which, her lung function dropped to 18% capacity, she
received her first set of donor lungs in April of 2000. She celebrated her 27th birthday a few months later.
Tiffany enjoyed a level of health and energy she had never known until May of 2002 when she was diagnosed with
chronic rejection. There were few treatment possibilities and Tiffany grew gravely ill, even more so than before her
first transplant. Her lung function was down to 10%of capacity and was told she only had months to live. Though, as
her outer body weakened, her inner journey opened and she found unexpected gifts of insight, perspective, humor
and strength. She began to know an inner peace she had never thought possible.
Due to a series of wonderful and unusual events, Tiffany was able to have a rarely performed second lung transplant
just in the nick of time.
After the surgery, Tiffany awoke with a clear awareness of being “called” to work with those touched by illness and
death. As soon as her recovery allowed, she trained as a Hospice Volunteer and began developing her talks and
workshops. Combining her patient experiences with her acting and improvisation training, Tiffany has created
programs that are unique, fun, interactive, thought-provoking and inspirational. For those interested in seeking
private guidance, Tiffany also provides illness coaching through email or over the phone.
Tiffany believes that, given her life’s experiences, it is her duty to lend a hand to those struggling to find their way
through the world of illness. Since 2005, she has participated in many exciting speaking events, enjoyed coaching
those in the medical maze and finished her book, Sick Girl Speaks! Starting in September of 2007, Tiffany left her job
as a Veterinary Bereavement Coordinator and began working towards her goals full time. In January of 2008, Sick
Girl Speaks Inc. was created and Tiffany was excited to begin working with Project Compassion on a grant project
entitled "Finding Your Voice." In April of 2008, Tiffany became certified in the "Respecting Choices" La Crosse
model of Advance Care Planning Facilitation. She is also certified to teach this model to those who wish to be
facilitators. In 2009, Tiffany became a certified TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer and will receive her NLP Coaching
Certification in December of the same year.
Throughout 2008, Tiffany presented nearly 100 workshops/lectures on the patient perspective, Patient Advocacy,
Advance Directives and Organ/Tissue Donation. Some of the highlights from 2008 include "Life in the Deathbed" at
John's Hopkins Medical Center Grand Rounds, regular invitations to speak to Duke Medical and Nursing Students,
and performing her one woman show "The Permanent Me" at the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute National
Conference in Redwood City, CA.
Tiffany's writings have been seen in various newsletters and magazines including Boom!, CF Roundtable, and
Airways. Listen for her on the popular national NPR radio show, "The People's Pharmacy." In April of 2009 Tiffany's
piece "Finding Your Voice as a Patient Advocate" was published in the North Carolina Medical Journal. Tiffany's
second book, "Finding Your Voice: A Patient Advocacy Workbook" will be published in late 2009 and her third book
which explores the interplay between professional and patient will be published in the summer of 2010.
2009 is already shaping up to be another exciting year with the expansion of "Finding Your Voice" throughout North
Carolina and conferences throughout the United States including the National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization's Clinical Conference where she will be presenting her workshop "Growing Up Dying; Shifting the
Patient Paradigm." These and many other exciting projects are the beginning of a promising new voice in the
healthcare community.
Please visit Tiffany's schedule page for updated talks and workshops.
In addition to her own efforts, Tiffany is contributing to the work of Project Compassion as part of the Community
Engagement Team and Advisory Board. She is a member of UNC Hospital's Bereavement Committee and helps in the
fund raising efforts for The Sweet Melissa Fund and The North Carolina Transplant Foundation. Tiffany volunteers
with Carolina Donor Services and has served as a board member for Second Wind Lung Transplant Association. She
is currently proud to be a member and Chair Elect for the Duke Health System's Patient Advocacy Council.
After a lifetime of difficulty and victories, this illness warrior has emerged with insight, clarity and purpose.
Through her talks, her book and the way she lives her life, this sick girl is ready to speak!
For Tiffany's official resume, please contact us via email and we will send one to you within 48 hours.
cystic fibrosis, a genetic illness that primarily affected her lungs.
After a sickly childhood, Tiffany began her acquaintance with in-patient hospital care at the age of 12. In spite of
extensive ongoing treatments and procedures—at home and in various hospitals throughout the United States—at
twenty-one years of age, Tiffany was placed on the list for a double lung transplant at UNC Memorial Hospital.
Waiting a total of five long and difficult years, during which, her lung function dropped to 18% capacity, she
received her first set of donor lungs in April of 2000. She celebrated her 27th birthday a few months later.
Tiffany enjoyed a level of health and energy she had never known until May of 2002 when she was diagnosed with
chronic rejection. There were few treatment possibilities and Tiffany grew gravely ill, even more so than before her
first transplant. Her lung function was down to 10%of capacity and was told she only had months to live. Though, as
her outer body weakened, her inner journey opened and she found unexpected gifts of insight, perspective, humor
and strength. She began to know an inner peace she had never thought possible.
Due to a series of wonderful and unusual events, Tiffany was able to have a rarely performed second lung transplant
just in the nick of time.
After the surgery, Tiffany awoke with a clear awareness of being “called” to work with those touched by illness and
death. As soon as her recovery allowed, she trained as a Hospice Volunteer and began developing her talks and
workshops. Combining her patient experiences with her acting and improvisation training, Tiffany has created
programs that are unique, fun, interactive, thought-provoking and inspirational. For those interested in seeking
private guidance, Tiffany also provides illness coaching through email or over the phone.
Tiffany believes that, given her life’s experiences, it is her duty to lend a hand to those struggling to find their way
through the world of illness. Since 2005, she has participated in many exciting speaking events, enjoyed coaching
those in the medical maze and finished her book, Sick Girl Speaks! Starting in September of 2007, Tiffany left her job
as a Veterinary Bereavement Coordinator and began working towards her goals full time. In January of 2008, Sick
Girl Speaks Inc. was created and Tiffany was excited to begin working with Project Compassion on a grant project
entitled "Finding Your Voice." In April of 2008, Tiffany became certified in the "Respecting Choices" La Crosse
model of Advance Care Planning Facilitation. She is also certified to teach this model to those who wish to be
facilitators. In 2009, Tiffany became a certified TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer and will receive her NLP Coaching
Certification in December of the same year.
Throughout 2008, Tiffany presented nearly 100 workshops/lectures on the patient perspective, Patient Advocacy,
Advance Directives and Organ/Tissue Donation. Some of the highlights from 2008 include "Life in the Deathbed" at
John's Hopkins Medical Center Grand Rounds, regular invitations to speak to Duke Medical and Nursing Students,
and performing her one woman show "The Permanent Me" at the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute National
Conference in Redwood City, CA.
Tiffany's writings have been seen in various newsletters and magazines including Boom!, CF Roundtable, and
Airways. Listen for her on the popular national NPR radio show, "The People's Pharmacy." In April of 2009 Tiffany's
piece "Finding Your Voice as a Patient Advocate" was published in the North Carolina Medical Journal. Tiffany's
second book, "Finding Your Voice: A Patient Advocacy Workbook" will be published in late 2009 and her third book
which explores the interplay between professional and patient will be published in the summer of 2010.
2009 is already shaping up to be another exciting year with the expansion of "Finding Your Voice" throughout North
Carolina and conferences throughout the United States including the National Hospice and Palliative Care
Organization's Clinical Conference where she will be presenting her workshop "Growing Up Dying; Shifting the
Patient Paradigm." These and many other exciting projects are the beginning of a promising new voice in the
healthcare community.
Please visit Tiffany's schedule page for updated talks and workshops.
In addition to her own efforts, Tiffany is contributing to the work of Project Compassion as part of the Community
Engagement Team and Advisory Board. She is a member of UNC Hospital's Bereavement Committee and helps in the
fund raising efforts for The Sweet Melissa Fund and The North Carolina Transplant Foundation. Tiffany volunteers
with Carolina Donor Services and has served as a board member for Second Wind Lung Transplant Association. She
is currently proud to be a member and Chair Elect for the Duke Health System's Patient Advocacy Council.
After a lifetime of difficulty and victories, this illness warrior has emerged with insight, clarity and purpose.
Through her talks, her book and the way she lives her life, this sick girl is ready to speak!
For Tiffany's official resume, please contact us via email and we will send one to you within 48 hours.
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For a more personal insight,
| Email correspondence may be sent to: tiffany@sickgirlspeaks.com |
| Want to read Tiffany's book? You can buy "Sick Girl Speaks!" off of this website by clicking the "Add to Cart" button! |
