Skyline College Biology Professor To Share Story of Her Recovery From Brain Tumor

April 10, 2010 - PRLog -- In July 2006, Skyline College Biology Professor Shari Bookstaff was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, an acoustic neuroma. Although Shari was reassured countless times that its removal was routine and that she would be fine, complications left her with lifelong challenges for which she never could have prepared. Her life changed drastically, and she has worked hard every day to regain basic human functions, her dignity, her livelihood, and her spirit. As a single mother of two wonderful children, Shari owed it to them to do everything she could to reach her full potential. She’s not there yet, but she is teaching again, running her own life, and taking care of her children.

Her book, which was published last year, depicts some of her basic philosophies of life. Shari doesn’t believe in looking for good things to come out of bad situations, but looking for-and accepting-positive things in life in spite of–not because of–bad situations.

When Life Throws You Lemons...Make Cranberry Juice! outlines her unique story.
She believes in inspiring people-not to gain spirituality-but to work hard for their goals without letting life's lemons stop them. Putting a positive spin on life’s disasters doesn’t always work, but looking for, and accepting, positive things in spite of life’s disasters works. Instead of making lemonade out of lemons, Shari adds life’s sweet sugar and cranberries to her lemons. This makes life much more palatable.

Shari is a Biology Professor at Skyline College (since 1990), specializing in marine mammals. She founded and ran the local chapter of the American Cetacean Society from 1999-2006 and she has co-chaired Skyline's Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science Conference since 1992. Shari currently teaches several online classes, laboratory sections, and an honors biology section on the functioning of the human brain.

When Life Throws You Lemons...Make Cranberry Juice! can be purchased online at http://www.publishamerica.net/product87223.html or at the book signing.  More information, including excerpts, can be found at http://www.wix.com/lemonsandcranberries/lemons.