If you or a loved one are suffering from Mesothelioma, the Mesothelioma Cancer Center will cover the cost and postage of 'Lean on Me' and provide it to you free of charge.
"Tear Drops" - Book of Poetry
A journey of grief, healing, and hope told through poetry.
Author & Inspirational/Motivational Speaker
Lorraine Kember (pictured) was successfully running her own retail business in the far north of Western Australia when Brian; her husband of over 30 years, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma (asbestos related cancer) and given a prognosis of three to nine months.
Not wanting to spend one precious moment away from his side, Lorraine immediately put her business up for sale and became his primary carer.
“Living in expectation of my Brian’s death,” Lorraine says, “was like sitting on a time bomb, knowing it was going to go off and being powerless to stop it”...
Far removed from family members and friends and with no cancer councils or palliative care organizations to support her, Lorraine worried about the pain Brian experienced and was determined to ease his suffering.
With no previous medical knowledge and only the internet to guide her, she put into place a pain and symptom management routine that was to dramatically improve the quality of Brian’s life. Testament to this; despite his prognosis of three to nine months, Brian survived for two years, remained active and alert and was not bed bound until three short days prior to his death.
“I have found much peace in the knowledge that I made a difference” Lorraine says, “and I want to bring inspiration and strength to others.”
In 2004 – Lorraine published her first book ‘Lean on Me’ Cancer through a Carer’s eyes. An inspirational true account of Brian’s courageous battle with cancer, the methods she used to control his pain and of her emotional journey as she cared for him and came to accept the inevitability of his death.
Through her self designed and managed website Lorraine’s book has gained global recognition resulting in several invitations to speak at conferences both Nationally and Internationally, including the Global Asbestos Congress 2004, held in Tokyo Japan.
‘Lean on Me’ is highly acclaimed by cancer councils and palliative care organizations around the world, is on the recommended reading list of numerous medical universities and has recently been translated into Braille and Audio books for the blind.
In 2006 Lorraine published her second book; ‘Tear Drops’ A Journey of Grief, Healing and Hope told through poetry and is currently working on her CD for Carer’s ‘No Greater Gift’.
Lorraine remains passionate in her wish to bring inspiration and strength to others and welcomes the opportunity to share her journey and the knowledge she has gained through her public speaking service.
TV and Media Interviews and Appearances
- Studio Guest: George Negus Tonight ABC National Television
- Television Interview: Health Watch - Channel Seven News
- Documentary: Street Stories and Life Matters ABC National Radio
- Feature Story: Australian Woman's Day
- Feature Article: West Australian Newspaper, Sunday Times, Community News, and Sunday Life
- Radio Interviews: ABC National, Sunshine FM, Radio Fremantle, Curtin FM, 6PR Nightline
- Radio Interview: Brad Neufeld - Grapevine Radio Utah USA
Lorraine Kember: International Speaker
Drawing from her personal experience Lorraine delivers a powerful and inspirational speech to her audience on all topics related to caring for loved ones with cancer and terminal illness...
