Dancing Myself Back to Life with Judith Cookis Rubens
Pye is a returning guest to The Burn, having last joined us in January 2023. She is a writer and artisan who was first diagnosed with breast cancer at 37, and again at 59. Pye’s work has appeared in five issues of Wildfire Journal to date. She lives in Western Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve, a photographer.
In this episode, Pye reads two poems she wrote for the 2025 “The Second Time Around” issue of Wildfire Journal. These poems explore the strange familiarity and quiet revelations of facing cancer again after more than two decades.
April and Pye talk about what it’s been like to be an ongoing contributor to Wildfire, the differences in cancer care across decades, parenting with cancer at two very different stages of life, and how you decide who to share details of your diagnosis with. They also discuss the role of art in Pye’s life.
Liz Grissom was diagnosed at 33 with Triple Negative breast cancer, and had a recurrence at 41. She is a talent development partner, enjoys running, drawing and marveling over a great book. She lives in Virginia with her two sons, firefighter spouse, and their dog. In this episode, Liz reads her essay “Fishkeeping” from the 2025 Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece is about the moment when everything changed—again. When recurrence doesn’t come with a handbook, when you’re trying to plan summer vacation but end up rerouting your entire life.
April and Liz will talk about parenting through cancer, sharing the news of a cancer diagnosis with loved ones, using metaphors in storytelling and coming to acceptance with cancer.
Shayna Welsh represents the very young age group of breast cancer patients—those diagnosed in their early 20s. Shayna was first diagnosed at 23 with Stage II Triple-Positive breast cancer, and then again at 25 with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Shayna is a member of several breast cancer organizations, including the Young Breast Cancer Project, Living Beauty, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Under the Pencil. In this episode, Shayna reads her essay, “Reclaiming Myself the Second Time,” from the 2025 The Second Time Around issue of Wildfire Journal. Her piece explores the liminal space where identity is rebuilt—scar by scar, photo by photo, and moment by moment.
April and Shayna discuss the impact of Shayna’s cover photo on The Second Time Around issue, feeling things on your own timeline, whole-brain activities, and the complexities of living in the world with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
