health & fitness
over
Former Detroiter Jonny
[merman turned !merman
Angels into the largest
one-on-one cancer sup-
port network in the world.
(248) 855-5557
BLASTPAIN.COM
TRY
IT FE
NO OBLIGATION
NO DRUGS NO SURGERY
30018 Orchard Lake Rd I Farmington Hills, Michigan I 48334
1728560
Former Detroiter created the world's
largest cancer support network.
Jessica Naiman I Special to the Jewish News
Marvin & Betty Danto
Health Care Center
Oakland
West Bloomfield
800.800ECARE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
www1ChooseHeartland.com
Heartland
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52
Marc h 29 2012
Immir
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During his own battle with cancer,
which included surgery to remove his
left testicle, five months of chemother-
apy, then a massive surgery to remove
four tumors in his spine, Imerman
realized that despite all the friends and
family in his hospital room, there was
still something missing: a person to
talk to who could genuinely relate.
"I had the best Jewish mom in the
world; she was always by my side
says Imerman, who was treated at
the Detroit-based Karmanos Cancer
Institute and University of Michigan's
Cancer Center in Ann Arbor.
"I had a great brother and friends,
but none of them could look me in the
eye and say, 'I know what you're talk-
ing about: The uncertainty and isola-
tion scares people the most."
With some guidance from the
nurses, Imerman started walking the
halls of Karmanos and chatting with
patients, sharing his story and offering
support.
"I did this for a few months and
realized this is a really scaleable
model: says Imerman, who has a
degree in psychology from U-M and
an MBA from Wayne State University.
So he decided to focus all his energy
on building an organization that
brings comfort and guidance to people
navigating the terrifying waters of a
cancer diagnosis.
"When I was sick, I prayed every
morning to God and said if I get my
life back, I'll help out other survivors;
I'll give back:' Imerman says.
Meredyth Brook, 38, of Chicago
first joined the organization in 2009
during her fight with Hodgkin's lym-
phoma. After going into remission, she
became a "Mentor Angel" to Christine
Sherman who was still fighting the
disease.
The two became so close that
Christine flew to Chicago from her
home near Pittsburgh to spend a
weekend with Brook. For Brook, the