 OCTOBER 3 • 2019 | 45

He and his crews also filmed 
about 25 people who have 
experienced cancer themselves 
and share their stories. 
Sheila Sky Kasselman, head 
of the Sky Foundation, which 
raises money for pancreatic 
cancer awareness and research, 
is one of the film’
s producers 
and stars. Kasselman was diag-
nosed with pancreatic cancer 
in 2007, and said she never 
expected to be part of such a 
project.
“Few of us with pancreatic 
cancer live for a long time and 
I’
m a 12-year survivor,
” she 
said. “I had what is known as 
Whipple surgery (an operation 
to remove the head of the pan-
creas, the first part of the small 
intestine, the gallbladder and 
the bile duct). I survived it, but 
it leaves a mark. I’
m 79 years 
old and I do everything. I’
m 
very busy.
”
Kasselman said it’
s her hope 
that by supporting the film, 

as well as appearing in it as a 
cancer survivor, it will educate 
people about tough-to-treat 
pancreatic cancer. 
“I was so pleased and happy 
that we would have pancreatic 
cancer as part of the film,
” she 
said. “It will bring awareness 
of the disease and, hopefully, it 
will bring hope.
”
Kids Kicking Cancer, a 
global organization founded 
by Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, 
also known as Rabbi G, is 
also featured in Famie’
s doc-
umentary. Goldberg is also a 
clinical assistant professor in 
the Department of Pediatrics at 
Wayne State University School 
of Medicine in Detroit. The 
Southfield-based organization 
helps children cope with the 
pain and fear of their cancer 
diagnoses through meditation 
and martial arts moves. 
“It’
s important for people to 
understand that cancer is a very 
treatable disease,
” said Rabbi 
G, who lost a young daughter 
to cancer. “The power of the 
mind transcends pain and fear 
and anger associated with the 
diagnosis of cancer. We learn 
we don’
t have to be defined by 
the disease.
”
Rabbi G said the children 
who took part in the filming 
were thrilled to be part of the 

project.
“We always tell the children 
they are teaching the world,
” 
he said. “When people film the 
children, it just re-emphasizes 
they are teaching the world. 
They are powerful martial arts 
teachers.
”
Famie hopes that people take 
from the documentary a sense 
of empowerment about their 
own health and the belief they 
can take proactive measures to 
thwart a cancer diagnosis. 
“Staying on top of mainte-
nance of your body is import-
ant,
” Famie said. “How we live 
our life today determines how 
we live tomorrow. You really 
have to be your own advocate.
”
In hearing other people’
s sto-
ries about their experience with 
cancer, Famie believes the film 
will have a deep emotional res-
onance with his audiences.
“My approach has always 
been to understand the story 
of the journey that someone 
is on,
” he said. “Nothing is 
more rewarding than someone 
saying, ‘
This (documentary) 
helped me go see the doctor. It’
s 
taught me to be more proactive 
about how to live life.
’
” 

To learn more about Those on the 
Front Lines of Cancer, visit 
ontodaysfrontline.com/cancer.

ABOVE: Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, founder of Kids Kicking Cancer, talks about 
the power of the mind in dealing with a cancer diagnosis. LEFT: Sheila Sky 
Kasselman, founder of the Sky Foundation and a pancreatic cancer survivor, is 
part of the documentary.

Emmy Mistake 
Leads to Slatkin’
s 
Appearance on 
Jimmy Kimmel

Reports of his death were 
greatly exaggerated. 
 Music fans were 
surprised when Detroit 
Symphony Orchestra 
music director laureate 
Leonard Slatkin’
s photo 
appeared on the “in 
memoriam” segment of 
the Emmy Awards Sept. 
22 above the name of 
iconic conductor Andre 
Previn, who died in 
February.
Slatkin appeared via 
satellite on Jimmy Kimmel 
Live the following night. 
Kimmel started the 
conversation by asking 
Slatkin, “I guess my first 
question is are you dead 
right now?” 
Slatkin displayed good 
humor about the flub and 
expressed admiration 
for his friend and fellow 
conductor Previn.
Slatkin, 75, then told 
Kimmel he planned to 
wait a “good long while 
for his real memoriam.” 

NICO ROMADEL/ LEONARDSLATKIN.COM

