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