Dedicated to Shirley Ann Billings Flierl

Prayer, Laughter & Broccoli was my first book and was the result of years in the health care industry, particularly community health and wellness services, and experiencing up close and personal living with breast cancer of my wife Shirley Ann. The book was dedicated to Shirley, my bride and my life partner, the mother of my daughter, Alison, my lover, my business partner, my best friend, and my soul mate. Shirley was diagnosed with an aggressive metastatis breast cancer in 1982 when she thought herself to be "too young" and "too small" and at a time when we had so much to live for. It was her courage, faith, humor, persistence, and joy that brought Alison and me through the experience whole and better for it. I now rededicate this blog to Shirley and to the other men struggling to be there for their wives and partners.