DAWN RUSSELL

Imagine being 25 years old and told to make out a will. That's exactly what happened to Dawn Russell, a seemingly typical twenty-something Manhattanite, seven years ago when she was diagnosed with stage III cancer... Then, just when Dawn thought that things could not get worse, she contracted a dangerous bone infection which prevented her from undergoing the standard procedures of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Not being able to use the conventional treatments offered in western medicine, Dawn immediately got to work investigating various healing techniques used throughout the world. Russell undertook a non-conventional four-year journey during which she researched and tried out every Eastern practice and philosophy of medicine from Ayurveda and Chinese medicine to yoga and meditation. This journey was time consuming as well as disheartening to her physicians and family but Russell was determined to do whatever it took to survive.

Also known as: Dawn Russell Foundation