Home > Our Projects > Santa Barbara Council for Self-Esteem > Beverlye Hyman Fead

Beverlye Hyman Fead
Presentation to the SB Council for Self-Esteem - 10/02/09

The day was glorious, clear and sunny, the mountains and the islands equally visible.  It was the day for the Santa Barbara Council for Self-Esteem’s final presentation of the year.  The speaker was Beverlye Hyman Fead, a chic, petite, strikingly attractive woman.  She had asked how many people were expected.  I told her one of the professors at SB City College, Mr. Molina, had called me to see if he could send about 15 of his students and that 30 people had signed up on line.  We had saved the front row for those who had phoned me personally about attending.  Then I pointed outside at the beautiful day and said, we’ll just have to see how many change their minds and go to the beach.

Well, they did not change their mind!  The Schott Center filled up and Beverlye greeted those entering the auditorium with her warm handshake and lovely smile.

Bob Hodges introduced Beveryle:

	Beverlye Hyman

"Our guest speaker Beverlye Fead, given 2 months to live seven plus years ago, is a cancer survivor. She has devoted much of her life since her diagnosis to providing information to the victims of this horrendous decease through books and speaking engagements. She walks the talk to help raise funds for continuing research and to raise awareness on a local and national level. How many people do you know that have walked the 64-miles from Santa Barbara to Malibu to raise money for Breast Cancer research?

“She co-chaired with two other women, a committee of eight to raise $500,000 for a digital mammography machine for the Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara.

“These are only the highlights that demonstrate her commitment. To say she is passionate about the subject is to fall short of an adequate description.

“On a personal note, it is likely that everyone in the room has been or will be affected directly or indirectly by cancer. Beverlye, you can count me in as well.   Standing behind you, we share the pain, we share the struggle and we share the use of self-esteem to keep our lives on track. Thank you for all that you are doing to help the victims and to get the message out into the world.

“Please, give a warm welcome to Beverlye Fead.”

The following is a synopsis of Berverlye’s remarks:

Some of the worst experiences of our lives turn out to be the best for our self-esteem and our future. Beverly recalled her life as a little girl as lonely.  Her parents traveled a lot and she remembers watching their departure with her hands on her hips while thinking, “I can do this.”  Today she is still announcing to her cancer and others the very same thing.

Beverlye told of her family life and what it was like to be the “third girl” rather than the “first boy” as planned.  As the third child she was aware of the potential of sinking and determined, instead, to swim.  Because her folks moved often, she would lose “best friends” almost as fast as she made them.  The result was that she learned to make friends quickly and easily. By the time she was in her fourth or fifth school, she was even enjoying the process of making new friends.

Bob Hodges, PR Representative Introduces Beverlye

Her technique was to find out everything she could about a potential new friend.  Those she met enjoyed telling their story and because she enjoyed listening to them, she made many new friends in many different places.  Beverlye said she was not a “great student,” instead she was more interested in looking for a date for the prom and selecting a new dress to wear.

Beverlye described her years with her first husband and children as wonderful.  She loved being with the children, going to their games, and just being a mom.  Then her sister gave her painting lessons knowing that Beverlye had always said she wanted to paint.  The gift started a lifetime of painting that continues to this day.

She found a small studio in Venice, CA and shared it with another woman.  She adored both the studio and the activity around Venice in the 60’s.   She felt free to create and grow.  Then she left her marriage of twenty-eight years.  She felt bad about herself with the failure of her marriage saying that her self-esteem dropped to a low at that time.  But her painting helped her feel better about herself and she loved what she was doing.

She found a little house in Santa Barbara and decided she had to have it.  Her supportive second husband, Bob, whom she was dating at the time, encouraged Beverlye to follow her dream.  He suggested that if they were meant to be together, buying a house in Santa Barbara wouldn’t keep that from happening.  Again her decisive action helped to raise her Self-Esteem.

Beverlye lost her grandmother and her sisters to cancer.  Then in 1965 Beverlye had a hysterectomy to remove her own cancer of the uterine lining.   Because cancer had been such a presence in her life, Beverlye wanted to help the Cancer Center at Cottage Hospital.  Given the opportunity to remodel the waiting room, she wrote letters to all her friends and asked them to write letters to their friends to raise money for the remodel.  Little by little, she raised $190,000.  Beverly once again raised her self-esteem by setting a goal and reaching it!

A few years later, Beverlye was told she had several tumors in her abdomen.  She was told she had two months to live.  After numerous second opinions, they found a doctor who determined that the tumors were hormone receptive.  He proposed an experimental drug combination, which worked.  The current cancer treatment she is experiencing involves a periodic shot and a pill.   Though it sounds simple, the shot costs $4000. This combination is keeping her alive and yet, their health insurance company fights with them about reimbursement for every shot.  Beverlye praises her cancer for the blessings she has received from it, including the best seven years of her life spent as a speaker, author and painter.  Beverlye Hyman Fead has made the most of her illness and is grateful for the blessings she has received from it.

Home > Our Projects > Santa Barbara Council for Self-Esteem > Beverlye Hyman Fead