Niagara Gazette

Local News

November 4, 2009

CONFERENCE CENTER: Comedian survivor to entertain at day-long women’s health event on Saturday.

Brenda Elsagher was minding her own business, tending to all the customers at her busy Minnesota beauty parlor, when she had got a pain in her butt that changed her life.

Later, she would note that the awful things that transpired immediately afterwards helped to make her dreams come true — and helped her craft a new career as a stand-up comic — but back then, there was nothing funny about what happened.

Elsagher will share her comedic insights on facing life’s biggest challenges as the keynote speaker Saturday at the second-annual Healthcare Conference for Women being held at the Conference Center Niagara Falls by Mount St. Mary’s Hospital of Lewiston.

Elsagher’s life went into a dark tailspin when she was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. Pretty quickly after that she underwent a permanent colostomy, a hysterectomy and the removal of her rectum.

“It was a shock. I was thirty-nine years old,” she remembered. “I knew thousands of people and no one had ever talked about having cancer of the rectum. Bowel talk was just not in my experience.”

The absence of conversation about such things, helped her to decide she was going to go public with her experiences.

“I decided to act as if it was the same type of thing as having a tumor on your arm,” she said.

She re-examined her life and looked at the dreams she hadn’t had a chance to reach. Topping the list was a desire to be a stand-up comic.

Elsagher entered and won “Twin Cities Funniest Person,” contest, beating out 150 other people. When a reporter asked her if she ever did any public speaking, she lied and said yes. The next week she got a call from a church and was asked to speak.

“The doors just kept opening and I just kept walking through the open doors,” she said.

She now works full time as a writer and speaker, talking to a wide variety of humans about her experiences facing life’s challenges. Every talk includes a two minute “commercial.”

“I tell people to get their butts checked,” she said, chuckling.

Her presentation will include free books provided by her from her publisher, either “I’d Like to Buy a Bowel Please” and “If the War is Over Why am I Still in Uniform?”

The day will open at 8 a.m. with registration and a continental breakfast. Elsagher will speak at 9 a.m. There will also be a fashion show and a wide array of health displays and information. Registration is $15 and advance registration is encouraged.

At 10:15 a.m. there will be a cooking demonstration by Chef Eli Hoffman of The Conference Center and Debra Hoffman, a nutritionist from Mount St. Mary’s. There will also be a makeover by The Barton Hill Hotel and Spa; wine and chocolates by Village Wine Tours of Lewiston and Lindt Chocolates of the Fashion Outlets; tai chi by Leslie Svensson; Sherwin Williams paint information with Laura Sexton; Esteem LeMystere bra fitting by Melissa Hawkins and Kathy Qualiana; floral arrangements by Lorelie Luther from RD Woddykins Creations; and knitting by Jenice Hillman.

At 11 a.m., participants will be able to select from a series of five programs: “Color-Rectal Health,” “Moving Through Menopause,” “Spiritual Health” “Fitness Health and “Sleep Health.”

There will be a luncheon and fashion show at noon spotlighting fashions from stores at the Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls USA.

The information sessions and demonstrations will be repeated in the afternoon with the addition of a session on “Infection Prevention and Treatment.”

Before the conference adjourns, everyone in attendance will be eligible for a special raffle from AirTran Airways.

Throughout the day, non-profit agencies from the Niagara community will have displays along with numerous clinical departments of Mount St. Mary's Hospital.

For reservations or information, call 298-2697 or 298-2146. Reservations are limited.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • 120209 Niagara Avenue Accident.jpg Child run over be car on Niagara Avenue

    Falls Traffic Division investigators said an 11-year-old boy was struck after he darted into the street, in front of a car as it pulled away from a stop sign.

    February 9, 2012 2 Photos

  • 120125 NW board .jpg Militello paid $50K to leave Niagara-Wheatfield

    Former Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Carl Militello is receiving a $50,000 from the district, according to a separation settlement agreed to on Feb. 1.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • _JCN2159.JPG Autopsy unable to determine cause or time of Judith Burr’s death

    An autopsy by an Erie County Medical Examiner has failed to determine either the time of death or the cause of death of Judith Burr.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Gerber resigns from SPCA board; calls for adding veterinarian to staff

    A Town of Niagara veterinarian and long-time member of the SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has stepped down.
    Dr. William Gerber submitted his resignation on Tuesday. It was effective immediately.

    February 9, 2012

  • 120112 Airport Stakeholders 2.jpg Has NYPA relicensing agreement led to a revival?

    A state senator is calling for an audit of the low-cost power and cash used in the last seven years by Niagara County entities that have shared in the benefits of the 50-year relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • 120209 Joe Davis Park 1.jpg Joseph Davis State Park gets some green

    Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.

    February 9, 2012 5 Photos

  • Search continues for Falls jumper

    State Park Police were still searching Thursday for a Falls man who jumped from the rapids bridge at Goat Island on Wednesday morning.

    February 9, 2012

  • 081008 Golisano Gift - NG NU gets helping hand for campus projects

    A new county entity formed to help organizations secure bond financing agreed on Wednesday to assist Niagara University in the development of its new science center, a proposed refurbishment at Meade Hall and other campus improvements totaling $48 million.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • 120111 One Niagara 3.jpg One Niagara tax break denied

    It’s a no-go for a proposed tax break at One Niagara.
    At least for now.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • County IDA adds local hiring clause

    From now on, applicants seeking assistance through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency will be expected to demonstrate their “best efforts” in hiring local workers for subsidized projects.

    February 9, 2012

Featured Ads
Seasonal Content
House Ads
AP Video
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate' Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Opinion
House Ads
Night & Day
Twitter News
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Front page
Poll

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?

Yes. Items should be taxed like they are everywhere else.
No, the indian reservations are sovereign land and they are selling them on their land.
Not up to me. Native Americans decide the rules on their land.
Don't care. Smoking isn't good for you.
     View Results