He’s got a message of hope and compassion for all of us!

By DAVID CRUMM
Editor of ReadTheSpirit magazine

“LIVE FROM Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Sixth Floor-C, Room 51—we’re still Shining Brightly!”

That’s what our friend—Shining Brightly author Howard Brown—said this week as his Harvard medical team are giving him a rising mountain of hope after a traumatic downturn in his chances of survival in recent weeks.

Here’s the background if you’re just meeting our friend, who has been a frequent guest in our online magazine over the years: Howard Brown was one of the Silicon Valley pioneers who helped to launch popular services ranging from streaming audio to digital video editing. Then, he began “giving back” from his own successes through major efforts in peacemaking, building interfaith relationships, advising other fledgling entrepreneurs. And—most importantly—Howard has become internationally respected for his tireless advocacy on behalf of cancer patients. Even before this new titanic battle with a very rare form of aggressive leukemia, Howard was known around the world as “The Miracle Man” for his earlier survival of two other advanced, aggressive forms of cancer.

“When I beat this third one, I don’t even know how we can express the odds I’ve overcome,” Howard told me. “People like to call me The Miracle Man because, through the decades, I’ve beaten first a very advanced form of lymphoma and then, years later, I beat a very aggressive form of colorectal cancer. The odds against achieving that twice? Astronomical. That’s why my resilience in beating those has given so many people renewed hope. And now? Now?”

Metaphors like “odds” fail at this stage in Howard’s cancer odyssey.

Click the cover to visit the book’s Amazon page.

As Howard’s friend and editor, I have seen the impact when he appears at events that draw together cancer patients, medical experts, caregivers and friends of cancer patients. At such programs, from small gatherings to giant conferences, all Howard has to do to flood his audience with renewed hope is to walk out on stage, smile and raise his arms triumphantly. He’s proof that—despite whatever odds a cancer patient is given—they, too, can hope to thrive once again.

His life story focused on those two successes against cancer—and the keys to resilience people can learn from him. He seemed to be cancer free and was traveling far and wide speaking to groups.

Then, out of the blue last fall, Howard was hit with a diagnosis of a form of leukemia that was almost certainly going to be lethal, mainly because it was such a rare variant that was attacking his body with overwhelming speed. Howard’s Michigan-based oncology team immediately helped him to engage this new foe—but their initial strategies failed. Just a month or so ago, Howard’s Michigan team concluded that, this time, this extreme form of leukemia was going to kill him. So, Howard began calling folks like me to make somber arrangements for final visits.

“I won’t lie to you, David: They’re telling me I’m facing the end. So, it will be nice to see people in whatever months I’ve got left. I hope that, even with my compromised immune system, we can get together soon,” he said to me at that time.

The future looked bleak.

Then—enter a determined medical team at Harvard willing to take a long-shot, last-ditch run at this cancer! Howard flew to Boston and will be living for the next couple of months in a cancer-isolation ward at Harvard’s Dana Farber Medical Center. And, so far, the Harvard team’s strategy is working. It’s working so well that Howard felt comfortable helping me to prepare this latest story that might bring renewed hope to readers.

“First thing to say about this move to Harvard is—it feels good to be home,” Howard said. “And you know that’s one of the first things I tell people about beating cancer—don’t try this alone. Cancer is a team sport. You need your people around you! Out here, now, I’m much closer to my parents’ home, so they can visit me much more easily than in Michigan,” Howard said. “And—what a strange and wonderful twist in my story this time—my Harvard team now is headed by the young oncologist who I first met all those years ago in my first battle with cancer—it’s in the book, of course.”

Yes, it is—that story and many other inspiring true stories from Howard’s life. In fact, if you want some truly “Good News” reading this month—a book that points all of us toward resiliency, hope and the need to build healthy communities together—then you can salute Howard’s inspirational efforts by ordering a copy of his memoir Shining Brightly from Amazon now.

So, what prompted this fresh story? Three things.

Click on this magazine cover to read a 2024 story in our Front Edge Publishing website about the work of Sanet van Brida.

First, we all were surprised by Howard’s friend—a media entrepreneur in South Africa, Sanet van Breda—who dedicated the entire 18th issue of her magazine Diamond Moments to Howard’s inspiring story.

“It was so wonderful to see the new cover of her magazine. It really lifted my spirits—plus it’s her 18th issue—and you know the significance of the number ’18’ in Judaism—it’s in the book, right?” Howard said.

“Of course,” I said.

And, why is Howard holding a basketball on the cover of Diamond Moments magazine?

“I love that basketball on the cover,” Howard said. “Basketball is my Happy Place—and there’s a whole chapter about that—”

“—in your book,” I said.

And, you get the idea, right? If you haven’t, already, please consider getting a copy of Shining Brightly.

Second, the global audience for Howard’s weekly podcast, Shining Brightly, continues to grow and just topped a total of 350,000 downloads! That’s even though—during his current struggle with cancer—he has not been posting new episodes.

You can find all of the 112 episodes of Howard’s podcast on his homepage. Howard apologizes in advance if there are any glitches in his website’s various navigation features, because—well—he’s been in isolation battling for his life for weeks now and not tending to web maintenance. However, all of those podcasts are free of charge and are easy to download. In a few months, Howard is fully intending to return to his public life—so more podcasts may come at that time.

Third, today (this is the March 10, 2025, issue of ReadTheSpirit magazine) is the 59th birthday of Howard and his twin sister Cheryl Brown Gingras. Want to see a super-cute photo of them together as children? Want to read about how Cheryl already has saved Howard’s life once?

Of course, you know what to do: That cute family photo and that story are in the book.

And finally (fourth), every March is Colorectal Awareness Month and Howard never misses this annual opportunity to promote awareness of this potentially life-saving effort. Every year, he actively tries to convince folks to get themselves screened.

So, this is a great opportunity to repeat Howard’s public “Call to Action” these days:

How can you help?

Howard Brown’s Public Call to Action

• Get yourself scanned, screened or otherwise tested for cancer! That step just might save your life.
• Consider donating blood and/or platelets where you live. Howard is alive today partly because of transfusions—and he’s just one of the approximately 5 million Americans who will need a blood transfusion this year. Please, donate.
• Join the bone marrow registry at the National Marrow Donor Program (formerly known as Be the Match) or Gift of Life. It’s easy to get swabbed for these databases that helping to save lives every day.
• Be kind to others. Simple? Yes. And it’s needed now more than ever.
• Hug your family and friends for no reason.
• Please send prayers and hugs Howard’s way.
• And, keep Shining Brightly always!