October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Chris Templeton

Christopher Templeton Website

 

This is a web-site of my friend, Chris Templeton.  She is a breast cancer survivor. 

Most people know her, still, as Carol Robbins Evans from the Young and The Restless.  I never watched Young And The Restless much so I am surprised when people REACT to her as Carol.

Once, while on a road trip, we stopped at a small town gas station.  I went to the rest room and was fnishing washing my hands when a woman came running in to the bathroom, screaming, "This is the best day of my life!  Carol Evans from Young And The Restless is here in my town!"  I could hear quite a crowd outside the bathroom and I went into "protective" mode.  I knew that Chris had been on the soap opera, but like I said, I never watched soap operas much.  Chris is a tiny little thing.  She is a polio survivor and walks with a cane.  I stood up straighter, buttoned my jacket and pretended to be a body guard as I walked up to Chris.  "Miss Templeton, would you like me to escort you to the car?"

Chris smiled and nodded her head.  I pushed the crowd aside and walked her to the car, opened her door, locked it and went around to the driver side.

We drove away.  We were both quiet for a few minutes before I said, "Okay, tell me about this soap opera thing again."  She laughed and said that she had been a character on Young And The Restless, and most of that time, Young And Restless was one of the top rated soap operas.  I guess that explains the excitement and loyalty of her fans.

For me, Chris has always been morethan a character on a soap opera.

She is from the Midwest and grew up with a lot of the same values that I did.  There is something gritty about Midwestern women ... the pioneer spirit lives on in most of us, but it shines in some.  Chris shines.  She has spent most of her life in a wheelchair or walking with a cane.  There was a time that people would have called her disabled, but because of people like Chris, public awareness has grown and disabled today means something a lot different than what it used to mean.

I admire her intelligence, her kindness, her empathy, her sense of humor and the way she deals with whatever life deals her, including her fight with (and winning) breast cancer.

She blogs ... just like us!

Christopher Templeton Blog

Here is an excerpt from one of her posts:

"’It's been 5 years. I've learned a lot, I've tried a lot. I think that prayer, food and attitude are the most important things.
I think God is in control but I also think that you can take ownership of your body –it’s your temple, your responsibility.
It’s like the little man sitting on the roof of his house surrounded by flood waters. People came by boat, helicopter and even a small pontoon plane asking to help and he keeps telling them that God is going to be his rescuer.
Well, he dies. He goes to heaven and asks God, “why didn't you save me?”
God replies, “I sent a boat, a helicopter and a plane – what more did you want?”
You don't know what God will use to bring your healing to come to pass. Keep open, keep praying and keep trying. Some times healing is emotional and spiritual rather than physical.
Remember, He will give you nothing that you can't handle. We have no idea what His purposes are for our lives.
All we can do is take every day as a gift.
All I can guess is that my purpose has been to educate people – to show them what I have learned and maybe help someone by example. I truly feel that was my purpose in Hollywood. After all, I was one of the first people with a disability to be on television long-term. But that’s another story!"

 

Tags: Breast Cancer Awareness, Christopher Templeton