Serenity and Health

Dr. Donna Chacko pt 1

Many people find themselves consumed with success. How we define that success is what determines the difference between happiness and sorrow. A life of fulfillment or a life of sadness. For one person, they may have it all, career, success, family… and feel alone and unfulfilled. For another, they go through life without all the fabulous amenities, but feel like they are making a difference.

The question is: “What makes the difference?”

Our guest today is Dr. Donna Chacko. She lived this type of turmoil. On the outside, it looked like she had it all—lucrative and rewarding career, beautiful family, comfortable home. But inside, not so much. Her marriage was on the brink, crises were brewing, and her home felt like her heart— about to break.

Donna Chacko is a medical doctor who loves to share what she learned about healing, during her decades practicing medicine, and during her long difficult marriage. Donna practiced radiation oncology, and then later, family medicine. She and her first husband raised three daughters in Florida. After his death, she moved to Washington, DC, where she cared for the poor until 2013. Now retired, Donna lives in Maryland with her second husband and works in the ministry she founded, “Serenity and Health.” In September 2021 she was designated a Changemaker by the Institute for Lifestyle Medicine.

She published an award winning book in 2021 titled, “Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey.”  In this book, Donna lays her life bare as she digs into her upbringing, relationships, life choices - and fears, in a deeply personal journey toward healing and wholeness.

“Pilgrimage” has won several awards. It is an Amazon Best Seller; it has won first place in the 2022 Catholic MediaAssociation categories of “Marriage and Family” and “Self-Published Books” and an honorable mention in “Self Help and Healing.”  “Pilgrimage” has also been a Gold Medal Winner in the “Illumination Book Awards” and in the “Reader Views Literary Awards” she was both a “Gold Medal Winner and a Favorite 5-Star Winner.”  Praise God!

Help me welcome to the program, Dr. Donna Chocko!   Donna, it is such a blessing to have you on the program today!  I do appreciate it!

The first question I always start with is this. Other than that brief information I just shared, can you tell us in your own words, “Who is Donna Chocko?”

Let’s start by backing up the clock a little bit and get some background on your story.

Why did you decide to study medicine as a career choice?

How did you end up in radiation oncology, of all fields?

Is that when you met your first husband?

In your book, you state the marriage had its ups and downs. Were there warning signs before you actually got married that you could look back on and identify?

What was your career and life like for you in Florida?

From the outside, while living and practicing medicine in Florida, it must have been the picture of success, right?

Was it emotional abuse or both emotional and physical abuse?

Did you ever consider divorce?

At what point - and why - did you make the decision to enter Family Medicine rather than continue with Radiation Oncology?

What was that like, retraining and going through that transition?

I urge you to drop down into the show notes and get in touch with Dr. Donna. Click the link and order her book, “Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey.”  This book will transform how you are looking at your life. Donna lays her life bare as she digs into her upbringing, relationships, life choices, and fears in a deeply personal journey toward healing and wholeness. Join her as she surrenders her control and discovers that serenity and health, are most easily grasped, when our hands and our hearts are open to what God longs to give us.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email:   dc@serenityandhealth.com

Website:  https://serenityandhealth.com/

Book:  “Book: Pilgrimage: A Doctor's Healing Journey” – on Amazon

Sign Up for Blog:  https://www.serenityandhealth.com/blog

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