Laugh 'Til it Cures

Discovering she had a potentially life-threatening disease was not a laughing matter, but dealing with the daily difficulties that came with it has become a matter to laugh through for Saranne Rothberg.

After realizing how much laughter helped her recover from early Stage IV breast cancer, Rothberg wanted to spread the word and show others how to integrate humor into their treatment and everyday lives. This desire led her to create the Comedy-Cures Foundation, which in a few short years is receiving national recognition.

"We try to give people the gift of play," explains Rothberg. "When you're making life or death decisions it's pretty hard to maintain a sense of play. When we give people the opportunity to have some fun, vitality returns, perspective arrives and the celebration of life is the focus, instead of thinking about how much time is left or the pain."

ComedyCures teaches patients they have choices. "Most people are trained to be reactionary. At ComedyCures we teach patients they do have control. They have choices. We don an exercise that shows life is a platter. Every minute, even when living with depression or illness, you have the power to choose joy or not. You have the power over your own response."

It was patients, their families and their caregivers in the hospitals, doctor's offices and support centers of Bergen County who first benefited from the work of ComedyCures: the organization’s Laugh Ambassadors, the free comedy shows and the laugh therapy programs.

"I thank the many people and organizations of Bergen County for the immense growth of ComedyCures," says Rothberg.

"None of it would have happened without the support from the local patients, philanthropists, residents and facilities."

Rothberg was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 at age 35. She remembers the day. "I went right from Englewood Hospital to Block Buster Video in Englewood, then to the West Coast Video in Closter. I rented all the stand-up comedy routine taper they had."

Watching comedy is also what Norman Cousins did when he was diagnosed with a serious disease. Rothberg remembered his use of therapeutic humor and his triumph over a life-threatening, crippling collagen disease as chronicled in his book, "Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient: Reflections on Healing and Regeneration," first published in 1979. Cousins' book explored the biochemistry of emotions and the patient's role in combating serious illness. He concluded laughter and positive emotion are valuable tools in combating disease.

Endorphins are chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of euphoria. Laughing triggers the release of endorphins, other newer studies say the link can't be positively made, but laughter does cause distraction, which helps the patient not perceive the pain.

Whatever the truth, the result is laughter does work. You don't need scientific studies to tell you laughter reduces anxiety, depression and anger. Getting rid of these negative emotions boosts the immune system.

"Hope, purpose and determination are not merely mental states; they have electrochemical connections affecting the immune system," says Cousins. "Don't defy the diagnosis, try to defy the verdict.

NO LAUGHING MATTER

And that's precisely what Rothberg did. A diagnosis of Stage IV cancer in a 35 year old is quite serious. The younger the individual, the faster it spreads. Rothberg used humor to alleviate her daughter's fears and the realization that laughter made them both feel better led them to schedule a daily appointment to laugh.

The idea of using humor to help others through sickness was born on the first day of Rothberg's treatment in 'chemo-chair.' After noticing the depressing surroundings, she thought it would be beneficial to bring some joy to the treatment center. Then more thoughts of how to help others through humor came to her.

Many things make Rothberg fit for the task of showing others how to integrate humor into their lives. The most obvious is her sense of humor and positive outlook. One of her and daughter Lauriel's humorous creations, is a rap song about her baldness. It begins:

Chemo Chemo should be illegal,

Made my mom bald as an eagle.

She not only possessed a strong sense of humor, a positive outlook, and the vision of how to help others, she had creative and organization skills that were also important. These she learned from two former occupations: entertainment industry producer and teaching consultant. The ideas just flowed.

After forming the outline of how ComedyCures would help those affected by serious disease through humor, Rothberg needed to make others aware of her mission. The first public exposure for ComedyCures was through PNC Bank, where people were asked to make a monetary donation to the charity or deposit a joke in the "joke bank."

The first Comedy Cures major event was a weeklong laugh-a-thon at Lauriel's school, J. Spenser Smith Elementary School in Tenaly. The students shared the benefits of laughter with their family and friends asking them for jokes. Then they took to the microphone, telling jokes and riddles for one full day.

A product of that laugh-a-thon is a CD, produced with the help pf Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Frank Filipeti who recorded the jokes with a portable recording studio donated by Right Track Recording, a Manhattan based studio. Profits from the sale of this CD will go toward the production of more CDs to be given free to patients in hospitals and treatment centers around the country.

Rothberg and Lauriel begin every day with a joke and wanted to help others do the same. "A gentle reminder to laugh," is how Rothberg describes the foundation's free joke line.

"We felt it would help others, particularly when they felt sad, lonely or nauseated."

THE LAUGH'S ON US

A supporter of ComedyCures tracked down the owner of the 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA number and paid for the first six months. Professional comics have donated their time and material and donations have kept the line open.

These ComedyCures activities introduced the organization to the Bergen County community and people began seeking out comedy programs from Rothberg. She was asked to create a special program for Camp Dream Street, a free, weeklong camp offered at the Tenafly JCC for children with cancer and blood disorders and their siblings.

The Camp Dream Street program included a joke fest and a laugh symphony. Comic from Manhattan donated their time Angelica and Russ Berrie donated stuffed bears for all the campers.

Then others recognized the value of the organization and wanted to help.

One day Rothberg got a phone call to go to New York City because a big surprise was their waiting for her. The surprise was comic Jackie Mason, who volunteered to d a private night to raise money for ComedyCures. The event, held at the Women's Club of Englewood, drew about 80 major Bergen County philanthropists.

For her outstanding contribution the society, Rothberg is receiving recognition from other organizations. This year she received the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award; and in October, along with fellow recipient, actor James Gandolfini, she will receive the October Women's Award for her efforts in raising awareness and money for breast cancer research.

"What began as a local charity has quickly grown [outside this area]. There's great demand to make this program available [to many] and I'm working with Bergen County business people and philanthropists to devise a strategic growth plan so we can meet the enormous need," says a now healthy Rothberg.

Whether it's a donation to support the laugh line, participating in the "Gift of Laughter" program, or helping to make a joke book for patients, you can be a part of ComedyCures by calling 201-727-1770.