The Unexpected Detour ❤️

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️, Frances sits down with Tammy Stackelhouse to talk about the reality of living with fibromyalgia, an invisible chronic pain condition that affects the nervous system, energy, sleep, memory, and daily life. Tammy shares her 17-year journey, from years of unexplained pain and exhaustion to receiving her diagnosis in 2007. She opens up about brain fog, disa...

In this reflective episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances explores the importance of boundaries, emotional peace, and protecting the spaces within us that too many people occupy without permission. Inspired by Mark 1:35–38 and a powerful church message on setting boundaries, this episode examines how emotional exhaustion, spiritual heaviness, and distraction can often come from giving the w...

Before my diagnosis, I associated the word cancer with death. In this deeply personal episode, I share what it was really like hearing the words, “You have breast cancer.” I talk honestly about the fear, confusion, waiting, medical terminology, searching for answers, seeking multiple opinions, and learning how to advocate for myself during one of the most difficult times in my life. I also share h...

Tonight on The Unexpected Detour , I’m talking about fear — not just the fear of illness, but the fear that can spread through people, communities, and nations. From COVID-19 to conversations about hantavirus, from The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street to Outbreak , this episode looks at how quickly fear can create suspicion, blame, and division. But this is also a message about compassion. Because...

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances shares her heartfelt review of the movie Michael . As a longtime lover of Michael Jackson, the Jackson 5, and the music that shaped generations, Frances gives her honest reaction after seeing the film — and she gives it “10 thumbs up.” Frances reflects on Jaafar Jackson’s powerful portrayal of his uncle, celebrating the way he honored Michael’s...

In this deeply personal episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️, I open up about the emotional, spiritual, and mental detours I have finally liberated myself from. From addiction, heartbreak, abandonment, insecurity, and shame… to the scars left behind by breast cancer, Hepatitis C, broken relationships, and years of seeking validation from others — this conversation is about freedom. I share how pray...

We don’t talk about it… until we have to. In this episode, I share a personal and honest reflection on loss, preparation, and the conversations we avoid about death. From life insurance to final wishes, this is about making sure the people we love are not left unprepared.

There’s a difference between giving from the heart and giving with expectation—and sometimes we don’t realize that line has been crossed until a disagreement happens. In this episode, I take a closer look at what happens when generosity turns into reminders. When the words “after all I’ve done for you” enter the conversation, it shifts everything. What once felt like love can begin to feel like an...

What we once laughed at… we now understand differently. In this episode, I reflect on a moment that stayed with me—a child watching cartoons for the first time, and a father’s response that made me pause and think. As children, many of us grew up watching cartoons filled with chaos, humor, and constant action. At the time, it was entertaining. We didn’t question it. But now, looking back, I began...

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️, Frances explores the surprising truth about wisdom teeth. Are they simply a painful inconvenience, or could they hold hidden value? From common dental issues to the growing conversation around stem cells found in dental pulp, this episode blends health education with a deeper reflection on how we often dismiss things too quickly. Sometimes what seems or...

What does it truly mean to become a survivor? In this heartfelt episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances opens up about her personal breast cancer journey—from the shock of hearing the diagnosis in 2017 to the emotional process of accepting survivorhood years later. She shares the hidden side of healing, survivor’s guilt, advocacy, the rise of younger women being diagnosed, and how pain can b...

What does it really mean… to still be here? In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , I open up about life as a breast cancer survivor—the gratitude, the grief, and the quiet weight of survivor’s guilt. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t surviving… it’s learning how to live again. If you’ve ever found yourself asking “why me”… if you’ve ever carried joy and sorrow in the same breath… This conver...

Why am I still holding onto this? That’s the question I found myself sitting with… In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , I go deeper into the emotional weight we carry—words, memories, and moments that were never meant to stay with us this long. Sometimes it’s not what happened… It’s what was said. And without even realizing it, we begin to carry those words as truth. This episode is a gen...

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour, Frances explores the profound impact of words on our self-identity and emotional well-being. She emphasizes that trauma can stem not only from experiences but also from the words spoken to us by others. Frances encourages listeners to recognize the negative labels they've internalized and to release them through intentional breathing exercises. The con...

What if healing didn’t have to follow just one path? In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances sits down with Sylvie Beljanski to explore integrative approaches to cancer care—bringing together conventional treatment and natural, science-backed support. This conversation is not about choosing one over the other. It’s about understanding your options, asking questions, and being present...

This past week, I found myself doing something different… I was listening. Not talking. Not fixing. Just listening. And what I realized is this— So many of us are holding onto things we were never meant to carry for this long. Emotions… pain… memories… Old versions of ourselves that we never released. We’ve been taught how to breathe… but not how to let go. In this episode of The Unexpected Detour...

What would you do if everything you built was gone in an instant? In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances sits down with Jon Edlin, an EF3 tornado survivor whose life changed overnight when a devastating storm destroyed his home and everything he knew. Through his story, we explore survival, fear, faith, and the emotional aftermath of losing it all. Jon shares what it felt like in th...

In this reflective episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances shares how one simple phone call led her to pause and think about the small, unexpected shifts that can quietly redirect our day. Not every detour comes with flashing lights or dramatic changes. Sometimes it is a delay, a conversation, a feeling, or a moment that gently pulls us in a different direction. This episode is a reminder th...

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances Hammond sits down with Dr. Munir Ghesani, Chief Medical Officer at United Theranostics , to explore an emerging approach to cancer treatment known as radiopharmaceutical therapy . Together, they break down what this targeted treatment means, how it differs from traditional chemotherapy and radiation, and why personalized medicine is changing th...

What happens when a joyful season of motherhood is interrupted by a life-changing diagnosis? In this heartfelt episode of The Unexpected Detour , Frances Hammond speaks with Joi Bowman , who was diagnosed with stage 1B invasive ductal carcinoma at only 29 years old , while breastfeeding her newborn son. Joi shares: what life was like during pregnancy and new motherhood when she first realized some...

In this deeply personal episode of The Unexpected Detour , Frances Hammond sits down with Joi Bowman , who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 29 years old while breastfeeding her newborn son. What began as what seemed like a clogged milk duct or mastitis became something far more serious. After months of monitoring a lump in her breast, Joi received the devastating diagnosis: invasive ductal...

What happens to your faith when life takes an unexpected turn? In this deeply personal episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances Hammond shares her raw and honest experience after being diagnosed with breast cancer. From the first question— “Why me?” —to finding peace in God’s presence, this episode explores the emotional and spiritual journey that many face but rarely speak about. Frances ope...

Tonight’s conversation focused on the importance of self-advocating for our health . As survivors, we discussed how speaking up for ourselves not only protects our own well-being but also helps us advocate for other women who may not yet have the strength or knowledge to do so. The discussion opened the door to a very honest exchange about side effects from medications that many of us have experie...

In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances explores an innovative approach in cancer treatment known as Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) . Photodynamic Therapy is a medical treatment that combines a light-sensitive medication, oxygen in the body, and a specific wavelength of light to destroy abnormal cells, including certain types of cancer cells. As a breast cancer survivor, Frances understa...

A breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially when patients are suddenly faced with unfamiliar medical terms and complex test results. In this episode of The Unexpected Detour ❤️ , Frances Hammond walks listeners step-by-step through the journey from the first screening to treatment decisions. Frances explains how doctors detect breast cancer through mammograms and ultrasounds, why b...