Karen Cowden Dahl

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March 2024 Release

Until January 1981 Sandra Cowden is living an ordinary and happy life in Albuquerque, New Mexico (her hometown) as a nurse, wife, and mother.  She is married to a supportive husband, Bob, and was raising two young children Ken and Karen.

One early morning while working as a nurse in labor and delivery, a traumatic turn of events suddenly has Sandra as the patient in her own hospital. Sandra is left to cope with the lack of communication by the healthcare system, poor patient support, and the devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor.

Crippling fear consumes Sandra as she undergoes tests, brain surgery, and overdose on medication. The stressful and life-altering consequences of the cancer diagnosis results in a total upheaval of Sandra and her family’s lives. Within weeks of collapsing at work, they must relocate across the country to be near a support system. All the while, Sandra’s mind is filled with chaos, fear, and denial. It is hard to separate reality from the impacts of medication and the tumor on the brain. Sandra clings to hope that her disease is benign and curable.

Sandra started her memoir in the early 1980’s. Her work went unfinished for four decades. Her daughter (Dr. Karen Cowden Dahl) completes Sandra’s story as Sandra was unable.
Dr. Cowden Dahl uses her 25 years of experience as a cancer researcher to shed light and hope on the progress towards curing and treating cancer.

Karen Cowden Dahl - Author

Hola! I am a New Mexico native attempting to survive the harsh Wisconsin winters…Brrrr!

I moved around the country in pursuit of education and opportunities. Through these expeditions I picked-up a doctorate, a husband, three kids, 5 dogs (not all at once), and a cat. I’ve devoted my life’s journey to cancer research. I trek through life quickly and usually running (literally in races- half marathons are my favorite).

When not experimenting or running, I am trying to keep my Hispanic culture alive in my kids through New Mexican cooking and inspire them to be strong, creative, and caring humans.

BOOKS

My Mother’s Roommate (adult)
ISBN: 978-1-955743-80-8 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-1-955743-93-8 (hardcover)

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts… As you like it.”

-Shakespeare

While not the most inspiring per se, I love this play and I very much connect to the feeling that we all have many parts to play in life. Every day I play a mom, wife, scientist, friend, writer, runner, etc. And at the end of “The Play” I want my performance to bring happiness or hope to at least some viewers in that audience.

Dr. Karen Cowden Dahl

Available for Events in 2024

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