Jill Chalsty's Journey of Healing and Hope

Feb. 4, 2026
By Kim Vreeland

Jill Chalsty never imagined life without her husband, John. But on Nov. 12, 2023, days after his 90th birthday, she sat by his bedside and kissed her soulmate one last time. 

Jill had devoted her life to caring for John when he began experiencing health issues a few years before his death. But when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she sometimes struggled with the physical and emotional demands of being both patient and caregiver. She feared losing her battle — and leaving him alone. During those difficult years, they learned firsthand how compassion can become a lifeline.

"Everything matters — even a smile,” she says. “Something as simple as the nurse putting a pillow behind my back made a difference.

Moved by the loving care they received, they felt called to give back in a meaningful way — and chose to support USF Health.

Their gifts included funding renovations for what is now the Chalsty Rehabilitation Experiential Learning Laboratory at the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s Chalsty Pediatric Clinic, which provides specialized care for thousands of children each year.

Their generosity reflected their shared gratitude, even as Jill soon faced new challenges. Just three months after John’s passing, she received a second devastating diagnosis: lung cancer. This time, she had to endure the long months of chemotherapy, infusions and even a bout of COVID without the love of her life by her side.

Her declining health had once led her to believe that John would outlive her. Instead, she was left to face life alone — and for a time, she struggled to find the will to keep going.

Eventually, Jill discovered a path toward healing and hope, guided by her lifelong mission to equip young people with essential life skills and her determination to leave the world better than she found it.

“During those long, difficult months, my doctors, friends and family pushed me to keep going — to rediscover my purpose and live again,” she says.

They finally persuaded her to take the trip she and John had always dreamed of — a world voyage. A close friend encouraged her to “travel with purpose,” and she resolved to use the trip to spread “packets of hope” around the globe. The packets carried the life skills curriculum she developed decades ago to help children learn to communicate effectively, make good decisions and resolve conflicts. It’s distributed through the nonprofit she founded in 1992, Overcoming Obstacles. 

“These skills are the lifeblood for an individual navigating their way each day, for ensuring a nurturing school environment and for developing a thriving community,” Jill says.

In January 2025, armed with business cards that read “Life Skills Ambassador,” Jill bravely boarded the Queen Anne for its maiden voyage and set sail from New York City. Over 107 days, she would visit 26 ports in 17 countries across six continents and planned to deliver hundreds of packets to educational leaders at every stop.

“When we care for something outside of ourselves, it makes our lives brighter, our community stronger and our world better,” she explains.

But sharing often proved difficult, and her voyage became a test of endurance and creativity. In many countries, armed security turned her away, firmly telling her to leave. Sitting alone at mealtimes, she still grieved the loss of her husband, and she struggled with fears about her illness. At times, the weight of her sadness was almost too much to bear. But she stayed the course, working to distribute the gifts she knew could change young lives.

“Knowing that we are because of others — that we need to care about others to give our life meaning and that we need to let other people support and care for us — is what lifts us,” she says.

And she found that kindness in surprising places. 

In New Zealand, a kind concierge arranged for a private messenger to hand-deliver her packets to the minister of education, and in Malaysia, a circle of Muslim women embraced her as she entered the department of education.

Such people helped her grow and rediscover who she was — a fighter and an optimist. She headed home knowing she had the power to turn her grief into gratitude and to inspire others with her story.

“Packets of Hope: A Journey of Healing and Rediscovery” was published earlier this year by Saint Bernard Press and is available free as an ebook or PDF download, or can be purchased as an audiobook or print copy. Jill continues to share the Overcoming Obstacles curriculum, which has been distributed to educators in 190 countries. Her life’s work has empowered educators and touched the lives of more than 180 million children worldwide.

“You don’t have to cross oceans to begin,” she says, “just take one intentional step. The world will meet you there.”