Cancer The Unexpected Gift

This book is a compilation of stories that profile individuals and families who have taken a frightening medical diagnosis and turned it into a positive gift.

The Compression Garment Diaries is a collection of blogs written by the author upon learning she has breast cancer. Writing the blogs begins as a convenient mode to keep her friends and family up-to date with her diagnosis and treatment. What develops is an open and honest exploration into how breast cancer changes her perspective on life. The blogs tell a story of all the uncertainties that come with diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survival. Her vulnerability is expressed with humour and strength. Her greatest support is the love she receives from her husband and her children. Cancer is an unexpected gift that helps the author to realize the fragility of life and the importance of appreciating the moment.

Cancer: The Unexpected Gift is a compilation of stories that profile individuals and families who have taken a frightening medical diagnosis and turned it into a positive gift. Medical oncologist Dr. J. Patrick Daugherty is familiar with many who are living well while living longer. Together with three-time cancer survivor Edie Hand, they share inspiring personal anecdotes from individuals who openly express the doubts, fears, perplexities, and positive reflections they experienced after their cancer diagnoses. Each story is introduced with a summary and concluded with relevant biblical passages that further illustrate lessons learned by patients and their families. Two-year-old Austin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and after more than three years of chemotherapy, he remains in remission. His mother received the gift of living one day at a time. Ken survived metastatic colon cancer before developing prostate cancer which later spread to his bones. He searched for answers and found significance in his life, receiving the gift of service to others. Each of the people profiled in this collection have faced the enemy of cancer and its subsequent suff ering. Together, they share the extraordinary lessons they have learned not in dying, but in living.

Cancer: The Unexpected Gift is a compilation of stories that profile individuals and families who have taken a frightening medical diagnosis and turned it into a positive gift. Medical oncologist Dr. J. Patrick Daugherty is familiar with many who are living well while living longer. Together with three-time cancer survivor Edie Hand, they share inspiring personal anecdotes from individuals who openly express the doubts, fears, perplexities, and positive reflections they experienced after their cancer diagnoses. Each story is introduced with a summary and concluded with relevant biblical passages that further illustrate lessons learned by patients and their families. Two-year-old Austin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and after more than three years of chemotherapy, he remains in remission. His mother received the gift of living one day at a time. Ken survived metastatic colon cancer before developing prostate cancer which later spread to his bones. He searched for answers and found significance in his life, receiving the gift of service to others. Each of the people profiled in this collection have faced the enemy of cancer and its subsequent suff ering. Together, they share the extraordinary lessons they have learnednot in dying, but in living.

Meet the Becker Street Pack: Pete, Paul, Chad, and Razor, four friends united for life. Seeking a little fun on the night they graduate from high school, the boys find themselves hired by the most powerful mobster in town, a dangerous man known as the Shiv. What starts out as a glamorous, lucrative lifestyle begins to fray the Pack’s friendship over the years. As Pete tries to keep his head down as the gang’s “accountant,” Razor is tasked with meting out justice when people are short of what they owe... even when it’s old friends like Paul and Chad who begin to slip. Torn between loyalty to his friends and fear of the Shiv, Pete finds himself falling into debt just as he meets the love of his life and his father is diagnosed with cancer. In the midst of this whirlwind comes an unexpected gift that may show Pete his true path in life... if he can survive the Shiv’s brutal rule, that is. A tale of friendship, love, crime and cruelty, An Unexpected Gift explores how loyalty is tested when power and money is involved.

Rachel Haynes survived bowel cancer, not once, but twice. There have been many unexpected consequences … this is her story. Exploring the ups and downs of treatment with sensitivity, humour and brutal honesty, Rachel reflects on the psychological impacts of survival not only on herself but on those who have supported her. Being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer while bringing up two growing children, holding down a full time job, going through a break-up and having three days to adjust to a life-changing operation is far from ideal. Add to this a short period of remission, a new relationship, followed by an unexpected relapse and the whole thing starting again, and you know you are going to be in for an interesting read.

When Courtney, a young American physician studying medicine in Thailand, began to experience unexplainable neurological symptoms, the last thing she expected was to diagnose herself with a malignant brain tumor. Difficult Gifts is an honest, intimate, and liberating memoir written by a physician who becomes a patient. At first filled with sadness, she learns she can also find joy. Facing mortality before the age of thirty, she finds courage rather than fear. Through it all, she shares how to embrace the life we have been given. With daring honesty, this new writer teaches us the value of a difficult gift: a gift that teaches us, motivates us, changes us, and inspires us. Using lessons learned as a physician, a patient, an avid reader, and a student of Buddhist wisdom, Courtney shares how sometimes, suffering can open a door to happiness, and through dying, we can learn to fully live.

She's finally free of doctors, he's looking to nurse his wounds in private... can a little holiday magic give these two a future worth fighting for? While other single women in their twenties were earning degrees and enjoying the dating scene, Ruth has spent every Friday night in the hospital going through chemotherapy. Now that she's finally in remission, the stark truth has been weighing heavy. She won the war, but cancer won most of the battles. With no prospects, no money and no hair...Ruth finds herself traveling to her grandmother's small coastal town in order to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Four months ago, Jude Lisbon watched the woman he was in love with, marry another man. Instead of moving on, he's found himself sinking into depression and struggling to trust himself in the dating department anymore. So when his friend invites him to a week long Christmas party at his beachfront mansion, Jude hopes the change of scenery will do him good. At the open house, things are looking up when Jude spots a woman who catches his attention in a way it's never been caught before. Just as he's working up the courage to introduce himself, he realizes she's being set up with his traveling companion. Once more, Jude's intuition seems to have failed him and now he's regretting coming on the trip and having to watch the couple get to know each other for the next seven days. Can these two set aside their heartache in order to see the gift right in front of them? Or will the magic of the holidays be lost for good? If you enjoy sweet, heartwarming romances with spunky heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, you'll ADORE Laura Ann's romantic tale of friendship, redemption and love. Grab your copy today! Check out ALL the books in the "Bulbs, Blossoms and Bouquets" series by best-selling author, Laura Ann: Her Unexpected Roommate Her Unexpected Second Chance Her Unexpected Delivery Her Unexpected Protector Her Unexpected Star Her Unexpected Rival Her Unexpected Catch Her Unexpected Partner Her Unexpected Mistletoe Kiss Her Unexpected Gift Find her other books at lauraannbooks.com