Celebrate in Spite of Cancer
“On that day in June 1998, I so clearly remember my surgeon saying, ‘Donna, you have just lost control of your life. Everything must be put on hold.’ And so it was for the next year. That first year was a true investment in just getting well. At least that is what I felt at the time. ‘You have just lost control of your life,’ I had been told, so I let go. In accepting my diagnosis, treatments, and lack of energy and productivity, I became peaceful. As I relinquished control, my life took on a much different though deeper propensity. I leaned into my new ‘life’ rather than fight it. And in my time of healing physically, in retrospect, I realize that a tremendous gift had been given to me in spite of my battle with cancer, and in fact this gift was given in the midst of treatments, nausea, pain, and frustration. As my body healed from the assaults of incisions, needles, and chemicals, my spirit also healed in ways I never imagined.”
“I had just
passed my one-year survivorship anniversary date. I was still very tired. One
day I began writing about that year – the year my life was put on hold, the year
my life changed forever, the year of pain and
blessings and of healing and
hope. I am so thankful that I took the time to do this, for had I not done so
that summer, quite possibly my experience would never have been captured on
paper. Why do I say this? Because my perspective as a six-year survivor is so
very different from that of my first summer being cancer free. As I wrote that
first summer, I shed many tears as I allowed myself to grieve what I had lost,
what I had been through, what I had experienced. It was a time of healing, a
time of acceptance, a time of venting my emotions. I was so very tired. Would
I ever be ME again? And then one day I realized that I had not taken an
afternoon nap. Another day passed, and I had been up all day…then another and
another. It took awhile to even begin to recognize the fact that my body was on
its way to being normal – a new normal but nevertheless normal. I was becoming
me again- a new me!”
Thus a book was born – CELEBRATE IN SPITE OF CANCER – a most positive negative experience.
“This personal narrative concerning her experience with breast cancer provides insight into the ‘life changing’ nature of this disease. The book should provide a positive support resource for newly diagnosed cancer patients.”
-Albert F. LoBuglio, M.D.
Director, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
“Donna Greene and her girls have been a major asset to the Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge. This is a time of great stress for cancer patients and families housed at the Lodge. Donna and her team excel in two areas, hospitality in making the guest ‘at home’ and in taking care of the little details that make the Hope Lodge a memorable place for all involved.”
-Edward E. Partridge, M.D.
Chairman, Operations Committee, Joe Lee Griffin Hope Lodge
(205) 871.4741
For book stores interested in carrying Donna's book