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October is breast cancer awareness month. If you’ve been watching closely you may have seen many people wearing pink. On TV you see newscasters and political candidates sporting pink ties or pink ribbons. Football players are decked out in pink—everything from pink sweatbands to pink shoes. Everyone wants to bring awareness about the fight against this deadly disease. I even have a tennis racquet string dampener that represents the fight. Notice the little pink ribbon on the dampener. It says, “HOPE.”
In the book series I’m writing now, I have characters who are dealing with cancer. I wanted to bring awareness about several different kinds of cancer. In my book, A LOVE TO CALL MINE, which will be available sometime in early 2016, the hero Max Reynolds is battling Hodgkin lymphoma.
Here’s a little snippet from the book.
Alone. That’s what he was. Here alone to face this terrible disease.
His mother and his adopted father lived clear across the country near Spokane, Washington. Another problem. How was he going to break the news to his mom? How would she take it? Bad news shouldn’t have to come over the phone, but there was no other way.
“You’ve got an appointment on Monday with Dr. Joseph Duffey, who is a lymphoma specialist.” Dr. Vargas pushed a card across the desk. “Here is his information—time of the appointment and address of the clinic.”
The doctor’s statement shook Max from his troubling thoughts. “Thanks. I appreciate finding out what’s actually wrong with me.”
Dr. Vargas nodded. “I’ll monitor your progress through Dr. Duffey’s office. I know you can beat this.”
Trying to smile, Max stood despite the great weight that seemed to press down on him. He shook the physician’s hand. “I hope you’re right.”
“I have great confidence in Dr. Duffey. He’s an excellent doctor.”
“Good to know.” Max turned toward the door but stopped before he went out. “Thanks again.”
Shrugging into his jacket, Max rushed out of the office as if he could distance himself from the disturbing diagnosis. Once outside, he stopped and closed his eyes, wanting it to be a bad dream. But making impossible wishes wasn’t going to change the truth of his circumstances.
When he opened his eyes, he glimpsed his reflection in the window of the nearby building. He stared at it for a moment.
A healthy looking young man gazed back at him, but the image lied.
He ran a hand through his hair. He’d been intending to get a haircut. Maybe that wouldn’t be necessary now. The treatment for his cancer would mean the loss of his hair. No need to worry about a haircut now.
What would become of his reason for moving to Massachusetts? He’d come here to find his father’s family—the father he’d never known. Would the treatments render him too tired to pursue that goal? He hoped not.
As he walked toward his car, Max tried to take a deep breath, but the pressure in his chest didn’t subside. Half of this attitude was probably psychological. He hadn’t come into the doctor’s office with that feeling. Worry, yes. A depressing burden, no.
Now he had both.
Max is a character who came into being in my very first published book, THE HEART’S HOMECOMING. He was a fourteen-year-old boy and only had a first name in that book, but he became a secondary character in three more of my books. Now he has his own story. I’m giving away four copies of MONTANA MATCH, one of the books in which he is a secondary character.
How has cancer touched your life?
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
“A healthy looking young man gazed back at him, but the image lied.” This is a powerful line, Merrillee. So many of us walk around looking like the picture of health able to conceal the battle with a disease. I look forward to reading, A Love to Call Mine. The cover is wonderful!
I also love the line about his image lying. My grandma died of cancer when my mom was 13, so the greatest impact cancer has had on my life is through my mom. I also had the privilege to work in a cancer clinic for a little while. It was often difficult, but it was also rewarding and eye opening. I’m glad God gave me that opportunity.
I love the idea of how you’ve woven Max through several stories while he was growing up and are now giving him one of his own!
Thanks, Jill. There are a lot of diseases that have no outward signs.
Katy, I’m glad God gave you the opportunity to work in a cancer clinic. After doing a lot of research, I know how important all the workers in a cancer clinic are.
Valerie, I didn’t start out thinking I would eventually write a book with Max as the hero. That thought evolved over the course of writing numerous books. I’m finding so often in this writing journey that something I don’t even realize will be important later finds its way into my books.
I am a 10 years breast cancer survivor. Praise God! Also, my Mother had breast cancer and my Daddy had lung cancer. They have both gone on to heaven now and I miss them very much. I am so thankful that I have a wonderful husband, son and daughter-in-love, family, and great doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends and church family. They all helped me through my cancer journey.
Melissa, thanks for sharing, and praise God that you have been cancer free for ten years!
On my mom’s side of the family, my Grandmother passed away from breast cancer that matastisized to other parts of her body. It was only five weeks from the time she was diagnosed to the time she passed away. We figure she hid her symptoms and was in denial for some time prior. Two of my aunts on that side have since had early diagnosis and been successfully treated since then. One is now 7 years cancer-free and the other 5 years. Because of that, I have been diligent to get my screenings done regularly.
Jen, thanks for sharing. It is very important to have regular screenings and be aware of our health in general. Early detection is so important in the fight against cancer.
Hi Merrillee! I enjoyed your post today. I really pray that sooner than later,there will be a cure for cancer. Too many people have lost their lives due to the disease. Most recently was my oldest uncle earlier this year. He had liver cancer years ago but was successfully treated and cured. Well it came back, worse than before and the Doctors tried a new treatment plan. Due to my uncle having Hepatitis C, he was ineligible for a liver transplant. When the treatments no longer worked as well as they were, there wasn’t anything more they could do without the transplant. At that point, my uncle decided to stop everything. He had very little time after that before he was taken home. Everyday I miss him, but I know he’s pain free and now with my grandma. We also know 2-3 people in our church who have also succumbed to some kind of cancer. It’s a terrible disease & I’m glad there are programs out there for cancer awareness. And encouraging people to be screened. I especially enjoy when the NFL football players don their pink attire in their uniforms during the month of October. It’s a great sight to see!
I have “Montana Match” so no need to include my name. Thanks for today’s post, it’s very encouraging to see so many people in the news, sports and etc raising cancer awareness and money for research!
Trixi, I’m so sorry you’ve lost loved ones to cancer. It is a terrible disease, and I hope in my own small way, I can bring attention to some cancers that people hear little about. Thanks for your comment.
I have been touched by cancer cause 2 of my family members had breast cancer and survived.
I have been touched by Cancer, because I had an aunt and maternal grandmother who each had breast cancer and survived. they are doing well now.