| The New Book - Normalcy: Dealing with Cancer
An important new manuscript, under a Creative Commons license, free of charge:
Normalcy
How one family made it through a devastating diagnosis
A Primer for Dealing with Cancer
by Wendy Chapin Ford
Click here to download "Normalcy"
From the Introduction:
Sometimes, the qualities that we desire most are those that are most elusive.
My husband, Bruce, loved to take care of his family. When we received the news that he had cancer, he immediately determined that we should strive for normalcy. It was his desire for normalcy, as elusive as it seemed to us at that moment, that set his family down a path of carrying on, doing well, and enjoying life. It served us well through his illness and beyond, and I am sure will continue to do so.
Every patient is unique, and no two families are alike. What this slim little volume offers is a collection of decisions, thoughts, and actions that worked for our family when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. If this primer helps just one other family in any way, it will have been worth going back to our trial with this disease.
_________________
What people are saying about Normalcy --
I finished reading Normalcy just minutes ago, and...I think the piece is wonderful. It's well-written, as I knew it would be, and it's clearly moving and honest from beginning to end. Your message gets through, and I can't imagine that it wouldn't provide help and relief to other families going through the ghastly trial that you did. Most important, I'm more than confident that it will offer comfort and relief and understanding to Westy and Lindsay at various private times in the years ahead.
Kim C., author, journalist
Thank you so much...I have read it several times, and it is very lovely. You describe so eloquently what your family experienced, and share very good ideas for others.
Hester S., LICSW, BCD, OSW-C, chief of oncology social work, adjunct professor of social work
This is just wonderful. You've really captured all that you've been through beautifully...
Wendy, you are one of the bravest people I know....thanks for writing "Normalcy" -- it will help lots of folks dealing with the care of a loved one...
Ann B., R.N., oncology nurse
This is so moving and inspiring!...You did a wonderful job capturing Bruce's spirit and distilling valuable lessons from your experience. Thank you so much for thinking of my liver cancer/cholangiocarcinoma research — helping to improve treatment is a wonderful tribute to Bruce and to your family.
Rebecca M., M.D., MPH, assistant professor, physician-Investigator, hematology/oncology
Your new manuscript is outstanding and would prove helpful to a large number of people who have to face similar situations...
Bert S., Reverend Emeritus, Unitarian Universalist
What a generous gift you have given to all of us. I can think immediately of at least three acquaintances who could benefit from the telling of your strong, yet tender story.
Maxine S., author
Honest, helpful, and so very well written. As I read it I felt I heard you talking to me and that's a sign of very good and heartfelt writing. It is above all a fine tribute to Bruce.
Alex M., MSW, LCSW, life coach
This powerful manuscript will be very helpful to others who may be treading the same path that you and Westy and Lindsay have trod. Your courage and the careful and conscious way that you have gone about living with the loss of Bruce are truly inspirational.
Rev. Harold B., Minister, Unitarian Universalist
Very moving and well done.
Philip S., literary agent
Normalcy - How one family made it through a devastating diagnosis -- A Primer for Dealing with Cancer by Wendy Chapin Ford is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.togetbackhome.com.
Download "Normalcy" Now
My Hopes for Normalcy
It is my great hope that cancer patients and family members – or anyone dealing with a devastating diagnosis – will be able to avail themselves of this document free of charge, and that it somehow helps. To that end, I am offering it as a free download, under a Creative Commons license.
But I also hope that our experience might inspire readers who are so moved to make contributions to Dr. Rebecca Miksad's medical research fund for her study of liver cancer and cholangocarcinoma, the form of cancer that affected Bruce. Dr. Miksad must be one of the most talented, intelligent, dedicated and compassionate physicians that I shall ever know.
* * * * *
The CureLiverCancers team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is dedicated to curing all types of liver cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder cancer and hepatocellular cancer. Our multidisciplinary clinical team provides comprehensive care for all aspects of liver cancer care,
from screening to transplant and specialized liver procedures to chemotherapy and palliative care. Our collaborative research team brings together the best in basic science, clinical trials and state-of-the-art health services research to achieve our goal of improving outcomes for patients with liver cancers.
To make a donation to BIDMC's CureLiverCancers team, please click here:
www.gratefulnation.org/CureLiverCancers
Or, if you prefer to make your donation by check, please make check payable to “BIDMC.
Please note CureLiverCancers on the memo line and send to:
BIDMC
Office of Development
330 Brookline Avenue BR
Boston MA 02215
|
