Children's Picture Book Released

Although it's been awhile, I'm very pleased to announce that I finished and released a book before Christmas. Happily, this was the children's book I discussed in my last post, the one that got me back to writing. It is in honor of a little girl whose family lives nearby and who is struggling with a disease quite similar to the one that I defeated a couple years back -- leukemia. Kinsley is undergoing treatment for Burkitt's Leukemia, a cruel enemy that stole her hair and her smile.

Two years ago, I was released from my treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Like Kinsley, I had lost all my hair and made it through the cold winter with a great collection of hats. Choosing which to wear each day brought a little light to my days. When I pondered what might bring light to this six-year old warrior, a story took shape and I felt that sharing it would infuse meaning to my six weeks' stay at Yale Smiloh Cancer Center. Maybe the reason I had to go through that suffering was so that I could understand a child's fears as she undergoes similar treatment.

I made sure to put a picture of myself with no hair on the back cover of the book. That picture says, "You are not alone. I've been there." The fact that I came out on the other side and my hair has grown back might give her hope. Click on the picture below to see the listing for Kinsley's Hospital Adventure on Amazon (including the back cover with my bald self). If you feel so inclined, purchase a copy. All proceeds go to Kinsley's family.

Kinsley ~ page 1