I knew during the ultrasound that it was cancer but I could barely breathe…I stayed silent. I knew during the scan that it was cancer but I could barely breathe…I stayed silent. I knew the doctors were going to tell me my child had cancer. And they did, and I screamed inside. Then I took a deep breath and I kept breathing. In this compelling personal narrative, we are invited to view the world of childhood cancer through the eyes of a mother. The author vividly portrays the resilience of children when faced with a life-threatening illness and the power of the human spirit in times of adversity. When your child is diagnosed with cancer, you have no choice but to embark on the journey with them, one small step and one deep breath at a time. Sometimes, just breathing is all you can do, and sometimes, just breathing is all you need to do.
Anne Marie Frizzell has a background in nursing and has worked for many years in community-based health and social care services in Ireland. She is currently a member of the Academic Team in the Department of Health and Nutritional Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo. She is an accredited health and wellness coach. In 2015 and 2016, she was shortlisted as a finalist in the International Coaching Federation (Ireland Charter), Health and Wellness Coach of the Year Awards. Since 2012, Anne Marie has been actively coaching and promoting wellness and mindfulness with individuals and communities. She published her first book Time to Blossom - Harvesting Wellness and Wisdom on Your Personal Life Journey on November 2015. On 1st October, 2017, her daughter Erica was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, and in this book, Anne Marie provides some insights to and reflections on the childhood cancer journey--through her eyes.