melanoma

Welcome to a new feature on Book Club Mom where I share my thoughts on indie books. Today’s review is of The Winding Road: A Journey of Survival by Miriam Hurdle.

I’d heard a lot about Miriam’s memoir from other bloggers, detailing her valiant and successful battle against a rare invasive cancer. I knew I wanted to read it and, once I featured Miriam on my blog, I downloaded The Winding Road and read it immediately.

Fifteen years ago, in 2008, during what Miriam and her family thought would be a routine hysterectomy surgery, doctors discovered an internal form of melanoma that had already spread. Stunned, Miriam scheduled a second surgery and signed up for an intense and grueling six-month treatment schedule. Today, she is cancer-free and enjoying life with her husband, her daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters.

When you’re sick, you don’t want to think about your job. Although Miriam was close to retirement, she needed to keep her teaching job during this time. It took a clear head to juggle a busy classroom, as well as negotiate her leave arrangements. She credits her family, friends, and church with helping her get through the biggest struggle she’d ever faced. Throughout her chemotherapy, she worked hard and clung to her goal to get healthy so she could spend more time with her family, especially with what she hoped would include grandchildren.

Miriam’s amazing story is an inspiration to anyone facing a serious illness. Her faith and will to survive carried her through her darkest days. It’s a reminder that the most important part of life is the time you spend with your loved ones.

Miriam and I have been blogging friends for several years. Her positive outlook and enthusiasm for life is a wonderful thing!

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Hi Everyone! Say hello to Miriam Hurdle and read more about her incredible story in her new book, The Winding Road – A Journey of Survival.

Author name: Miriam Hurdle

Genre: Memoir

Book: The Winding Road: A Journey of Survival

Update: It’s my pleasure to share with your readers about my latest publication, a memoir about my cancer experience. In the summer of 2008, I was diagnosed with melanoma-an aggressive and invasive cancer in my internal organs. The survival rate before 2008 was low. I had hoops to jump through to get treatment. By the time I received treatment at the beginning of 2009, my cancer had progressed from stage II to stage IV. The support, encouragement, and the love of my family and community carried me through.

It’s humbling to receive the heartwarming reviews from my readers:

“Her persistence paid off; the blessings and prayers of her friends and family plucked her from the jaws of life-threatening cancer and she could fulfill her wishes of playing with her grandchildren. It requires great resilience to relive those moments while telling the story, but Miriam chose to share it and I admire her fortitude. She has also shared some beautiful pictures of her family that reinforces how valuable this life is with our near and dear ones.” Balroop Singh

“I read this short book in an afternoon, the same day I picked up my husband after his cancer surgery. It struck a chord, and the author’s journey, though intensely personal, resonated.
Hurdle kept a diary from the time of her hysterectomy and the discovery of cancer, through her treatment, and onward to her recovery. Her cancer wasn’t only extremely rare, but her prognosis was bleak. She relates the events of her journey with a great deal of honesty and courage.” Diana W. Peach

“In Miriam’s case, her cancer journey started as a simple hysterectomy, surgery done thousands of times by hundreds of doctors. Most patients recover, move on with their lives. In Miriam’s case, the doctors discovered a rare form of cancer with uncharted treatment and a low probability of survival. If you’ve read Miriam’s poetry, you know that didn’t daunt her. She stepped forward, made the decisions she must. Never throughout the book does the reader feel hopelessness from her. Always, she knows why she is fighting to live, and that God will show her how.” Jacqui Murray

“Miriam is a great writer who writes with clarity, intelligence, and honesty about a very traumatic situation. I think this book can serve as a great help to anyone who may face this situation. In fact, cancer is so common that we are all likely to be touched by it at some point. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to everyone in order for all of us to learn something about the journey before facing it.” Thomas Wikman

My website/blog link is https://theshowersofblessings.com

Are you working on a new book? Have you won an award or a writing contest? Did you just update your website? Maybe you just want to tell readers about an experience you’ve had. Book Club Mom’s Author Update is a great way to share news and information about you and your books.

Email Book Club Mom at bvitelli2009@gmail.com for more information.

Open to all authors – self-published, indie, big-time and anything in between

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