"In Sickness and In Health" lets you walk in the shoes of a young woman who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells. During her treatment process, she kept a journalized account of her daily and weekly activities. This book shows how her faith was tested time and time again; not only in dealing with the cancer, but with many other life-changing situations that seemingly occurred all at the same time. You will see, as she had to learn, that you must trust God in sickness and in health.
Book review:
In Sickness and in health, is a journalised account of
coping with Multiple Myeloma. The author has captured her daily road to give
the reader a clear understanding. From her diagnosis right through the
treatment that follows, you become part of her daily life.
She holds nothing back as she shares her fears, her
struggles, and her difficulties while still being a grandchild, mother, and wife to her family. Her love for her family undoubtedly unwavering in the
midst of this sickness. It seems that it has won its hold over her but
each time she came through with the help of her supportive family.
Capturing her path she also shares her faith and how God has
led her each day, strengthening her faith on this difficult path. Her sincerity is visible on each page
as she takes you through the daily treatments.
The relationship between her, her mother, and her grandmother
is the highlight of the book. If not for this relationship she would have
faltered. There is nothing as strong as the bond between a parent and a child. “This process has shown me to not take little things for granted.”
The other highlight within the book is the relationship
between her and her husband. Through all her ups and downs, the ugly and uglier days he
remained at her side. Even though he had to be on the road his support was evident.
Really an in-depth look into a world of sickness where we
find more peace with God and ourselves.
I loved the add-ins in the book that made it so much endearing
and I added some of them in my review just to give prominence to these truths.
“Encourage Yourself” by Donald Lawrence and the Tri-City
Singers.
VERSE 1: Sometimes you have to encourage yourself
Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test
And no matter how you feel
Speak the word and you will be healed
Speak over yourself
Encourage yourself in the Lord
VERSE 2: Sometimes you have to speak the word over yourself
Depression is all around you but God is present help
The enemy created walls
But remember giants, they do fall,
Speak over yourself
Encourage yourself in the Lord.
BRIDGE: As I minister to you, I minister to myself, Life can
hurt you so, ‘til you feel there’s nothing left (No matter how you feel) (Speak
the word and you will be healed)
Remember, no matter what state you are in, be content!!!
FAVORITE QUOTES THAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH
Find out who you are—not only in good times, but when you
are strong.
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about
learning to dance in the rain.
Anyone can give up; it’s the easiest thing in the world to
do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart,
that’s true strength.
People might not get all they work for in this world, but
they must certainty work for all they get—Frederick Douglass
Demetria Alexander-Grissett (AKA Dee Grissett), a Baltimore, Maryland native, has worked in the educational arena for over twenty-five years. She was employed as a Financial Aid Counselor for eighteen years. Since 2005, she has worked for the Public Schools of Robeson County in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department. Growing up, Dee always loved to write, but never thought of writing a book. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. The cancer, in addition to other life-changing events, moved her to publish her first work of her experiences in hopes of encouraging others in the same or similar situation.
Excerpt:
July 26, 2009
Today was a good day. It had nothing to do with my treatment
and then it had EVERYTHING to do with it. On Friday, July 24th at 11:49 am, my
sister-in-law, Angie, had a baby girl named Kylan Madison Stone. She was 5 lbs.
14 oz. and 19 ½ inches long. What? As big as my sister-in-law was? They better
check and see if there is another baby up in there. Angie was too big for Kylan
to just be five pounds. Well, I guess now we will tell her the news. We had
decided not to tell her because she was too close to her delivery date. We did
not want to jeopardize anything. This is my first (and according to her, my
only) niece.
This has done me good. My emotions are really high right
now. I have waited a long nine months for “Baby Girl”. About an hour after she
was born, I had pictures of her all over my Facebook profile. We wasted no time
heading to Columbia, South Carolina for the weekend. Angie told me that I made
her baby a lap happy baby in one day. Well, I am guilty as charged. That is my
job as the proud auntie—to spoil the baby. She is the new delight in my life
and I love her. Boy, she has given me a burst of energy that I will need for
tomorrow’s treatment.
July 27, 2009 Today’s treatment was good. It felt different
without the boys being here. I did not have Michael to do the assembly line
thing and switch back and forth giving me the Sprite bottle and the pill, the
Sprite bottle and the pill. CJ had football practice at school. Charles was
playing Solitaire on the laptop and I was cool with that. He needs to keep his
mind occupied. He has been a great trooper through everything and I love him
for that! He helped put all sixteen of those horse pills in the pill bottle.
That was the worse!!! (Yuk!) Those ten pills are easy along with however many
other pills. Last night went better than last Monday night. I was not AS
jittery and AS tingly and numbing as last Monday night. I do have to drink more
to urinate more frequently. I appreciate everyone
who sees me out and about (when I am able to go out) and
tells me that I look so good. It’s nothing but God! July 28, 2009 I need to
catch up on things like checking my student’s assignments from Friday until
now. Since I was in Columbia, SC the entire weekend with my niece, I did not
check any assignments. I teach an online class (Career Management) to students
in all of the high schools in this county. We currently have summer school
going on. This keeps my mind pre-occupied. This is very good for me now.
July 30, 2009 Today’s treatment was okay. Aunt Ree and
Michael went with me today. CJ had driving today (Yee-pee) and Charles had to
work. I told him that I’m okay. He doesn’t have to go with me every Monday and
Thursday. Shoot, somebody gotta work—you know what I’m saying! So, his aunt
will go with me on Thursdays and he will go on Mondays. Computers were down all
over Duke Hospital today so my labs had to be handwritten and then we had to
wait longer than the usual hour to get the results back. Of course, this made
the whole trip longer than usual. Time flew by as Aunt Ree and I talked about
life in general and people in general. Next thing we know a gentleman comes and
introduces himself as Thomas and pulled up a seat and sat with us. Thomas is a
37 year old built black man who is a survivor of myeloma. He sat and just
shared his experiences. He started out with plasmacytoma (tumor in one
particular area). For him, it was in his left back area. He took radiation and
that went away. Sometime later he developed myeloma which is basically the same
thing but it’s not contained in one area—it’s all over. That’s why it’s called
Multiple Myeloma. He shared his experiences with chemo with the Myeloma and his
transplant experiences, yes with an S. After his first transplant, he got an
infection and had to have another one. Even though he came uninvited by me, I
really enjoyed his company. He has an awesome personality and is full of
charisma. I know some people have different views on why certain things happen
in life to certain people. Things do not always happen to you because of a
punishment for something you did. Think about the story in the Bible when the
man was sick and people stopped and asked him what did you or your parents
do for this to happen to you. He nor his parents did anything wrong. He replied
that what had happened to him was for God’s glory.
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