A Memoir About Courage and Resilience: My Review of The Winding Road by Miriam Hurdle #FantasticFridayReads #Memoir #Inspiration

Photo Courtesy of Tess Anderson Photography

Photo Resize and Description by

Two Pentacles Publishing.

 

What Amazon Says

 

In the summer of 2008, Miriam Hurdle was diagnosed with melanoma-an aggressive and invasive cancer in her internal organs. The survival rate before 2008 was low. Besides risking harsh treatments for a slim chance of survival, Miriam had hoops to jump through. By the time she received treatment at the beginning of 2009, her cancer had progressed from stage II to stage IV. It was a rough and uphill winding road. But alongside her was support and encouragement. Accompanied by the love of her family and community, this is Miriam’s journey of faith and miracle. It is a heartwarming story of resilience, courage, and the will to live.

 

Buy from Amazon.

 

My Thoughts

 

I read Miriam’s work in Poetry Treasures 2, which I reviewed here. So, after reading reviews of this book, I was only too happy to pick it up, and I’m glad I did.

In 1999, my mother passed away at the age of 64 after suffering from cancer for six months. Because she’d received a good prognosis, her death was a shock. So, I enjoy reading cancer stories with happy endings.

I was right there with Miriam through her struggles in dealing with doctors and other hospital personnel, the insurance company, officials at the school district where she worked, and the side affects of her treatment. The overwhelming support she received from family and friends moved me. The poems and family photos add a nice touch. This is a story of courage and resilience in the face of cancer that everyone should read.

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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me

Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.

Independently published with the help of DLD Books.

Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.

After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.

Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.

Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?

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