Book Details

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“The artwork is stunning, and the stories truly touching and poignant. This book is simply inspirational.‿
                -Esther Valdez

“Fran’s message is touching and real; the circle of giving and receiving lives in her medium of listening to the stories of people who have walked a similar path.‿
           - Yvonne Denbina
            Owner, Garden of the Dragonfly
            Art Gallery

Fran Padgett is the author of “Breast Cancer Recovery: No One Wrote a Manual‿, the winner of six literary awards in 2007, including the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Silver Award in Health.  Her new book “Breast Cancer: No One Chose This Journey‿ is the second in the Breast Cancer series, and is a tribute - of paintings and stories - to women who have traveled the breast cancer journey.   As you read these stories, as only Fran can tell, you’ll see glimpses of rare human strength.  You’ll admire courageous decisions, and appreciate the spiritual beauty of these women.   You may find yourself reading through tears, maybe your jaw clenched in frustration, or with a smile as you relate to a “really tough lady.‿  But for all you will applaud.

Tribute: Evening at the Lake

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Awards:

Awards


Breast Cancer: No One Chose This Journey
Breast Cancer: No One Chose This Journey is the distinguished recipient of Living Now Gold Medal Award for best book on Women's Issue (2010). It also was recipient Bronze Medal for 2010 Foreword Magazine "Book of the Year Award" for Women's Issues.

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Table of Contents

Breast Cancer: No One Chose This Journey

TABLE OF CONTENTS
    *    Introduction:  The vignettes
         Foreword
    *    Dedication:  To Esther
         Preface
         Acknowledgments
    *    Prologue:  Enter Esther

    Chapter One:     Galveston
    *    Sunrise to Sunrise:  Searching for Solitude
         Mozelle, The Lady from Timpson Texas
         Deborah.  Chemo Will Have to Wait
         “Annie‿ from Barbados. 

    Chapter Two:    Beautiful Spirit   
         Evaline.  Sometimes there are miracles
    *    Dee.  Champagne with Dee
         Anna.  The couple on the beach
         Judy.    Diane’s sister, the one who
                nurtures the whole family

    Chapter Three:    Awesome Strength
    *    Virginia.  Brave.  Courageous.  Proud
         Bonnie.  The challenge bike ride of Bonnie J.

    Chapter Four:    Over And Over. And Over Again.
        Gracie.  The Voice of an Angel, the Face of a Star
         Jimmie Sue.   Times Three 
         Anita.  What Are the Odds?
         Shannon.  “…need a lending ear‿
         Alice’s story
         Eight sisters.  The mysterious double line

    Chapter Five:    Tears of the Fathers; tears of the Sons
    *    Sylene.  Tears of the Sons
        Juliarose.  Tears of a Father
        Joan.  Eyes of Swedish Blue

    Chapter Six:    Take time for your dreams
        Beverly.   The Journalist
    *    Sheila.   What price peace of mind?

    Chapter Seven:    The power of eight
        Denise and Chris
        Pam and Pat
        Joan, Linda, Rochelle
        And one “mystery lady‿

    Chapter Eight:    Too young
        Destiny.   Unfinished violin, unfinished life
        Stephanie.   Stars for jewels
        Victoria.   Four Victorias
        Lisa.   For Lisa from Esther

    Chapter Nine:    The power of life survives
        The Lady Led a Secret Life
        Anna’s Love Story
    *    Wilhelmina.  The Cove at Sunrise

Chapters

No One Chose this Journey

INTRODUCTION

    At a professional convention in Galveston, I was sitting at the publisher’s table signing copies of my previous work Breast Cancer Recovery: No One Wrote a Manual, when my agent introduced me to women who wanted to share with me their own stories.  There was Amy, who was anxious to share the story of her mother-in-law Mozelle, a really tough lady from Timpson, Texas.  After Amy came Deborah, her bravado not covering her fear.  She was told by doctors only a week prior that she had an invasive ductal carcinoma.
   
    With each passing week, as I attended gallery exhibits, civic luncheons, conventions across America, more and more “Amy’s,‿ and “Deborah’s‿, fathers, husbands and sons, came up to talk to me.  I’ve found it has become a most gratifying part of my unchosen journey to hear these breast cancer experiences, to be given favorite colors and snippets of life, sparking the creation of a painting I could dedicate to each one. Soon my agent and I saw the growing nucleus of a new project.
  
   In your hands you hold words and images of a most special gift exchange.  It all began somewhat unintentionally, but as time went on, it grew and developed into this volume.
   
    With these narratives, these vignettes, come glimpses of rare human strength, showing courageous decisions, and the spiritual beauty of these women.  You may find yourself reading through tears, maybe your jaw clenched in frustration, or with a smile as you relate to a “really tough lady.‿
   
    This is my tribute, my gift, to these brave ladies.

Virginia: Brave, Courageous, Proud

In a newspaper eulogy for Virginia, writer George Hazard defined bravery as “advancing toward a monster unafraid,‿ and courage as “advancing toward a monster despite being afraid,‿ Virginia being  both.  With these words in my mind, I define Virginia…



                      BRAVE.  COURAGEOUS.  PROUD.


                                    She picked the day she would die.

                    She loved dancing and riding, living and laughing.

                               She loved camellias and studied them.

           She loved talking to people, her voice a husky Southern accent.

                    She loved politics and working on the City Council.

            She loved her grandkids, making life and learning fun for them.

            She loved her husband and nursed him through his final illness.

          She said no to breast cancer treatments the second time it came.

                    She was brave, she was courageous, she was proud.



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From Chapter Three:  AWESOME STRENGTH