Beem Weeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "cancer"

Sliver of Life: A Collection of Short Stories is now available for just .99 on Kindle for a limited time. Grab a copy before it's over!

"There is no time to lose when crafting a short story. In order to hook the reader, the author must instantly bring the narrator's voice to life and create a compelling drama. In each of the "Slivers", Beem Weeks plunges us into an intimate emotional encounter faster than Alice down the rabbit hole."--S. Rose, author of Bridge Ices Before Road

These twenty short stories are a peek into individual lives caught up in spectacular moments in time. Children, teens, mothers, and the elderly each have stories to share. Readers witness tragedy and fulfillment, love and hate, loss and renewal. Historical events become backdrops in the lives of ordinary people, those souls forgotten with the passage of time. Beem Weeks tackles diverse issues running the gamut from Alzheimer’s disease to civil rights, abandonment to abuse, from young love to the death of a child. Long-hidden secrets and notions of revenge unfold at the promptings of rich and realistic characters; plot lines often lead readers into strange and dark corners. Within Slivers of Life, Weeks proves that everybody has a story to tell—and no two are ever exactly alike.

Slivers Of Life

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Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir by Karen Ingalls

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book is more than a simple memoir telling a story. This is a book filled with harrowing moments in the life of the author. Through sharing the darkness of a cancer battle, Karen Ingalls shines light on her faith and the events that led her to courage in the face of deep uncertainty.

Ovarian cancer is a serious issue—as is any cancer diagnosis. In a moment, a person must stand face to face with his or her own mortality. Karen Ingalls not only found victory in her personal battle, she has chosen to share her journey, offering comfort to those who may be fighting adversity in their own lives.

Ingalls writes from a point of view of a gentle friend telling the reader what God has done in her life. She is a deeply spiritual human being. There is much to learn from those who have faced such battles.

In the chapter entitled Spirituality, she writes the following: I believe we always have lessons to learn, and that’s what life’s experiences are about. If we don’t learn our lessons the first time, then life will keep bringing us new opportunities to learn.

That really spoke to me because that’s been my belief for the last twenty-odd years—since I became born again in 1996. It’s a truth that I abide by. Life is filled with lessons designed to make us into the people God intends us to become—the person we’re meant to be. I especially love the way Karen describes the trying times as “opportunities” for us to learn. Growth doesn’t come without struggle. Many of us won’t know the dread of cancer. But our own struggles will come. They can most certainly be strong enough to defeat us. But if we take the mindset and determination that Karen used in facing down her own fears and struggles, we can know we have a fighting chance. If you’re struggling with adversity or have a loved one going through trials, I highly recommend this memoir of perseverance and faith.





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Sammy Hero At Age Five by M. Schmidt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is the true story of a five year old boy named Sammy. Though Sammy is the story’s narrator, it is told through the eyes of his mother and older brother. Sammy had cancer, the disease he succumbed to at age five.

The first part of the story shares insight into the daily life of a typical American family, detailing the goings-on with Sammy, his brother, and his mother. Readers get to know Sammy and his budding personality. Most American boys will recognize the activities of riding Big Wheels, messing with snakes, and sneaking off to forbidden areas. There are some humorous stories here, like the older brother, Gene, accidentally locking Mom out of the house. A neighbor had to bring a ladder, allowing Mom to climb in through the attic to unlock the door.

The second part is entitled Cancer Arrived. Sammy began to be sick—all the time. Sinus infections, inner and middle ear infections, mononucleosis, and upper respiratory disease took over Sammy’s body. Doctors couldn’t pinpoint a cause and medicines didn’t clear things up. A radiologist even misread the x-ray. Because of this, he missed the tumor mass in Sammy’s neck and head. The cancer diagnosis left the family reeling. No parent wants to hear that awful disease pronounced on their child. The battle against Rhabdomyosarcoma became a family fight.

To a young boy, this would be a scary situation to be in. Sammy certainly had those moments. But what we learn from this personal story is the wisdom and courage this boy gained in his all-too-brief time in this world. While cancer is a dark subject, this book is anything but dark. I found in these pages a celebration of a life that is still touching others, even nearly thirty years after his departure. As long as his mother, brother, family, and friends are here in this world, Sammy will be here too.




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