Night Reflections: A True Story of Friendship, Love, Cancer, and Survival

by Robert Thomas Winn, Timothy R. Pearson

"Dr. Winn’s story is remarkably open, unguarded and intimate. I believe that almost any physician, staff member, patient, patient family member or friend will come away with new insights and understanding after reading this moving memoir." —Frederick R. Appelbaum, M.D. Director, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Little does he know that an unexpected call that interrupts an early Spring bike ride in the Wasatch mountains above Park City will change his life forever. A day later, when Dr. Robert Winn’s beloved wife Nancy is diagnosed with the life-threatening disease acute myeloid leukemia (AML), he is too devastated and emotionally shattered to communicate with family and their many friends. For many months he can’t even speak without getting choked up or crying. At the nadir of her illness Nancy is given a 5% chance of survival and Winnie (the name lovingly bestowed upon Dr. Winn by his many patients and friends) commits to always be by the side of his soul mate and to never leave Nancy alone at night. As a result, during the entire two years his wife is gravely ill and, at times, near death, he sits in the quiet of Nancy’s hospital room late into the evening and writes to their family and friends. These trials and tribulations are movingly and remarkably captured for posterity in Night A True Story of Friendship, Love, Cancer, and Survival . Life with cancer, a devastating disease for any patient and family, is a constant struggle and fight for survival that demands that you learn to live through the entire day, each hour, and every minute. Night Reflections chronicles an inspirational story of courage, love, devotion, struggle, and ultimately triumph. Night Reflections will help anyone suffering from a devastating illness, their loved ones, caregivers, and the medical community alike and the strength to face even the darkest of days.

380 pages, Hardcover

Published November 22, 2016

Reviews

[Donna Frasor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and informative memoir by Dr. Winn of his wife’s journey with acute myeloid leukemia. He writes letters late at night to his family and friends of her experiences and his thoughts as he sits at his wife’s bedside during this two year journey from diagnosis through stem cell transplant to recovery. His reflections helped me better understand this devastating disease and its effects on family and caretakers. I learned that even a medical doctor experiences the same frustrations of changing diagnoses and survival rates. This is a true love story of one’s family conquest of this blood cancer. “If nothing else, leukemia has taught us patience.”

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book mostly because I grew up with the subject of the narrative, the wife of the author, who recovered from leukemia through a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor. It was thus interesting to me to read of her struggles and ultimate triumph over that terrible disease.