I Quit: Facing Cancer with Faith, Family and Friends

by Kristina Schnack Kotlus

I Quit is a rallying cry for anyone facing a difficult situation―including two cancer diagnoses―to choose joy and faith and embrace humor to make the best of their experience. There’s more to cancer than chemo and radiation. When she found herself diagnosed with brain cancer for the second time, Kristina Kotlus chose to quit on day one. But rather than meaning she gave up, her quitting meant getting a whole new lease on life. I Quit offers readers a chance to do the same. Inside, Kristina shares how she survived both diagnoses with the help of her family, friends, and faith in a relatable, funny way from her original diagnosis to finding doctors to telling her kids ( make someone else do it). She shares openly and honestly, with just a touch of sarcasm and a heavy dose of humor and faith and encourages readers to decide that it’s time to stand up, wash the tears off their face, and keep going.

Genres: Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2020

About the author

Kristina Schnack Kotlus is a two-time brain cancer survivor. She was baptized a Lutheran, tried atheism because of the Anglicans, worked for the Methodists, and now attends an Assemblies of God congregation. She has a degree in Comparative Religion from George Mason University by way of Holy Cross College and is married to a non-practicing Jew. She’s written for her own website, PwcMoms, for years, helping parents in Prince William County, Virginia feel more connected to where they live. She’s been published in numerous local magazines and newspapers and was recognized as Blogger of the Year in Northern Virginia, 40 Under 40 in Northern Virginia, and an Influential Woman in Prince William County. She resides in Manassas, Virginia, with her husband and three children, who she homeschools.

Reviews

[Jordana Matamales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. I learned. This book is unpredictable, inspirational, and heartwarming. The author shares her story with refreshing candor. Read it now!!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐
This lady really went through it having brain cancer and then getting a second diagnosis that it had moved into her spine. She has a sarcastic sense of humor and she used humor, help from family and friends, and her faith and trust in God to live each day to the fullest! She still is fighting! It was neat to find out that she lives nearby in Manassas! I really liked her chapters on faith and how she gave everything to God! Her chapter on what she would say to the insurance company if she has no filter was hilarious and so true!

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one afternoon because it was so inspiring. My husband was recently diagnosed with cancer and I needed to learn how to help him face it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read book for anyone facing a new cancer diagnosis or anyone who has friends or family who have had cancer. It gave a lot of great tips for how to handle an initial diagnosis as well as how to handle it when and if the cancer returns. The humor and authenticity throughout the book made it a fast and compelling read.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for so many reasons. Kristina’s honesty and sense of humor shine through along with her strong faith. I will be sharing this book with others to show just how much a person can endure and survive when they truly trust in God.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining while being incredibly useful. I will make sure any friend struggling through a health crisis has a copy of this book. While being authentic with her struggles, Kristina provides practical tools and personal examples on how to keep moving forward without giving up. And she makes the reader laugh out loud!

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never read a book like this one and even though it is non-fiction, which, honestly, I do not read very often, I could not put it down. The author, Kristina Kotlus, tells of her experience of surviving brain cancer with honesty and humor and sarcasm.

Ms. Kotlus divided the book into two parts: part one is Here’s What We’re Working With and part two is How’d We Get Through This? The first part is her story with the God part deliberately left out so, as she says, it could be read by anyone. But she encourages the reader at the end of the first part to keep reading, to learn the rest of the story, with the God lens applied.

My favorite chapter in this book was the one entitled, My Friend Has Cancer and I Don’t Want to Suck: A General Guide. Here Kristina tells what people said to her and what they shoulda/coulda have said. She also gave examples of what to DO and DO NOT if you want to help someone with cancer (like the one person who showed up unannounced and wanted Kristina woken up so this person could visit with her: BTW that is a DO NOT). Ultimately, Kristina desires to give hope to those dealing with cancer through the telling of her story. I so very highly recommend this book as who hasn’t, except for the very young, had a friend or acquaintance or family member have cancer. I received a copy of this book from the author. I am freely writing a review - all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marcia Van Camp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the blessing of getting aquatinted with the author in Fall 2019 and so I was looking forward to reading this book. Like many people, cancer has affected my family in tremendous ways. It’s always been hard for me to know what the person suffering is going through so I have sought out several other books written by or about cancer patients/survivors throughout my life.

There are some takeaways that are too person to share here so the main thing I wanted to convey is that this book helped me have more tools to know how to help myself (and others) when I am dealing with the medical community. It also gave me several unique insights about the do/don’t of interacting with cancer patients or really anyone going through major medical problems. Not every patient is the same and should be respected in how they want to be helped for example.

Here are a few takeaways that I wanted to highlight as well, mostly so I won’t forget them.

1. Don’t ask kids for info about their parents health, ask the parents

2. That they played brain surgery related games while family waited

3. Duke - whole family needed care

4. To the author - Amazed you advocated for yourself even when in pain and scared

[Shani Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the beginning, I didn’t know why the book is called I Quit. But by the end, it was abundantly clear and I was quite surprised by it. From the get-go, I just want to say that I absolutely adored and resonated with Part Two of this book. It was not what I expected, having come out of the first part, but it spoke to everything that I am and made my heart soar. It reinforced so many beliefs that I hold dear, but had lost sight of. It was a great reminder and a beautiful ode to the power that resides outside of us and is in our reach when we have faith.

Of course, this book is relatable to health. But it’s also relatable to so many other circumstances. For example, my current situation is about pursuing dreams and stepping out of the old me to embrace a new destiny. I’m fully aware that it’s all bigger than me and that I need help. A lot of help. I can’t do it alone. I Quit has an important message for anyone who is dealing with something that feels insurmountable.

[Eveie Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Kotlus' book is incredibly honest, funny, & helpful. Anyone facing a scary medical diagnosis needs to read this - along with their caregivers (family, friends, medical team). Her story was compelling to me because she was vulnerable & direct in recounting her experience. Clearly her faith, which is woven into this book, has given her a boldness to share in order to help others who may face similar circumstances. Her candid analysis could be a playbook for those in uncharted territory. Her writing style is engaging & humor is clearly one of her strengths.

[Amanda Dirickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging for everyone

This a great read for anyone to realize that you can get through whatever situation you find yourself in. There are so many feelings in this book and reactions to processing through challenges. It made me feel better knowing I'm not alone in any of my reactions. And she shares a brutally honest roadmap for accepting yourself as you are and climbing out of the depths of depression and hopelessness. I cried for her, for her children, for my children and ultimately for joy.

[Dulcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the humor and honesty in this book, and the way it's written made it feel like a conversation with a friend. We have very similar views and ways of coping for the most part, so I found myself nodding and smiling my way through the book. I would recommend it to anyone who has heard the words "You have cancer." Very inspiring.

[Brad Engborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal open and honest walk through the personal world of struggling with cancer. Written with honesty for those going through it and tips for those who wish to be a support for someone going through it.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is touching, beautiful, inspiring, funny and a testament to Kristina’s amazing faith and community. She crafts an honest and open story of resilience, pain, and finding light and joy in even the most difficult of situations.

[Kristina Schnack Kotlus]

Guys, this is my book- so I don't want to give it stars, but I will tell you that I wrote it to help you have hope and joy no matter what your circumstances are. I'm not trying to win the Suffering Olympics, but if I can do it with brain cancer, you can do it with whatever you're facing, too.

[Annie B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is entertaining, insightful, heartfelt, inspiring, honest, and just plain beautiful. Well done, Kristina!

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh and cry and taught me so much about how to support my friends and family facing cancer.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and insightful read as a family member is going through cancer.

[Traceylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why

This is about a Christian woman who had brain cancer and it also went to her spine. Her faith in God through it.

[Becky Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read! Kristina has eloquently relayed her experiences from the medical, practical, emotional and spiritual aspects of dealing with cancer. The many relationships she navigated during this process with humor was heart-warming! I truly could relate to the emotional turmoil she relayed in each page! A true warrior and awesome person!

[Kathy Lamont · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written memoir about cancer and how to support a family. It was very touching and honest, but it a non-scary way, as cancer obviously isn’t fun! An excellent read for anyone.