Every once in a while I read a book that I feel I must share with you...
As described so perfectly on the front cover, The Silver Lining is a supportive and insightful guide to breast cancer. My friend, Hollye Jacobs is a hospice and palliative care nurse who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. After her diagnosis Hollye searched for a book that could help guide her through her treatment. Discovering that nothing remotely like the book she was looking for actually existed, she decided that she needed to create it herself.
I am fortunate to be able to call Hollye a friend, and after reading her book, you will understand why.
In The Silver Lining, Hollye tells her story as if she is sharing it with someone she loves. She is honest, funny, caring, and straight forward.
In the first several chapters, she describes her journey from diagnosis (An Interruption), to surgery (Lost and Found), to chemotherapy (Chemo Sobby), to radiation (Radiation Cloud). As the book continues, Hollye also shares how she dealt with the emotional and physical impact of cancer treatment as well as what her life looks like after her treatment.
The Silver Lining is also a wonderful resource for people who have a loved one going through treatment for breast cancer or any serious disease, helping us to understand how to be emotionally and physically supportive every step of the way.
As Hollye explains, breast cancer does not just happen to an individual. It also affects the patient's family and friends. In Chapter 2, Children Always Know, Hollye describes how to discuss a breast cancer diagnosis with children at different ages and developmental levels.
Each chapter also includes "Lifelines", suggestions to learn from Hollye's professonal and personal experiences that will, hopefully, help you avoid some of the "calamaties" that she faced.
The images I've included in this post are the gorgeous work of Elizabeth Messina, Hollye's partner in creating The Silver Lining. She took these photographs because as she told Hollye "I'm a photographer and your girlfriend & I don't know what else to do for you." The gift was that Elizabeth helped Hollye see past the cancer and ravages of treatment to see that underneath it all, she was still feminine and full of life. Elizabeth provided every image in the book. They add a beautiful and hopeful visual tone for The Silver Lining.
I am not surprised that The Silver Lining debuted at number 6 on the New York Times Bestseller List! I can not recommend this book more highly. You can buy The Silver Lining on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indie Bound.
To learn more about Hollye and The Silver Lining, please visit her blog, The Silver Pen.
xo
Brooke
