A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles by Mary Elizabeth Williams 616.994 Wil

About seven years ago I read an entertaining book about finding a place to live in New York City written by this author.  I had no idea this was the same author until I read the About the Author section at the back of the book.  I found out I still love her writing. And her sense of humor!

This book is about her Melanoma diagnosis.  She begins the book with this: SPOILER: I lived!

In August of 2010 Mary Elizabeth Williams decided to call a dermatologist to do something about the scabby place on her scalp that had been bugging her for a while.  It never occurred to her that it could be cancer.  And not a regular skin cancer - it was a melanoma. Putting her info into a Google search she finds the survival rate for ten years is not good.  The first part of treatment was surgery after which her surgeon declares her cancer free.   Well, not so fast.

This is the story of diagnosis, treatment, emotions, friends, doctors, love, and SCIENCE.  As Williams points out, she isn't alive today because she fought a good fight or because she had a positive attitude or because of prayers.  She is alive because of science.  Along with her story we are privileged to get to know her close friend Debbie who has also received a cancer diagnosis.  It is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.

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