Walking Through the Fire: A Hospital Journey

by Laurel Lee

Book Overview

In 1975, twenty-nine year old Laurel Lee was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease and told by doctors she was going to die. Her husband, unable to cope, leaves her and three little children to fend for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525229558
• ISBN13: 9780525229551
• Release Date: May 1977
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 113 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of my all-time favorites

Laurel Lee's books have a special place in my heart. Few books have a style that sets them apart from, and makes them hard to compare with, all others. Her writing on the surface reads as easily as a children's book (she also wrote for children). But in that simplicity there is great transparency and insight. The books are mostly prose, but laced with sparkling word images and drawings that speak directly to the heart and are truly a (very accessible) form of poetry. Just a couple of examples: "In one stroke, I cut with some mental shears that fifty-more-years river, leaving me a short stretch .... I want the privilege of guiding the arrows of my children and giving them the exhortations that can shoot them into the high place." "I was stunned. I knew I must be in Stage III. I could count my thoughts and emotions, as if my head had broken into a lot of little pieces and they were falling slow enough to number. I was mad at every encouraging word and that I had believed them. "We all stood two inches tall; I was set up for a fall. It was winter, and they took my only coat." Laurel's books are special to me mainly because of they way they exude joy and life without being in the least syrupy or naive (indeed there is plenty of doubt, discouragement, and pain expressed as well, as in the quote above). Though valuable for anyone, Walking through the Fire was written as a gift for the doctors who were caring for Laurel during her first illness. It offers them a candid and often humorous view from the patient's perspective. Her inside view has shaped my own practice as a pediatrician and I believe that every health care worker should consider her books required reading. And besides ... they're fun! Unfortunately, these journals are out of print. The new book Tapestry, though, appears to contain much if not all of the same material and more. I'm going to read it as soon as I can get it out here to Nigeria.

Laughter & Joy in the Midst of Trial

Laurel Lee's journal contains the story of her ordeal with Hodgkin's disease & coping with her two children, pregnancy, and a husband who was fast becoming an "ex." Laurel's sense of humor is remarkable considering the tough times she faced as she opted to not 'sacrifice' her unborn child & to delay her surgery & radiation until after her baby was born. As she waited at the bus stop with her young children and "upchucked" in a street trash can, she imagined that folks driving by thought she was a 'bag lady' digging through the trash. We also went through cancer treatment for our son when he was 3 yr. old so I can identify with Laurel's anxiety as she waited for the doctor's verdict after each test. Read this book complete with illustrations by Laurel & then forward it to a friend!!!

Laurel Lee recounts her personal trial with cancer.

Lee invites the reader to share her thoughts, joys and fears as she confronts the challenge of cancer. Her story is unpretentious; fresh, and told with a gripping intensity. Laurel's combination of joy, humor and fear stands out in the harsh glare of reality cancer brings to life, where families cannot easily hide in shadows. This book offers insight into the frailities encountered in any life-altering challenge.