I never know what may take place, or what I might learn from my students when I go to the three-day residencies each quarter.
It took me by surprise when one of my students confessed he had purchased my book. He got it on Amazon. Typically, I assume the purchaser is buying the book for a newly diagnosed friend or family member. However, it wasn’t for anyone else. It was for him. Admittedly, he wanted to know more about the professor who was teaching his class. But the story went a little deeper than that. He shared that he grew up a “mamma’s boy,” aware of the yearly check-ups when his mother was screened for breast cancer. She never got cancer, but he talked about how much it affected him as a child, worrying about whether his mom was going to get cancer.
He had already read the introduction, and was planning on reading the whole book. I think it may have brought some closure to his fears about his mom. He was grateful for what I had done by putting this book together, and was genuinely touched by the book and its contents. He thanked me for taking the time to write the book, and I was touched by his honesty.
In a sense we are both students. He is getting a Ph.D., and I am a student of breast cancer. It isn’t a journey I chose, but I am constantly learning more about breast cancer and how to fight it. I am no expert, and there is still so much more to learn. Each new thing I discover, I hope to pass on to help someone else.
You never know who you might impact with the work that you do. Keep doing what God wants you to do and people will be blessed.
A la prochaine… until next time.