Valley of the Shadow: A Journey Through Cancer and Beyond

Life could not have been better Gay Lindquist, recently retired after thirty years in nursing, was eagerly looking forward to spending more time in her home on Madeline Island, enjoying life as a grandmother, writing, and traveling with her husband. Then, she coughed. It was just one tiny globule of blood, but it changed her life. Not only was she no longer a health care provider; she was a cancer patient.

Travel along on her journey through the different stages of her struggle with lung cancer. Experience the agony of waiting for test results and diagnosis, the fear and the pain, but also share the laughter, enlightenment, and increased appreciation for life.

If you, or a loved one, have received a diagnosis of cancer, you may feel very alone, even when surrounded by supportive family and friends. You need not travel alone; Valley of the Shadow can be a companion on your journey. It provides reassurance that someone else has experienced feelings like yours, and can offer help in coping with your fears and discomforts. Most importantly, however, it can help you to turn the experience of cancer into one of growth and renewal.

Gay J. Lindquist, retired nursing professor and eleven-year lung cancer survivor, taught maternal-child health and international health courses at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where she was awarded the Suzanne Van Ort Award for Creativity and Scholarly Activity. She lives with her husband in Naples, Florida and on Madeline Island, Wisconsin.