A contribution from the perspective of cancer sufferers and those who care for them
When Shirley bumped her leg on a desk a concerned Physio sent her for Xrays, biopsies and scans.
“At least it’s not the Big C,” my thirty-eight year old daughter quipped on Facebook – but it was – stages 3 and 4 osteosarcoma or bone cancer, with mets in both lungs.
As cancer seems everywhere I think I can safely assume you have had a brush with it, if not physically through someone you know.
If perhaps you are very sad then know that I know, most recently because I nursed my daughter for the last eleven months of her life.
In time I came to tell her story in a book called Mum, Please Help Me Die. Six weeks before she died she called me and said, “Mum, you’re not going to like this but I am dying you know”. Although the roller coaster that is cancer had brought hope as well as despair, at that point I did know – and said so. “Mum,” she said, “please help me die.”
This book is dedicated to helping others on the cancer journey because Shirley tells it like it is and we can all identify with what she reveals. It helps us to know, to identify, to see cancer from the inside, and to support others better.
My prayer is that it does a great deal for many, many people.
The book was published in the UK in May 2019 by Onwards an Upwards publishers. Not long afterwards the publisher himself was diagnosed with Cancer. It had spread and Luke became very ill. The business closed while he battled, coming close to death on four occasions.
Today he is back at work, for which we praise God. He has this to say about the book:
On a personal note, your book has been an incredible help through my whole cancer journey. When I first received the diagnosis, I knew from it something of what to expect in terms of the emotions, internal processing and life changes, both for me and for my family.
Shirley’s group of supporters on social media was what inspired me to put together the ‘Prayer for Luke Jeffery’ group, which has been the greatest blessing at every stage. Her pain at losing one aspect of life at a time prepared me for similar experiences that I had before the doctors decided to operate, especially during the chemo rounds – and I was able to celebrate the ‘end’ of different aspects of life when I thought I might not see them return again. Now I am encouraged that whilst I may live long or I may not, like Shirley I will be fully healed in heaven and have an eternity with Jesus to look forward to, whatever lies ahead. So thank you for sharing your book with the world and for helping me face one of my life’s greatest trials.
(Luke himself added the subtitle to the book: “Where cancer meets love”)
In the book Shirley herself says, “So I discovered that God loves me … I just find it astounding that God would use something like cancer to show me that. You know … what kind of a God can do something cool out of cancer?”
Please purchase the book from Onwards and Upwards Publishers. Please also visit my website: www.mumpleasehelpmedie.co.za and in particular the videos of Shirley sharing her perspective a week before she died. And as you read her book may it be a great help.
Wishing you the best
Thy Cameron
Thy Cameron
Mum, you’re not going to like this but I am dying you know.
Thank you for sharing your book with the world and for helping me face one of my life’s greatest trials.
About the Book
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Thy grew up on a small farm in a church-going family. She always wanted to teach and completed a BA (Bachelor of Arts) and teaching diploma in South Africa and a Masters and doctorate online with Regent University, a Christian university in Virginia Beach USA. She loved being a radio journalist for a Christian radio station and produced and presented various programmes for 17 years.
As a little girl, Thy loved her mother’s garden, especially at sunset. Her relationship with God began when she marveled at a rose called ‘Peace’ and decided whoever made it must be wonderful. Over the years the most difficult times were the most precious. That was when God molded and shaped her faith.
