Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with Samson's Tale

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I think back to the cancer survival stories that touched my life.  I knew a few amazing children who were dealt the hardship of battling cancer.  I was always amazed at their courage and determination.  It was an odd mix of fear, worry, curiosity and admiration I had for these friends.  How could you be healthy one day, and then suddenly sick with cancer the next?  And how could you be sick and go to school at the same time, or miss weeks of school and then bounce back strong and hopeful?  How could one have a head full of beautiful hair and then become bald?  As children, it's hard to understand the hows and whys of childhood cancer.  As an adult, it is even more difficult to comprehend why this has to happen to children in the first place.  But resilience is a beautiful thing...and it's amazing to hear stories of how strong these children can be.

Way back when, I remember a smart, happy boy who lived up the street from me.  I had such a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that he had cancer, one because he was just a kid like me, and two because he was so positive and inspirational...it was almost easy to forget he was sick.  There were times he would be "out of sight" for weeks because of treatments, then the cancer would go into remission and he would be on the bus again, happy to return to school, talking and dreaming about things that were important to him, like sports.  He was brave and mature beyond his years.  The last I remember, he was cancer free.  I can still see that smile on his face.      

Sadly, thousands of children are diagnosed with cancer each year.  It is an astonishing and heart-aching amount.  Carla Mooney, the author of Samson's Tale, is a mother who understands what it's like to have a child who has battled cancer.  Her very own son inspired her to write this amazing story.  We invite you to check out Samson's Tale in support of children with cancer.  And in case you didn't know, 30% of the proceeds from book sales go to Flashes of Hope, a wonderful organization that changes the way children with cancer and other life threatening illnesses see themselves through the gift of photography, all while raising money for pediatric cancer research.  You might even consider buying a copy of Samson's Tale for your home library or for the library at your child's school.  If you want, you might even ask your school or community librarians to contact Follett Library Resources to purchase Samson's Tale for their shelves.

To those brave children fighting the good fight...you are my heroes!

~Mary
Editor, Story Pie Press