Thank you.
As you’ve discovered, I tend to be a bit long-winded, so I thought I’d get right to the point.
Thank you for being so supportive and dedicated to my books. In all fairness, I should call them our books because without you, my characters aren't able to entertain. They aren't able to live.
As much as I enjoy creating them, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about them.
So again, I offer you my most heartfelt thanks and gratitude for searching out my books, for spending your precious time with them, and for letting me know how you feel about them.
When my first book was published, my friends became my readers. With each subsequent book, I’m pleased that so many readers have become my friends.
That friendship has meant even more to me in recent months. On May 24, 2008, I went to the emergency room complaining of stomach pain. By May 27th, I’d had 13 inches of my colon removed along with a malignant tumor and 33 lymph nodes. Seven of the lymph nodes tested positive for cancer, and I began chemotherapy treatments on June 23, 2008. I’ve been blessed with so many well wishes and helpful advice from readers and colleagues who have survived their own battles with cancer and took the journey with me.
I had my final chemotherapy treatment on Nov. 29th, and I had CT scans on Dec. 1st. My oncologist, a brilliant and wonderful man who embodies the best of all my most beloved heroes, gave me the results: “The scans are clear.”
Whew! I have a whole new understanding of the word “relief,” and I’m so happy to be able to just...breathe.
As grateful as I am for the attention you’ve given my books, I’m even more grateful for the attention you’ve given me. Every writer should have readers and colleagues like mine. You never fail to surprise me with an e-mail or a note that bolsters my spirits and keeps me tethered to hope. Thank you so very much.
Now I’d like to have a word with you about your poopers.
Yes. Your pooper.
My tumor wasn’t discovered until it was a grade 3, which means that I was fairly asymptomatic until the cancer was advanced. Early detection is crucial when it comes to treating and recovering from cancer, so I’d like to urge everyone to get their pooper peeped. A simple colonoscopy can detect polyps, which sound cute and adorable, but they are sneaky and untrustworthy and can easily grow into malignancies that hide until a recurring stomachache or blood in the toilet bowl betrays their existence.
When I asked my gastroenterologist how he can stand to look at bums and innards all day, he said, “They all look the same once they’re cleaned out.” So there’s no point in being self-conscious or ill-at-ease about an easy procedure that can quickly and painlessly nip polyps in the bud. Literally.
The cancer was cotton candy and wildflowers compared to the chemotherapy. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can encourages my readers and their loved ones to be advocates for their own good health by getting colonoscopies.
