Book Review: Healing With Words by Diana M. Raab
Author: Diana M. Raab
Publisher: Loving Healing Press
Published: May 12, 2010
ISBN: 978-1615990108
Summary: "Healing With Words: A Writer's Cancer Journey is a compassionate and wry self-help memoir written by an award-winning prolific author, nurse and poet, who at the age of forty-seven found her life shattered first by a DCIS (early breast cancer) diagnosis and five years later by another, seemingly unrelated and incurable cancer--multiple myeloma. The book includes the author's experiences, reflections, poetry and journal entries, in addition to writing prompts for readers to express their own personal story. Raab's journals have provided a safe haven and platform to validate and express her feelings. Raab views journaling to be like a daily vitamin--in that it heals, detoxifies and is essential for optimal health."
Diana Raab is an extraordinary woman. Not only did she handle breast cancer, a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, but 5 years after finding out she had breast cancer, she was diagnosed with another type of cancer. And then after dealing with both to have the courage and strength to write a book to help others on their journey with cancer is truly inspiring.
I really like that Raab explains how journaling helped her to cope and heal. I think the fact that she also includes promotes will be very beneficial to someone who wants to journal but feels overwhelmed and at a loss as to where to start. I think her quote "When it hurts, write harder." is really important to remember. Most people when the pain seems unbearable, will then stop writing and try to retreat inside but that is when you need to write the most and when it will be the most beneficial.
Raab also includes poem that she wrote during her battle with breast cancer and as she was recovering. They are amazing poems that completely convey the feelings that were consuming her at the time. But even in the darkest poems there is still a feeling of hope and survival.
I think the fact that Raab is donating all proceeds from her book to the Mayo Clinic Foundation a testament to her true purpose. She truly wants to help people with cancer, either by them reading her book or by the donation to the Mayo Clinic Foundation. This just reiterates how amazing she truly is.
I think this book is a must read for anyone who has been touched with cancer or knows someone who has.
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