TWO YEARS JOURNEY, THE RISE FROM LEUKEMIA AND ANEURYSM TO THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

Harding, a cancer survivor, shares his inspirational story of faith, family, and healing in this debut memoir.

The book’s opening pages may jar readers as the author describes “the privilege of carrying this sickness in my body.” A devout Christian and active member in his local church, Harding was diagnosed with leukemia in 2014. “Right away I knew that I’d be healed,” he writes, recalling the day the bone marrow disease was first detected. Buoyed by the spiritual and financial support of his family and church community, the author dedicated himself to becoming “an encourager of people” during his days in hospital cancer centers as he prayed for and lifted the spirits of other cancer patients (and nurses and doctors as well). While the narrative’s overall message is optimistic, Harding does not shy away from the hardships of his cancer, from having to break the news of his diagnosis to his stunned wife to the logistical dilemmas of maneuvering with a catheter. While his two-year medical journey would have its fair share of hardships—such as a fall that severed his carotid artery and resulted in an aneurysm—it also affirmed the power of love, community, and family (the author’s 72-year-old brother donated to Harding’s stem cell transplant). The central figure in the book is God; the power of Harding’s immense faith in sustaining his mental health is undeniable. Prayers, Bible verses, and references to biblical heroes abound throughout the book’s narrative. With fewer than 80 total pages and written in an accessible, conversational style, this concise book can be easily read in a single sitting. More context, however, could have been useful—for instance, hospital and church names are often given without including their respective locations (or even a mention of what state they are in). Harding also briefly mentions his fascinating childhood (he was born in an impoverished region of western Jamaica) in the book’s backmatter, though the details of his life before his cancer diagnosis are thin.

An inspiring story of survival limited by a narrow scope.