IN HINDSIGHT

The debut memoir of a woman with a terminal illness who explores integrative medicine.

In 2019, Maureen Tonge was diagnosed with an inoperable, fast-growing cancerous tumor and given less than a year to live. This aptly titled memoir shows the shift in her thinking from fierce denial that anything was wrong with her to acceptance of her condition. She starts off her account, which she wrote with her twin sister, Kirsten Tonge, with a surprisingly positive assertion: “I am living––in fact thriving––with a brain tumour.” Despite her symptoms, which include a tendency toward overstimulation, fatigue, and digestive issues, she’s remained active and social, and she still exhibits a strong will to live. She tells of how she adopted a unique blend of integrative energetic healing techniques and traditional Western medicine. Along with chemotherapy, she pursued such alternative healing remedies as a keto diet, reiki healing, Kundalini yoga, hydrotherapy, and others. At times, the text feels like an advertisement for the latter techniques, which weren’t covered by health insurance. Importantly, however, Maureen tells of how she made a promise to herself to practice self-care and her determination to never give up. The memoir exhibits an honest and genuine tone throughout. However, it doesn’t always succeed at sharing intimate moments; for instance, Maureen often describes laughing but doesn’t explain why she does so. Indeed, the book often holds back on finer details in favor of general description. But overall, the memoir effectively relates Maureen’s engaging life journey in an account that includes dancing, ice skating, travel to Greece, hiking, walking the dog, skinny-dipping, a Justin Timberlake concert, and even a meeting with Michelle Obama––and she does it with enthusiasm.

A sentimental but sometimes-undeveloped story about an ongoing fight against cancer.