A Word About The Survivor

The inspiration for Mattie Lapp, a reoccurring character in the Families of Honor series, came directly from a conversation with my Amish friend. During one of my visits she was telling me expensive it can be to pay for the driver to take patients or family members of patients back and forth to the hospital.

That led to a conversation about being Amish and being in the hospital, which  somehow got me asking about what happens if an Amish woman discovers she has breast cancer.

I was curious about chemotherapy. Would an Amish woman agree to such treatments? She told me it depended on the woman-but yes, most would do anything they could to survive the disease.

When I went home, I did a little more research and discovered that mammograms are not a common practice among Amish women, but cancer can strike them just like women of any other group. But because of some women don't discover the cancer through early detection, when they are diagnosed the cancerous mass can be too big for a lumpectomy.

All these questions and answers inspired me to write about a young Amish woman battling this disease.

Further research led me to a blog written by a twenty-two year old woman who was posting a journal about her experiences. Her entries were heart-wrenching and honest.

And I used much of her pain and humor to write Mattie's story. Like Lilly Allen in the Sugarcreek books, I truly became invested in Mattie's character. I strived to make her journey through chemotherapy real and emotional, and I loved her support system-especially her best friend Graham. Finally giving Mattie her happy ending at the end of The Survivor was a very happy day at my computer.

These days, it seems everyone knows of a friend, neighbor, work associate, or family member who's been stricken by breast cancer. After writing about Mattie, I feel more strongly than ever to help promote awareness in any way I can.

Very soon, please look for a special contest we'll be running on Facebook! I'll be giving a beautiful container containing all kinds of wonderful things-from fluffy pink towels and a beautiful homemade 'pink ribbon' bracelet and matching earring set to a $20 Target gift card, to a signed set of the complete Families of Honor Series.

Thanks for letting Mattie and her story into your hearts. And, if you happen to know of a woman who's currently battling this disease, maybe you could open your heart to her as well. I'm sure your prayers would be greatly appreciated.

God bless,

shelley