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The Way I See It
At the age of 11, Nicole Dryburgh was diagnosed with a malignant tumour on her spine. After an operation to remove the tumour, followed by an intensive course of radiotherapy, Nicole's life returned to normal and the doctors were pleased with her progress. Two years later, aged 13, Nicole suffered a brain haemorrhage. Desperately ill, blind and unable to move, she was given weeks to live. Against all odds, she came home. Aged 18, blind and mainly confined to a wheelchair, Nicole is wholehearted and positive, whether she is studying, fund-raising, horse-riding, playing with her mischievous dogs or hanging out with her friends. Moving, inspiring, funny, unforgettable - Nicole's is a moving story of refusal to give up hope.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 23, 2010
Wow. I feel bad now for belly aching about my hearing loss and my sinus infections. Imagine being paralyzed, blind, and in and out of the hospital suffering from incurable malignant cancer and you are only 14.
This is written very much like a journal. Nicole talks about how a tumor in her back changed her life forever around the age of 14. Gone is the girl that attended school on a regular basis and did gymnastics. Nicole's tumor is cancerous and the entire thing cannot be removed. She spends most of her time in hospital, connected to a feeding tube, taking chemo pills, losing her hair, developing allergic reactions to the medications, having strokes, developing painful blood clots, and ends up both blind and paralyzed. In between Nicole's narrative, her mother steps in and fills in the blanks for when Nicole was too sick to remember much. I think mothers all over the world will break down crying when they read her parts.
Nothing stops Nicole tho. She admits to frustration and at times, temper tantrums, but she plays with her dog, rides her horse, texts her friends, writes a book, and does a blog. In between her bouts of sickness, she is constantly involved in one charity orginization after another. The book goes into much detail about that and its great to read about her fun times with her friends, rock stars, charities, and shopping.
Tho I found the mother's parts very sad, I found Nicole herself wonderfully upbeat and her words hope inspiring. Most people in her situation would have gave up. Nicole was a strong woman. I am saddened to say that Nicole passed away in May of 2010 at the age of 21.
Her next and last book is called Talk to the Hand.
This is written very much like a journal. Nicole talks about how a tumor in her back changed her life forever around the age of 14. Gone is the girl that attended school on a regular basis and did gymnastics. Nicole's tumor is cancerous and the entire thing cannot be removed. She spends most of her time in hospital, connected to a feeding tube, taking chemo pills, losing her hair, developing allergic reactions to the medications, having strokes, developing painful blood clots, and ends up both blind and paralyzed. In between Nicole's narrative, her mother steps in and fills in the blanks for when Nicole was too sick to remember much. I think mothers all over the world will break down crying when they read her parts.
Nothing stops Nicole tho. She admits to frustration and at times, temper tantrums, but she plays with her dog, rides her horse, texts her friends, writes a book, and does a blog. In between her bouts of sickness, she is constantly involved in one charity orginization after another. The book goes into much detail about that and its great to read about her fun times with her friends, rock stars, charities, and shopping.
Tho I found the mother's parts very sad, I found Nicole herself wonderfully upbeat and her words hope inspiring. Most people in her situation would have gave up. Nicole was a strong woman. I am saddened to say that Nicole passed away in May of 2010 at the age of 21.
Her next and last book is called Talk to the Hand.
September 24, 2015
The way I see it was one of my favorite books I have read. I thought this book showed me how lucky I was. Not to have cancer that can change my whole life and the way I can walk read see. This book was very inspirational because it show that I can do everything and some people and barley even stay alive. This is a book for anyone to read. It is very interesting you never know when the book is going to end. It is a sad book and before you read the book not feel bad for her and not to cry. I thought it was really cool that the person that wrought the book was the one who had the sickness. She it still a live today and is blind. To find out more read this book.
May 17, 2023
A young, energetic 11 year old Nicole, who lived a fulfilled life, was suddenly sick and diagnosed with Terminal Cancer.
At 13, she suffered a Brain Hemorrhage and Stroke, eventually leading to many disabilities - unable to walk, eat, blindness, etc.
This is Nicole's account of what happened, and what she hopes to achieve in the future.
Although, a sad account of what Nicole has been through, she always manages to find the positive. The things she has over come or had to adapt to be able to do things independently for herself. A True Inspiration.
At 13, she suffered a Brain Hemorrhage and Stroke, eventually leading to many disabilities - unable to walk, eat, blindness, etc.
This is Nicole's account of what happened, and what she hopes to achieve in the future.
Although, a sad account of what Nicole has been through, she always manages to find the positive. The things she has over come or had to adapt to be able to do things independently for herself. A True Inspiration.
April 25, 2020
I'm sorry to say I broke the rules a little...
But on a real note this book so inspiring! Nicole is an extremely brave young women and her determination is very admirable. I love her positive attitude and how she decides that despite all her trouble she's not going to let it stop her having fun. It really makes me realise how lucky I am to have things that are usually taken for granted such as sight and I wish her happiness in her future life.
But on a real note this book so inspiring! Nicole is an extremely brave young women and her determination is very admirable. I love her positive attitude and how she decides that despite all her trouble she's not going to let it stop her having fun. It really makes me realise how lucky I am to have things that are usually taken for granted such as sight and I wish her happiness in her future life.
February 20, 2021
Read this book about 13-14 years ago (when I was around that age) and blown away by Nicole’s amazing attitude to everything despite everything she went through. Made me appreciate what I had and not to take things for granted.
October 11, 2017
This book provides a great insight to life and an inspirational story. Very good story if you want a cry
March 15, 2024
Nicole is so inspiring!!
June 6, 2012
The Way I See It is a true story written by Nicole Dryburgh. The book is an extremely inspiring account. Nicole’s report of the last four years is the triumphant story of the refusal to give up hope. The book is mainly in Nicole’s words except for the parts where her mother added notes when Nicole had been too sick to remember, and the messages that her friends, family, teachers and doctors had contributed. The main message is to never give up and to never stop hoping and believing in yourself. The Way I See It follows the story of Nicole’s life and her recovery. It follows her from when she was only 11 years old and was diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her spine, through the difficult next 4 years of her life. The book then ends on a high when she talks about her goals and everything she has accomplished despite this life changing event.
The Way I See It the story of Nicole Dryburgh’s long and tedious fight to rebuild her life after her after her life changing cancer. At the of 11 Nicole did 12 hours of gymnastics a week and was an active and energetic pre-teenager. She then found that she had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her spine. After a successful operation to remove the tumor Nicole suffered through an strenuous course of radiotherapy. The doctors were pleased with her rapid progress and let her go home. Nicole’s life returned to normal and she was free to just relax and go back to her busy and vibrant life. Two years later Nicole suffered another heart pounding incident, she had suffered a brain haemorrhage. She was rushed into hospital and soon, critically ill, blind, and unable to move Nicole was told she only had a few weeks to live. When Nicole was 18 she was still blind and constricted to a wheelchair but is still staying positive and committed, weather she is studying, fund-raising, horse-riding, playing with her dogs, socializing with her friends or writing a book about her experience and constant battle with cancer.
I really enjoyed this book in its entirety and it inspired me, as I really understood what Nicole was going through and how it all made her feel by the use of description throughout her journal. She described her life as a roller coaster meaning she never knows where it’s going to go. Even though this story is tragic in some parts I felt really glad when I read the parts about how Nicole still achieved her goals and hopes even with her handicaps and that they didn’t hold her back from doing the things she loves. One of which was publishing a book. On the first page of the book Nicole lists “rules for reading” she stats “Do not give me sympathy - I don’t want it. Do not think poor girl - because I’m not. Do not cry while reading this book - you’ll make the pages wet.” She thinks of herself as a normal teenager instead of a disabled/bind/cancer-surviving teenager, and has achieved some amazing things in her life. Instead of thinking of herself as the “poor girl” she is someone who did her best to keep going through what was clearly a tough time in her life. I found this book moving, inspirational and unforgettable. I would recommend this book to any age because of the motivation, inspiration and heartwarming angles and aspects of this story of a teenager’s own battle to fight cancer and rebuild her life after that tragic incident causing her to really believe in herself and never to give up.
The Way I See It the story of Nicole Dryburgh’s long and tedious fight to rebuild her life after her after her life changing cancer. At the of 11 Nicole did 12 hours of gymnastics a week and was an active and energetic pre-teenager. She then found that she had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor on her spine. After a successful operation to remove the tumor Nicole suffered through an strenuous course of radiotherapy. The doctors were pleased with her rapid progress and let her go home. Nicole’s life returned to normal and she was free to just relax and go back to her busy and vibrant life. Two years later Nicole suffered another heart pounding incident, she had suffered a brain haemorrhage. She was rushed into hospital and soon, critically ill, blind, and unable to move Nicole was told she only had a few weeks to live. When Nicole was 18 she was still blind and constricted to a wheelchair but is still staying positive and committed, weather she is studying, fund-raising, horse-riding, playing with her dogs, socializing with her friends or writing a book about her experience and constant battle with cancer.
I really enjoyed this book in its entirety and it inspired me, as I really understood what Nicole was going through and how it all made her feel by the use of description throughout her journal. She described her life as a roller coaster meaning she never knows where it’s going to go. Even though this story is tragic in some parts I felt really glad when I read the parts about how Nicole still achieved her goals and hopes even with her handicaps and that they didn’t hold her back from doing the things she loves. One of which was publishing a book. On the first page of the book Nicole lists “rules for reading” she stats “Do not give me sympathy - I don’t want it. Do not think poor girl - because I’m not. Do not cry while reading this book - you’ll make the pages wet.” She thinks of herself as a normal teenager instead of a disabled/bind/cancer-surviving teenager, and has achieved some amazing things in her life. Instead of thinking of herself as the “poor girl” she is someone who did her best to keep going through what was clearly a tough time in her life. I found this book moving, inspirational and unforgettable. I would recommend this book to any age because of the motivation, inspiration and heartwarming angles and aspects of this story of a teenager’s own battle to fight cancer and rebuild her life after that tragic incident causing her to really believe in herself and never to give up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2011
An absolutely amazing read. Nicole Dryburgh is such an inspiration going from living a perfectly normal healthy life one moment next being diagnosed with malignant tumours. She goes through so much yet doesnt let it stop her from doing all the things she wishes to do. She doesnnt want people to feel sorry for her and she makes that quite clear at the begining of her book. A very witty young lady which an amazing story to tell. Her 2nd book was amazing too! Sadly Nicole Passed away but if you have the chance to read both the books I would highly recommend them.
May 24, 2015
Im giving this book 5 stars because it was a really well-writtn short autobiography that kept me interested the whole way through. Nicole Dryburgh has a way of writing that stops you from putting the book down. This was basically about how she rebuilt her life after cancer and it was very emotional at some ponts.
I think the fact that I read it in about four hours speaks for itself as it gives you a different viewpoint on life and makes for a very good read.
I would definitely recommend it for anyone as it was different to what I usually read and it was a good change.
I think the fact that I read it in about four hours speaks for itself as it gives you a different viewpoint on life and makes for a very good read.
I would definitely recommend it for anyone as it was different to what I usually read and it was a good change.
February 16, 2010
This book is a really awsome book, it shows you a normal person turning into a disabled persons view of life.
It really makes you realise that disabled people are still like us with intelligent minds and memory, but stuck inside a body that is not able to share it out well.
A must read, for those who don't think much about disabled people.
It really makes you realise that disabled people are still like us with intelligent minds and memory, but stuck inside a body that is not able to share it out well.
A must read, for those who don't think much about disabled people.
February 28, 2011
very good book and is based on a true story, its about a girl who soon becomes blind, death and dumb (cant speak) she also has to have her feet flattened at one point but it doesnt matter as soon enough she cant walk anyway, she gets pain everywhere and has regular tumors, buut all in all, its a very good book and can make somebody cry
October 29, 2011
I think this book is an inspirational story and we can take a lot from it. Also i think we should be greatful for what we have because cancer or less. I personally think everyone should read this book.
July 2, 2016
An inspirational story of one girl's courage as she battles with cancer. Despite all the setbacks and adversities Nicole has had to face in her life, she remains strong, optimistic and courageous. She is truly a remarkable young woman.
November 7, 2010
GREAT!
September 15, 2012
this was an inspiring book i loved it and never wanted it to finish even though im only 13 i still loved it
October 25, 2013
Such a good book!! Would highly recommend it!!!
April 17, 2017
I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews