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The Starfish Chronicles: A Cancer Warrior's Memoir
Heather Johnson was a 38-year old wife and mother of two small girls when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. She resolved during her five years of treatment to write about her experiences, her victories, her setbacks, her ups and downs, and her hopes and dreams for the future. Most of all, she wanted to write of her love for her daughters, her husband, and her family. She intended to publish her writings in book form when she was declared cancer-free. One of her post-cancer goals was to work as an advocate for other cancer patients, to help them through the maze of procedures and red tape, to give them hope, to inspire them to become the kind of fierce and determined warrior that she was. Heather’s slogan Live! Survive!! THRIVE!!! Heather’s family and friends ("The Tribe") trust that this book will give you hope and determination, whether or not you are a cancer patient. Live as Heather did. Live each day to the fullest. Love to the maximum and beyond. Love yourself and nurture your body and your spirit. If you are knocked down, get up. Again and again and again. You are a warrior. You are a survivor.Sections of this book will make you laugh aloud. Others will bring you to tears. Heather's wit, wisdom, courage, faith, and love will certainly inspire you.
476 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2018
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April 10, 2018
This book is amazing! It is the journal of a woman diagnosed with cancer who after five years of fighting, will die from the disease. BUT....as you get to know this amazing woman, this warrior, you will learn from her wisdom and amazingly, you will laugh many times throughout the book. Please don't avoid reading this book because you think it will leave you sad and depressed. On the contrary, I believe it will inspire you.
This amazing woman, Heather Davis Johnson was my niece. The editor Heather's Dad, Jeremiah Davis is my brother.
I wish that you my fellow readers, could have met Heather - a mother , daughter, wife, sister, niece, aunt, cousin and friend. Her most important and beloved role was as Mom to Grace and Katy.
Heather decided to call this book The Starfish Chronicles. Her colorectal cancer had spawned malignant lesions in her liver and she had sections of her liver removed. Heather had read that a starfish can lose an appendage and then regrow it, much like the liver can regenerate new tissue after a section is removed. Heather believed that the tumors and cancerous areas of her body would regenerate new, healthy tissue. This is the chronicle of her journey toward that goal.
"Sometimes you need to fall on your butt to remember that you are capable of getting back up. Life is indeed fragile, but there is also a resiliency that should not be understated." 1/8/2015
Post from Heather's Dad 11/19/2014: We're on Amtrak near Philadelphia after a long day at Sloan Kettering. I think Heather is on the verge of picking a fight with the woman in front of her who has reclined her seat all the way back into Heather's space. She doesn't have a clue how dangerous Heather is after chemo and a long day at MSK, even more so when she has had steroids. I hope the woman gets off the train in Philly. It could get ugly if she doesn't.
It's 1 am and our warrior is back home with her sword still in its sheath- thank God. If she'd had steroids with the chemo today, you'd be reading about mayhem on Amtrak.
Read about Heather's "mojo bag". Read Heather's thoughts on finding a gray hair. Read about the war she raged on cancer for five years. She writes with humor, wit and wisdom.
Heather delivered a speech to the staff at Johns Hopkins' Kimmel Cancer Center:
"Life is to be enjoyed NOW. Tomorrow will wait. Each day is a celebration. Each day is a chance to get a running jump before hitting the slip-and-slide, a chance to jump in the leaves, a chance to roll down a hill, a chance to dance in the rain, a chance to take in all of the small things...a chance to recognize the big things. We should not wait until some future date or event to live. Living happens now. Hope happens NOW!"
On August 14,2015 on a family trip to the OBX, Heather wrote,"I don't know how to describe the ways that I feel different. I don't mean to suggest that I feel my future is certain. I don't think anyone is afforded that luxury. I am not without fear, but my sense of courage, faith and unstoppable will (aka pigheadedness) knows no bounds. I know that if I lose I will still have won. I know that I will go down swinging. I know that I eat life and suck every piece of joy that I can out of my moments. I know that I am loved. I know that the ocean isn't that far. I know it is just another part of me."
Heather's book made the cover of Coastal Delaware and was featured in the Wilmington News-Journal and Salisbury's Delmarva Daily Times. It also was in The Aegis, a Harford County (MD) weekly owned by The Baltiore Sun.
Heather would be so pleased and proud that her story and her message (get screened and be an advocate for your health; never lose hope and keep a positive attitude) are getting attention.
This amazing woman, Heather Davis Johnson was my niece. The editor Heather's Dad, Jeremiah Davis is my brother.
I wish that you my fellow readers, could have met Heather - a mother , daughter, wife, sister, niece, aunt, cousin and friend. Her most important and beloved role was as Mom to Grace and Katy.
Heather decided to call this book The Starfish Chronicles. Her colorectal cancer had spawned malignant lesions in her liver and she had sections of her liver removed. Heather had read that a starfish can lose an appendage and then regrow it, much like the liver can regenerate new tissue after a section is removed. Heather believed that the tumors and cancerous areas of her body would regenerate new, healthy tissue. This is the chronicle of her journey toward that goal.
"Sometimes you need to fall on your butt to remember that you are capable of getting back up. Life is indeed fragile, but there is also a resiliency that should not be understated." 1/8/2015
Post from Heather's Dad 11/19/2014: We're on Amtrak near Philadelphia after a long day at Sloan Kettering. I think Heather is on the verge of picking a fight with the woman in front of her who has reclined her seat all the way back into Heather's space. She doesn't have a clue how dangerous Heather is after chemo and a long day at MSK, even more so when she has had steroids. I hope the woman gets off the train in Philly. It could get ugly if she doesn't.
It's 1 am and our warrior is back home with her sword still in its sheath- thank God. If she'd had steroids with the chemo today, you'd be reading about mayhem on Amtrak.
Read about Heather's "mojo bag". Read Heather's thoughts on finding a gray hair. Read about the war she raged on cancer for five years. She writes with humor, wit and wisdom.
Heather delivered a speech to the staff at Johns Hopkins' Kimmel Cancer Center:
"Life is to be enjoyed NOW. Tomorrow will wait. Each day is a celebration. Each day is a chance to get a running jump before hitting the slip-and-slide, a chance to jump in the leaves, a chance to roll down a hill, a chance to dance in the rain, a chance to take in all of the small things...a chance to recognize the big things. We should not wait until some future date or event to live. Living happens now. Hope happens NOW!"
On August 14,2015 on a family trip to the OBX, Heather wrote,"I don't know how to describe the ways that I feel different. I don't mean to suggest that I feel my future is certain. I don't think anyone is afforded that luxury. I am not without fear, but my sense of courage, faith and unstoppable will (aka pigheadedness) knows no bounds. I know that if I lose I will still have won. I know that I will go down swinging. I know that I eat life and suck every piece of joy that I can out of my moments. I know that I am loved. I know that the ocean isn't that far. I know it is just another part of me."
Heather's book made the cover of Coastal Delaware and was featured in the Wilmington News-Journal and Salisbury's Delmarva Daily Times. It also was in The Aegis, a Harford County (MD) weekly owned by The Baltiore Sun.
Heather would be so pleased and proud that her story and her message (get screened and be an advocate for your health; never lose hope and keep a positive attitude) are getting attention.
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