Customer Reviews

Only When I Sleep: My Family's Journey Through Cancer

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One word...amazing!

I have not had cancer myself, however I have many friends and family members who have both won their battle with cancer and some that have lost. I thought I understood what they were going through, not until I read Lisa Shaw-Brawley's book did I realize just how little I knew about their struggles.

I found this book educational and surprisingly, though I never thought I would describe a book on cancer as such, but also a love story.

For such a young woman, being diagnosed with Hodgkin's, Lisa at only 24 is a very centered and determined young woman. In the very early stages of her treatment she made choices about her journey through cancer that meant the difference between living and dying. With determination to fight her way back to a body free of cancer, along the way Lisa helped those around her deal with all of their confusion and fear of a disease that came into their lives with a thunder and changed them forever.

Have faith in God, trust in your doctors, love and support from family and friend and a will to survive, is what Lisa said got her through to where she is today. I cried for her and rejoiced for her and along the way was lost in this book that I could not put down. I have a greater understanding and admiration for what my friends and family members went through because of "Only When I Sleep".

Thank you Lisa for writing this book.

This book is an enlightening experience into a world that I knew virtually nothing about. I have never had to deal with Cancer in a personal way, but I feel better equipped to do so if needed. This book will be an inspiration to those who have had to deal with this in their lives or who are going through it now. But for those of us who never have, it can help us to be more compassionate to those that need us to be. This is not merely a story of survival, but even more so, a story of love. No matter what we or a loved one may go through, we need our family. Lisa was able to go through everything she did with the love and support of her family. Love really does conquer all.

This is a wonderfully uplifting book on surviving a difficult battle with cancer, but it is even more the story of a family's love and support for each other through that difficult battle. Through this young woman's faith in God's healing power, and the love of her parents and husband she confronted this terrible illness with determination to live and the courage to undergo the treatment necessary to live. It is obvious, too, that her family also had to have a lot of courage and faith in this battle. Where many husbands might have become faint-hearted in this, Lisa's husband stayed at her side and had tremendous conviction that she would recover. He is to be praised for his steadfastness! With her recovery complete, what a blessing Lisa, her parents, and her husband were given with the birth of a son. This is most definitely one of the most uplifting and inspirational books I have had the pleasure of reading in a long while. I highly recommend it!

This is a wonderful book. It will make you cry, but will also bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. It makes you realize the "choices" Lisa and her family had to make to survive where very hard for her and her family. You will admire her strength, courage, and her determination to beat this. You see first hand how it effects everyone in her family. How the love of her husband, parents, family members and friends are unconditional. It shows us how the small things we all take for granted can be taken away from us in seconds and our world can be turned upside down. How Lisa never gave up and if you "believe" anything is possible.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those dealing with cancer. There is a "lesson" for everyone to learn from Lisa's experience. It's a WONDERFUL story of love, courage, faith and determination of a young woman who is fighting to survive cancer.

Only When I Sleep: My Family's Journey Through Cancer is an intensely personal, candid, and compelling account of then 24-year-old Lisa Shaw-Brawley's battle to overcome Hodgkin's disease and give birth to a child. This superbly written and presented biographical account is an inspiring testament to the human spirit in overcoming adversity and striving for a dream against all the odds. Highly recommended reading.

"Only When I Sleep: My Family's Journey Through Cancer" is a wonderful account of a young womans physical & emotional struggle, as well as her familys, through one of the most frightening battles of their life. Cancer is the ultimate "dirty word" in the vocabulary of the English Language.

Lisa brings to this book her heart warming love & devotion for husband & family, as well as her own inner strength & spirit. Way to go, girl.

Lisa Shaw-Brawley's newly released book "Only When I sleep....My family's journey through Cancer" is a tearful and heart warming look at a family's struggle and challenge as they all face cancer.

As a breast cancer survivor this book speaks realistically to the many layers a person experiences when dealing with this disease. Cancer does not just affect the patient, it's effects run through family, friends and those aquatinted with the person.

Information and education will assist a person in the struggle which must be faced when hearing the words, "You have cancer". Lisa's book addresses the fear, challenges, and medical procedures which she faced and how she and her family survived.

The joy is in the ending, but you'll have to read the book to receive that blessing.

Lisa did a wonderful job with this book. The only time I put it down was when I had to reach for my tissue. It has been a very long time since a story has touched me like this one. Anyone who has had cancer touch their lives should read this book. Anyone who has never had any experience with the dreaded "C" word, should read this book! It was truly inspirational, and yet at the same time, heart-rending!

The pouty look on the author's face on the cover of the book should be enough for anyone to know exactly how the book will read.
As a current Hodgkin's patient, I was highly disappointed in Only When I Sleep. I kept reading it only because I wanted to be able to write a review here to counter those that convinced me I should buy the book. I am experiencing how personally devastating cancer can be, however, I am ashamed (and a little bit angry) that people might think that all cancer patients behave like spoiled children, moping around in search of pity and verbally abusing those who love them.
There are certain emotions and ideas about cancer which the author writes about that I do agree with; however, it's mind-boggling why someone would want to actually put their selfish and immature behavior on display like this. Shaw-Brawley wasn't happy unless everyone was coddling her; she had to see everyone cry over her before she was happy. Her poor parents and husband deserve some kind of award for putting up with her--they were probably exhausted by the time her treatments were over. I agree that families experience cancer right along with the patient--there's no denying that--but none should have to suffer like Shaw-Brawley's.
I don't doubt that keeping a journal throughout her ordeal was beneficial and cathartic to Shaw-Brawley, it was not something I feel she should share with the world. In no way am I saying that what she was feeling was wrong or that she should have kept it bottled up...it just wasn't worth publishing. Journals are meant for personal reflection and should be kept in a box in the back of the closet.
I gave the book two stars only because it must have took some kind of gumption to show this side of herself in a book. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this book...neither the writing or the editing is that good anyway.

Lisa is a brave and intelligent person. The words she writes of her cancer experience are from inside her soul, they are real. She dares to speak of her fear. You can hear her fear and her courage to fight fear. She insists on explaining this life changing event. She describes cancer's potential and how paraylzing an experience can be. I myself am a (2) time Hodgkins Disease survivor. I can relate to Lisa in many, many ways. The title, "Only When I Sleep," says it all. I strongly encourage anyone to read this book to hear words of a cancer experience and the meaning of a cancer survivor. Those who have experienced cancer and read this book will applaud Lisa for her strength to overcome adversity and commend her for not letting her experience go unnoticed. That yes, Cancer is life changing, it will try to take you down, but for many not without a fight. With a loving support system, you can overcome.
Thanks Lisa, and happy healthy - life to you and yours.
Patti Nowak