"Make It Through" by Leigh Ann Whittle
–My family is fine.
Facing cancer is neither easy nor painless.
Leigh Ann Whittle lives in Snow Camp, North Carolina. She has been writing for more than 20 years and taught college-level English and business communication courses for over 10 years. Her story “Listening to the Photograph” was published in the Personal Story Publishing Project anthology Luck and Opportunity. When not writing, Leigh Ann works as a marketing communication manager for a multi-campus flight school and homeschools her two young children. At publication time, she is entering her second year of cancer survivorship.
As I was preparing this Author’s Talk, I re-read the Author’s Talk I wrote for “Listening to the Photograph,” published in Luck and Opportunity. In it, I wrote that “Listening” was “my rare foray into non-fiction work.” Yet here I am, writing this Author’s Talk for another non-fiction story.
Author’s Talk
Leigh Ann Whittle
My story, “Make it Through,” reflects on the 61 weeks between my cancer diagnosis and my final immunotherapy treatment. When unfortunate events happen, we might attempt to determine why they happened, or at least I do. I want to know what I am meant to learn from that event and how these lessons will inform my life. These questions swirled through my head when I received my diagnosis. A few days into my cancer journey, the answer became clear: I was meant to write about my experience. Finding my purpose put me at peace with having cancer.
Knowing I am meant to write about my cancer journey and doing it are two very different things. Writing about a life-altering event arouses a vulnerability and openness to which a private person like me is not accustomed. I worried that writing would stir painful memories I had tried to move past.
On the contrary, writing about my experience was cathartic. Yes, the memories were not always pleasant, but writing about the unpleasant times allowed me to view them with a renewed perspective. Writing allowed me to come to terms with what I experienced.
Writing “Make it Through” also confirmed my mission to write about my experiences, not for my glory, but to encourage others. I am not the first person to go through cancer, and I wish I were the last. But if my words can encourage, establish solidarity, or even grant some sense of peace to others experiencing cancer or some other burden in life, then my purpose will have been fulfilled.
“Make it Through” is published in the anthology Twists and Turns, an apt name for the trajectory of my writing career. Perhaps “Make it Through” is the steppingstone to my next venture as a writer. Only time will tell. One thing is certain: Non-fiction writing is no longer “rare” for me.
My story, “Make it Through,” reflects on the 61 weeks between my cancer diagnosis and my final immunotherapy treatment. When unfortunate events happen, we might attempt to determine why they happened, or at least I do. I want to know what I am meant to learn from that event and how these lessons will inform my life. These questions swirled through my head when I received my diagnosis. A few days into my cancer journey, the answer became clear: I was meant to write about my experience. Finding my purpose put me at peace with having cancer.
Knowing I am meant to write about my cancer journey and doing it are two very different things. Writing about a life-altering event arouses a vulnerability and openness to which a private person like me is not accustomed. I worried that writing would stir painful memories I had tried to move past.
On the contrary, writing about my experience was cathartic. Yes, the memories were not always pleasant, but writing about the unpleasant times allowed me to view them with a renewed perspective. Writing allowed me to come to terms with what I experienced.
Writing “Make it Through” also confirmed my mission to write about my experiences, not for my glory, but to encourage others. I am not the first person to go through cancer, and I wish I were the last. But if my words can encourage, establish solidarity, or even grant some sense of peace to others experiencing cancer or some other burden in life, then my purpose will have been fulfilled.
“Make it Through” is published in the anthology Twists and Turns, an apt name for the trajectory of my writing career. Perhaps “Make it Through” is the steppingstone to my next venture as a writer. Only time will tell. One thing is certain: Non-fiction writing is no longer “rare” for me.
Editor’s Note:
We are pleased to share part of Leigh Ann’s January 19 “Thank You” card to the PSPP, sharing more good news about her story:
“Today, I gave a keynote address to help open a center here in Alamance County that will help women like me survive breast cancer. I could not have done it without PSPP, specifically “Twists and Turns.” The story I submitted to T&T I shared with the cancer center here, which is why they selected me.
“For this, I am grateful to you and the wonderful project for giving writers a voice—and often the courage—to address these events in our lives thus enabling us to touch even more lives.
“Thank you for creating this initiative. It means far more to us writers than you can ever imagine.”
We all wish Leigh Ann continued success is recovery and good health in survivorship. We congratulate her on sharing her personal story with us and with the hospital and being invited to speak at such a important event.
Leigh Ann shared two photographs with us from the event—the ribbon cutting and all the Breast Care Angels who helped her and others through their journeys.
Cone Health leadership team cutting the ribbon for the new breast cancer care clinic in Alamance County, NC.
“I am surrounded by several women in navy and pink. Angels, really. They are the nurses of the breast care clinic and living examples of care for others.”—Leigh Ann Whittle