As most of you are
aware, Tricia Anderson died of a brain stem tumour in October 2007. In
the two years between her diagnosis and death, Tricia started to write poems
about her thoughts, feelings and experiences and found this enormously
cathartic. She was in the process of publishing these poems when she
died. Her husband, Roger Challans, took over the process of editing the
poems after her death and they have now been published as a collection
entitled 'Still Here and Other Poems'.
The back page of
the book includes some comments from Tricia on her
poems.
'In September 2005,
at the age of 44, I was diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain stem
tumour and was told I only had a few months to live. I am a homebirth
independent midwife, so know about supporting others at life's edges of birth
and death, but was totally shocked to find myself catapulted there. I
thought I was halfway through my life, and never thought it would happen to
me. My journey since then has encompassed denial, rage and complete
despair, sprinkled with rays of happiness and lots of
flowers.
'The poems and
sketches which make up the cycle entitled 'Still Here' are quite bleak for
which I make no apology. I have found the process of writing them very
therapeutic, and being diagnosed with cancer is a bleak situation to find
yourself in ... These poems are shared in the hope that others may find some
comfort in knowing they are not alone'
Tricia's poems can
be purchased from:
The book costs £10
sterling and all profits will go to the Tricia Anderson Memorial fund which is
being administered by the Iolanthe Midwifery
Trust.
Please forward this
information to anyone you think might be
interested.
With very best
wishes and wishing you all a happy and healthy new
year