Hug Everyone You Know: A Year Of Community, Courage, And Cancer
by Antoinette Truglio Martin /
2017 / English / EPUB
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Antoinette Martin believed herself to be a healthy and sturdy
woman―that is, until she received a Stage 1 breast cancer
diagnosis. Cancer is scary enough for the brave, but for a wimp
like Martin, it was downright terrifying. Martin had to swallow
waves of nausea at the thought of her body being poisoned, and
frequently fainted during blood draws and infusions. To add to her
terror, cancer suddenly seemed to be all around her. In the months
following her diagnosis, a colleague succumbed to cancer, and five
of her friends were also diagnosed.
Antoinette Martin believed herself to be a healthy and sturdy
woman―that is, until she received a Stage 1 breast cancer
diagnosis. Cancer is scary enough for the brave, but for a wimp
like Martin, it was downright terrifying. Martin had to swallow
waves of nausea at the thought of her body being poisoned, and
frequently fainted during blood draws and infusions. To add to her
terror, cancer suddenly seemed to be all around her. In the months
following her diagnosis, a colleague succumbed to cancer, and five
of her friends were also diagnosed.
Though tempted, Martin knew she could not hide in bed for ten
months. She had a devoted husband, daughters, and a tribe of
friends and relations. Along with work responsibilities, there were
graduations, anniversaries, and roller derby bouts to attend, not
to mention a house to sell and a summer of beach-bumming to enjoy.
In order to harness support without scaring herself or anyone else,
she journaled her experiences and began to e-mail the people who
loved her―the people she called
Though tempted, Martin knew she could not hide in bed for ten
months. She had a devoted husband, daughters, and a tribe of
friends and relations. Along with work responsibilities, there were
graduations, anniversaries, and roller derby bouts to attend, not
to mention a house to sell and a summer of beach-bumming to enjoy.
In order to harness support without scaring herself or anyone else,
she journaled her experiences and began to e-mail the people who
loved her―the people she calledMy Everyone
My Everyone. She kept them
informed and reminded all to 'hug everyone you know' at every
opportunity. Reading the responses became her calming strategy.
Ultimately, with the help of her community, Martin found the
courage within herself to face cancer with perseverance and humor.
. She kept them
informed and reminded all to 'hug everyone you know' at every
opportunity. Reading the responses became her calming strategy.
Ultimately, with the help of her community, Martin found the
courage within herself to face cancer with perseverance and humor.