Lisa’s book

Lisa Boncheck Adams died in 2015 after living with stage 4 breast cancer. Before her death, she wrote about her life and the realities of cancer. Her family recently published Persevere: A Life With Cancer, highlighting Adam’s words and her approach to living with the disease.

Some days I don’t

Feel like a gift,

Do much,

Go anywhere,

Want to do this.

What to say

You can never go wrong by telling someone what they mean to you.

Find a bit of beauty in the world today. Share it. If you can’t find it, create it. Some days this may be hard to do. Persevere.

These words were written by Lisa Boncheck Adams.

I never met Lisa. Still, I felt like I knew her. I followed her on social media. I laughed at her stories. I smiled when her cancer realities were similar to mine.

And, I felt devastated for her and her family when she died in 2015 after living with stage 4 breast cancer that had metastasized to her lymph nodes, bones and other sites.

Adams was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 37 years old, in 2006. She began writing about her life as a legacy to leave for her family. Soon, she discovered she had a way of expressing what others could not find the words to say.

When Adams died in 2015, her readers asked for a book to highlight her most popular writings. The book, Persevere: A Life With Cancer, was published in October.

The book showcases what it’s like to live with a terminal illness. Her family members that helped publish the book have called it ‘a guide for patients, families, friends and caregivers, written in Lisa’s unique writing style — part poetry, journal and memoir.’

All proceeds from Persevere: A Life With Cancer will be donated to research into finding a solution for metastatic breast cancer.

Additionally, Adams’ family is accepting donations to the Bonchek Family Foundation. The foundation was established to continue Adams’ work ‘to teach, to enlighten, to share, to support, to fundraise for research … and to always honor those who have died.’

To learn more about Lisa Bonchek Adams, her life, her book and her family foundation, visit www.lisasbook.com.

•••

Our big dog, Bravo, seems to have turned a corner.

He is slowly coming back to us after weeks of being too sick to eat. The past two days have been very encouraging. I am so relieved.

Bravo has started eating on his own. True to form, though, he is only eating an expensive canned food … Two cans at a time.

His once 145-pound frame, now about 130 pounds, is starting to fill out. His gait is more purposeful. And, he’s simply acting like his goofy self again.

I don’t have children. I have two yellow dogs that I love more than I can say.

So, to have Bravo on the mend is a gift I will gladly take!

In other news, this likely will be my last blog for a week or so. If Bravo continues to eat on his own, he and Rio will be taking a vacation to the nearby animal hospital for a short stay. The Weed and I plan to visit his family in Boston for Thanksgiving.

If we get to go, we certainly will celebrate.

Happy Thanksgiving … Thank you for reading and sending good vibes to our Bravo!

Bravo seems to be doing much better. He is eating on his own and acting more like his sassy self.