This is a book about my wife's nearly seven-year battle against stage 4 breast cancer. From my perspective as a husband and caregiver, the book attempts to describe how my wife responded to her cancer diagnosis and then fought against the disease with grace, courage, faith, and optimism. Included are explanations of my wife's medical treatment and the effects of that treatment on her body, mind, and spirit. My wife's fearless fight against a deadly disease is an affirmation of the love of family and friends, as well as a reminder that in life and death struggles, nothing surpasses in importance one's faith in God, a positive attitude, a sense of humor, rejection of self-pity, and indomitable strength of will.
Michael Coccari spent his formative years in the Monongahela Valley of western Pennsylvania in the town of Monessen and the last 31 years in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California teaching English at Arvin High School. In between he worked in city government as an employment counselor, as a newspaper reporter, and as an English teacher in Osaka, Japan. He lives in Tehachapi, California and with his sons, John - Michael and Trent, and endeavors every day to honor the life and memory of his wife, Darlene.
