Cancer Dreams

About the Book

Cancer Dreams is the story, told by a pediatrician, of his wife's battle with breast cancer. Along the way, we meet children he has cared for with cancer, and their families who watched them suffer. We are also introduced to loved ones of the doctor and his wife who suffered the scourge of cancer. Ultimately, though, the book delivers the message that cancer need not be an ending, but a beginning, filled with new hopes and dreams. Several chapters in this book have either won prizes, or have been published independently. Jesse Miller had this to say about the first chapter, "Calling." He judged it a winner in a university competition: "I chose "Calling" because it's such a powerful story about love and sorrow. I was moved by the subject matter and the well-constructed scenes that vividly brought these situations to life." The second chapter, Champion, was published in 2009, in Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Cancer Book. The next to last chapter,"Recalling," won first place in a university competition. The judge, Richard McDonough, made the following comment about the story. "This works well because of the rhythms and sense of verisimilitude. It is easy to identify with ... substitute any health ptoblem and strong emotional/historical bond ... and most readers over thirty will find a connection. But that connection and a dime ... as was said in ancient times ... will get you a phone call. How you explore that connection with language is what "tells the story." This story got told right. Conversational; good. Imagining the worst ... baldness covered by a cap ... is perfect. The worst dreams come back to haunt you ... everyone has one in one part of life or another. So the verisimilitude is there. The sentences scan. There is no forcedness, no falseness. It works." '

About the Author

Doctor Winick is a pediatrician who practiced in Hollywood, Florida for thirty years. Currently he is a full professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He lives with his loving wife of forty-eight years, Dorothy, the subject of this book, He is the father of Charles who is married to Maureen, and the grandfather of their seven year old triplets, Jordan, Toby, and Samantha. His daughter, Ruth, is married to Frank. They have two children, Martina fifteen, and Bryan, thirteen. Five chapters in this book have won literary awards in university competitions, and two have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. This book is about Dr. Winick's wife's voyage through breast cancer from the point of view of her husband, a physician. It gives him the uniique perspective of being able to navigate through the health care system. It also contains stories of patients he cared for and of loved ones who also suffered the scourge of cancer.