The Torch Bearer: Two Sides of the Story

ISBN-13: 9780955936135 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 78 str.

Dr Elewechi Ngozi Okike

Opis

The Torch Bearer is an incredible story of survival and resilience, in the face of a life-threatening illness. Elewechi paints a vivid picture of how shocked she was when she woke up one morning and found a lump in her breast, and the drama that unfolded. Prior to the breast cancer diagnosis, Elewechi rejected an opportunity to be one of the Torch Bearers to carry the Olympic Torch, as part of the preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. She shares how she had researched the history behind the games and why she chose not to be a Torch Bearer in this instance. While she was musing over how on earth she could have missed such a once in a life-time opportunity to be part of history, as an Olympic Torch Bearer, she suddenly found herself facing a life-threatening illness (cancer), which is a disease that most people would rather not want to be associated with. Everyone dreads the thought of being diagnosed with cancer. To make matters worse, in Elewechi's case, it was not the type of cancer that was common. Her case was further published in a medical research journal (referred to in the book). So, how do you shine your light, in other words, carry your torch for all to see (like an Olympic Torch Bearer), in the face of a life-threatening disease? Appropriately, The Torch Bearer was birthed out of the great opportunity that was missed to be an Olympic Torch Bearer. But through the experiences shared in the book, Elewechi helps the reader to appreciate the importance and the significance of being 'Torch Bearers' even in the most difficult and dark places in life. She draws attention to the fact that our ability to shine our light at such times has a higher level impact than carrying the physical Olympic Torch. In this unique and moving book, The Torch Bearer, Elewechi takes the reader through a private and daunting journey, which many make but almost always remains unspoken. She provides a detailed account of her 'journey' from the moment she discovered the lump in her breast, to the end of her treatment. But how do you have cancer and no body in your place of work knows about it? Usually when people are diagnosed with cancer, it appears as though their world had collapsed and come to an end. But the most incredible aspect of Elewechi's story is about her resilience in the face of this illness. She writes about how she determined that the illness, as dreadful as it was, would not disrupt her life. So she went about her business as normal. Her work colleagues had no idea of the personal challenges she was facing. In this book, Elewechi provides deep insights into the different challenges that people face in their lives, although outwardly they appeared to be as normal as possible. She admonishes us to have a more caring and sympathetic attitude towards others because there's always more than the eye can see. Find out more about Elewechi's extra-ordinary journey of faith, and the dramatic events that unfolded as she began and completed her treatment. The book reveals that we can still let our lights shine in the dark places of life, in spite of the diagnosis of cancer. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, or any other life-threatening illness, or know someone going through such a challenge, this book will help them find strength and the courage to stand strong in faith. It will show them how to continue to beam their light in spite of whatever they may be facing. As God's Torch Bearers, He wants us to use the trials and challenges we face in life to help others. The Torch Bearer is yet another life story by Elewechi which appeals to the human nature particularly those people who find themselves in dire straits. In her earlier book, The Greatest Debtor to His Love and a Trophy of His Grace, Elewechi had shared the circumstances of her birth, and how she had survived abortion, escaped abduction, rape and murder, during the Nigerian Civil War. She also shared other incredulous life-threatening experiences