When Mommy Got Cancer – Creating JOY Together

By Karen Garcia (04/14/68 – 01/27/11)

Illustrated by Lisa J. Michaels
Edited by Ruth E. Clark

This is a child’s story of delight in her mother’s laughter – her favorite sound. This is a story of the impact her mother’s illness with cancer made when it took away her favorite sound. This is a child’s story of love, coping, and her search for lost laughter as the answer to the emotions and pain of cancer. This is a story of hope, discovery, and inspiration. This is a story of a mother’s love focused solely upon “being present,” and making each precious moment a treasure of memories to be translated into a legacy of JOY for the child she knows she must leave behind. A child teaches life’s lessons and their meaning.

About the Author

Karen Garcia, a beautiful actress and devoted mother, chronicled the diagnosis and survival of a terminal illness as the most significant segment of her forty-two year, nine-month life journey. Karen chose JOY. Karen lived her life as a surviving mother JOYfully. Karen wrote her own “script” – a celebration of her life – as a gift to her young daughter and as inspiration for all who search for and open their hearts to receive the gift of JOY.

About the Editor/Publisher

Ruth E. Clark, Ed. D. is an author of books for children and an Independent Publisher. Dr. Clark describes the two-year manuscript-to-book process as one of her life’s meaningful connections on her own path as a cancer survivor. Dr. Clark writes in the book’s Publisher’s Preface:

“Sometimes there happens a special day of unannounced importance, when you sense a feeling of a tap on the shoulder intended to jar your attention to be open to receive a message of meaningful connection. On October 15th, contents of an envelope “connected” publisher Dr. Ruth E. Clark and writer Karen Garcia. Dr. Clark writes: “I am blessed to extend that connection to you with this little book. May you find caring, hope, courage, and inspiration on each page.”

About the Illustrator

Lisa J. Michaels is a professional Illustrator with a gifted talent and warm sensitivity to portray emotions and feelings. Lisa artfully captures the array of intense emotions which are the reality of the subject; while presenting the pages as a flow of JOYous delight.