I had the privilege of witnessing this book come together via Redbud Writers Guild. I remember oohing and ahhing over the gorgeous cover like any other group of women would over newborn pictures. I was excited for Vivian and inspired to praise as we all witnessed the Lord’s hand as the book details fell into place.
Honestly, though, I didn’t really plan to read it.
I mean, I meant to in the sense that it’s been on The List since before it was published. The List is a file I keep on my phone that grows in length much quicker than I have time to whittle it down. I have enjoyed Vivian’s writing on her blog and knew the book would reflect her well-written, entertaining, honest style, but–seeing as how I don’t have cancer–it just wasn’t working it’s way up in priority.
2015 has turned into the year of awesome books finding me. I’ve read ten books so far this year and each one has either been placed in my hands or directly recommended to me. When Vivian offered to send me a copy I knew I was experiencing divine timing at work.
Did you know that about 1 in 8 women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime? (breastcancer.org) Think about the reality of that statistic. It’s staggering. I lead a Bible study of nearly twenty women. In the last year one of our members and another member’s daughter has been diagnosed and joined the ranks of the Warriors In Pink. Reading this book in light of these personal connections made me realize how important a book like this is, not just for warriors, but also for being informed for the reality that you will most likely know someone diagnosed (if you don’t already).
Vivian Mabuni writes early on in Warrior In Pink that “Transparency is the willingness to share about difficulties one has undergone after the fact. Vulnerability is sharing difficulties raw, in real-time, without the lesson-learned end of the story.” While I’m grateful my friend is transparently sharing through the lens of a “surVIVor”, her gifted storytelling transports you into the moment-by-moment vulnerability that makes this short book an unexpected page-turner.
Warrior In Pink offers the kind of practical insight that could only be given by someone that has walked through the journey from diagnosis to surgery, chemo, radiation, and beyond. I found myself marveling that there was so much more to a diagnosis than I had ever considered. I tried to put myself into Vivian’s place, her husband’s, and her close-knit support group she affectionately refers to as “The Awesomes.”
I would hesitate to call this a How-To kind of book, as Vivian makes it indelibly clear that no two battles are the same. However, there is an openness to her sharing that meets you wherever you may find yourself connected to the cancer journey; whether warrior, survivor, supporter, or bystander. I recommend this book to all women wishing to be better equipped to wisely serve women in their communities going through medical trauma, and would not hesitate to purchase this comforting book to cheer on a friend facing a cancer battle.
You can purchase a copy of Warrior In Pink on Amazon (where it currently boasts a 5-star rating!): http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Pink-Cancer-Community-Comforts/dp/1572938420
Also, be sure to check out VivianMabuni.com for more work written from Vivian’s viewpoint of an Asian-American Christian woman, wife, mom, and cancer survivor. Connect with her on Facebook: facebook.com/VivianMabuniWriter, Twitter: @vivmabuni, Instagram: @vivmabuni, and Pinterest: pinterest.com/vivmabuni
