First-time author honors mom with children's book

RIVER ISLES — Each moment Tami Hegge spent with her mother proved to be a precious one.

Her mother, Phyllis Phaye Tracy, died Dec. 8, 2004, after a yearlong battle with lung cancer.

But the artistic, cheerful woman who loved life, and now, following her death, is helping comfort children faced with losing a loved one, as the main character in Hegge’s new book, “Grandmother’s Cancer Journey.”

The book, Hegge said, tells the story of Tracy’s own battle with cancer and the loving care she received from doctors and while in hospice care.

“It was written in loving memory of my mom,” Hegge said of the story. “It’s a tribute to her. I think she’d be happy.”

Hegge’s book, released in November by Halo Publishing International, tells the story of Grandmother and her child-like size teddy bear, Snickers, as Grandmother receives a diagnosis of lung cancer and begins chemotherapy treatments. Months after getting a clean bill of health, however, Grandmother again falls ill, and this time goes to a hospice house, where she is visited by therapy dogs, gets fresh flowers and enjoys delicious food. She later dies with her family at her bedside.

Hegge said details in the book, such as the character Snickers and even the décor of the hospice house, are inspired by her mother’s story.

“When she finished with chemo, the (doctor’s) office gave her a certificate of completion (like what happens in the story),” Hegge said. “She actually taped it to the refrigerator.”

The book, Hegge said, shares with children about cancer, its symptoms and how it is treated and what they can expect to happen as a loved one is treated for the disease. Hegge said she hopes it also is a tool parents can use to broach the sensitive topic of death with their children.

“(I want to) educate children,” Hegge said, adding the book is for children ages 7 and older. “People think that death is scary, and it really isn’t. She was happy at the hospice house. She asked God to forgive her of her sins. She was ready to go.”

On the book’s last pages, Hegge also includes a note to parents that offers tips for preparing for the loss of a loved on and steps they can take to ease the process.

Although “Grandmother’s Cancer Story” is written for children, Hegge said she already has gotten positive feedback from adults, particular those who recently have lost a spouse. A nurse at a hospice house even called to tell Hegge the book was benefiting patients there, as well, Hegge said.

Hegge, a medical coder, said she enjoyed her experience writing a book and having it published.

“This was no work at all,” Hegge said of the process. “It was so neat. It was fun. With an experience like that, I’d like to do another.”

Hegge admitted her second book already is in progress but declined to divulge many details.

“It’s about fathers,” she said. “I’ll leave it at that.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

ABOUT THE BOOK
“Grandmother’s Cancer Journey” by Tami Hegge retails for about $11.95 and can be purchased on websites such as Amazon.com. Orders received through Halo Publishing, if requested, will be autographed.

The story also is available by e-book at a reduced rate.

The book is for children ages 7 and up.