"Perseverance: How Young People Turn Fear into Hope-and How They Can Teach Us to Do the Same" Book Review

I was recently introduced to a book called Perseverance: How Young People Turn Fear into Hope and How They Can Teach Us to Do the Same, written by Carolyn Rubenstein. At the age of 14, Carolyn Rubenstein spent a summer as a volunteer at a place called Camp Sunshine. Here she helped children with cancer enjoy a fun getaway from everyday life. She was truly affected by these children and felt inspired to start a non-profit organization called Carolyn’s Compassionate Children (CCC). She used CCC to connect children with cancer to “regular” kids as pen pals. The organization grew just as Carolyn did. Today, CCC awards scholarships to children with cancer to help them pay for college.

Now, at age 24, Carolyn brings forth her book called Perseverance: How Young People Turn Fear into Hope-and How They Can Teach Us to Do the Same (Forge Books; September 2009; Hardcover). The book contains a collection of experiences from 20 college students who are survivors of childhood cancer. They talk about looking for the positive in life, educating yourself about obstacles you encounter, “paying it forward,” and more inspiring and heartwarming topics.

Here are just a few of the individuals highlighted in the book:

–Zac York, who, after 17 surgeries for brain cancer, used modified crutches to climb Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States
–Henry Choi, who had to visit three hospitals in his native Korea before being properly diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
–Katie Zawadzki, most of whose friends drifted away from her when she underwent treatment for ovarian cancer at age 19
–Dana Smith, whose participation in the basketball program Hoop Dreams eradicated the depression caused by her brain cancer diagnosis and treatment

Be sure to check out her latest book! You will be touched.