MATHESON: New book tells Janie’s battle with cancer

walterpalladNovember 26, 2022

Janny: A Woman of Fortitude and Grace is a new book written by John Chapman about how his wife battled breast cancer. Photo by Burnstown Publishers /Burnstown Publishing Company

Three weeks before Janie Chapman died of breast cancer at the age of 56, her husband, a longtime scout and former junior coach, John, asked his brave wife to write down how many days she felt she spent in two days. I asked you to battle of the years.

John wrote down six on a piece of paper. Janie wrote down four.

“This is why I keep asking the question, ‘Was it worth it? ’” John said of Janie’s so many chemotherapy treatments, medications, five surgeries including a mastectomy, constant tumors growing all over her body, nausea, and leaking chest fluid that caused her to stay out of her pajamas overnight. up to 6 times.

John, who never left her side at her home in Lethbridge except to work as a West-based professional scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, wrote a diary that was turned into a book at the urging of a friend. . Janie: Fortitude and Grace (Barnstown Publishers).

The diary, kept secret from Janie at the advice of the Flyers’ doctor, tells the story of a dignified woman who “stayed tall no matter how low she was hit,” a wife of 35, two daughters and three grandchildren. is drawing a picture of his mother. A wonderful nurse who knew all about this insidious disease and never felt sorry for herself or uttered the words “why me?” before her death on July 3, 2006.

Throughout the fight, Janie kept a sense of humor.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” said John.

“Do you love me?” he said.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Johnny joked.

Indeed, this book is a love story.

“You put yourself in a situation like this and immediately think she’s going to have a mastectomy, get treatment, and move on. But our family journey wasn’t like that,” John said. rice field.

“For all these years, I’ve had journals, rough copies,” he said. When I met him and started talking to him, I suddenly handed him a diary and asked him to read it… it was passed around.

“[Author]Roy McGregor received a copy about five years ago, read it, and said that this is a story that should be told to help some people.

“When she had a mastectomy where she had satellite tumors, they started out as dime-sized spots in the area and were emitting radiation. Finally, she had a round diameter of 10 inches that emitted liquid, like a giant head of cauliflower. And she kept it up for four or five months,” John said.

“It was a complete nightmare, but she never complained. She said, “Don’t you know why this doesn’t happen to us?” And it did,” he said.

Many of us have never met Janie. But you get to know her every turn of her page. This is just one story of her among many breast cancer survivors, but you can tell how brave Jannie was and how active she was in her struggle.

toughness index

The Oilers, who can use their muscle and intimidating abilities in the bottom six, likely considered Ryan Reeves when the New York Rangers winger called for a trade, then to Minnesota for a 2023 fifth-round pick. has been moved. But Wild had cap room to sign Reeves’ $1.75 million deal after waiving Tyson Jost (Jost was claimed by Buffalo). The Oilers, who face the Rangers on Saturday, didn’t have cap space, even though Reeves’ draft pick price was very satisfying.

The problem with Reeves, who has upset many players with his heavy body checks, is how fast he is on his feet in the NHL today. He’s the equivalent of Georges Larac today, and perhaps Colorado’s Curtis McDiarmid is his only heavyweight. Reeves has played in 76 games in his NHL regular season, but in the last four seasons he has only played in 11 because few people have tried to wrestle him.

THIS ‘N’ THAT

Duncan Keith was added to the Oilers’ player development squad when the season began, but his overall mandate has not been fully defined. “I told all the former Detroit players to take time out for their families in their first year when they retire. Duncan might go see (Max) Wanner at Moose Jaw.” Oiler GM Ken Holland said. 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter D Wanner could be a steal with his 212nd pick in the 2021 draft. The Kings were recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (trainer/equipment manager) category when Wayne Gretzky went there in 1988. Millar is the California Warrior’s stick man. His son Matt is the goaltending development coach for the Ontario Rains (his AHL farm his team of the Kings)… Jaro he believes Harak can legally give Igor his Shestakin a breather If they can’t, the Rangers need a backup goalie. Harak he is 0-6. For some reason, his Rangers GM Chris Drury gave Halak a no-move clause as a free agent last summer. I mean, they can’t send him to minors… games. What are you betting he will end the drought against the Oilers?