Monday, August 3, 2009

NEW FEATURE LAUNCH -The Ascending Butterfly Book Club - Featured Book in the Spotlight


This contest is now closed for entries! I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their amazing stories of strength and perseverance. The winner has been notified and once the winner confirms, this thread will be updated with a winner announcement shortly. Stay tuned, September will bring a new book club title!

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Can you imagine being in high school or college and suddenly learning you have cancer? You thought you had a lifetime ahead of you and the whole world at your feet, but suddenly you’re told… maybe not. How would you cope?

That’s the question the twenty young people in this book had to answer when they were diagnosed with childhood cancer. Perseverance shares life lessons learned through their stories and educates the reader on how to incorporate them into his/her life. It tells of their trials and tribulations, of their triumphs, and of the unique challenges that day-to-day life brings them. Perseverance also provides an intimate look at the lives and journeys of these young people and how their courage and strength have affected the lives of others.

These honest, first-person accounts lend amazing depth to the inspiring stories of these young men and women. Inside, you’ll meet Zac York, who tells of climbing Mount Whitney—on crutches—after battling brain cancer. You’ll meet Alex Oden, who—just days after brain surgery—gave his 8th grade peers a graduation speech called “A Day Well Spent,” in which he challenged them to make a difference in just one day. You’ll meet Kristen Jones, who, while battling leukemia, was able to pass the MCAT and pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric oncologist.

Twenty unique and fascinating stories, with one common theme: perseverance. The stories of these heroes demonstrate how anyone can learn to live with energy and passion, regardless of the obstacles to be faced, and will remind us all that now is everything.

I will admit my desire to obtain the review copy of this book and practically devour it was because Cancer hits home for my family. This wasn't just a 'read' it was incredibly personal. I've had to watch not just older family members battle this disease but also one too young. I'm amazed how easily conversational a book on a subject so serious turned out to be.

I do a lot of reading and writing to keep up the continuity on not only this inspirational blog but other writing that I do. Sometimes it's fashion, sometimes beauty, and it's very easy to get consumed by it all. Life is busy. But what happens when life forces you to slow down? Perseverance is what happens. And reading about how each young person in this book copes with how to press forward when your life stops is awe inspiring.

To say I recommend this title is an understatement. Sometimes we find ourselves at a loss on what to say when someone we love is going through something like this, I wish I had this book sooner. For young people going through it, here are your own thoughts, fears, ups and downs right there to help you through it. For any parent of a young person battling Cancer, this gives you the strength to know that you are not alone. That there are other parents like you out there having to dig deep inside and help your child fight the fight of their life. This book shows you that it can be done. It can be done with dignity, laughter, grace, and inspiration.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carolyn’s Bio:

Carolyn Rubenstein has spent most of her life working with children with cancer, in one form or another. She first met “kids with cancer” when she was six years old, and visited Camp Sunshine in Maine. Even at that young age, meeting these children affected her deeply—they were her peers, but considered “different”. But really, Carolyn realized, they weren’t different at all. She made dear friends at that camp, and it started her on a path.

That path has taken many turns. At 14, although still just a kid herself, Carolyn started “Carolyn’s Compassionate Children” (CCC) a non-profit organization that began as a pen-pal program for kids with cancer. As the years passed, Carolyn “grew up” with many of her friends with cancer, and saw the financial difficulties they were facing when it came to paying for college. Often, these young people had so much medical debt that paying for school seemed out of the question. To address this need, CCC changed focus from just a pen-pal organization to one that provides scholarships and support to childhood cancer survivors. In addition to providing its own scholarships, today CCC features on its website the “CCCpedia,” a database accessing information about more than 3,000 college scholarships for young adult cancer survivors.

A native of Boca Raton, Florida, in 2007 Carolyn graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from Duke University with a BA in psychology. She began her PhD program in clinical psychology at Harvard University in the fall of 2008. Now age 24, in her free time she practices yoga, writes letters, and spends as much time as she can with her family, her friends, and her dog Lila Rose.

Carolyn is a Featured Blogger on the Huffington Post and also blogs on Psychology Today.

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WIN IT! - 1 reader will receive an AUTOGRAPHED COPY of the book.

How to Win: You must be a follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. In addition, please share a time in your life when perseverance pulled you through! Comments that don't follow these instructions, or just say enter me will NOT be entered into the giveaway!

Please leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com), if your blogger profile has your email you can just indicate this in your entry.

Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, so no worries if your comment doesn't appear on the site right away. This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike, but you must follow this blog for your entry to count. You have from now until Monday, August 24, 2009 at 11:59 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win.

Winner will be announced shortly after Thursday, August 27th! Giveaway open to USA only, 18+.

EXTRA CREDIT:

1 entry for each extra credit item you do, list each entry separately!

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47 comments:

  1. I learned many years ago when my Dad had cancer that each day needed to be lived the best way you can.On 9-11 it was all brought home for me again...I had been visiting my son and his family in VA and was scheduled to fly back to Newark on 9/10...I left Roanoke on time but my connecting flight in Charlotte kept being changed and or cancelled.I finally ended up spending the night in Charlotte to leave the next morning(9-11).Everything seemed normal until there was an announcement that we were being returned to our origination point as all air space in the New York area had been shut down....we were all saying...huh,do what?We finally got a bit more info that there had been 2 crashes in the City.I was on an airphone talking with my daughter when the Pentagon was hit....can't even begin to tell you how we felt at that moment when things became clearer...I was greatful to be alive but sad that so many others were not.It was not until we arrived back in Charlotte that we knew that The World Trade Center Towers had fallen.All they wanted to do was to get everyone out of the terminal so to a motel I went.It took me a week to finally make it home to my husband.Life is way too short and every moment is to be treasured.

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  2. I follow you on Twitter.

    jackie241

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  3. I follow Carolyn Rubenstein on Twitter.

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  4. Facebook fan of Ascending Butterfly

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  5. I am a follower. A time I persevered was when I was having a hard time at work. An employee was making it very difficult for me. I did not quit and eventually the employee was no longer there. Thank you

    candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I follow. I had to rely on my perseverance, when I was very ill and pregnant with my son. It was so tempting to give up, but we're both here today because I didn't.

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  7. I've been so fortunate in my life. But one time that I really had to persevere was in those 1st few years out of school, living on my own in a big city, trying to "make it' professionally and doing everything I could to stay ahead of the bill collectors. Working 2 jobs, eating out at happy hours, etc. But I hung in there & managed to stay on my feet!

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  8. I follow Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter! (amweeks)

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  9. I follow clrsimple2 on twitter! (amweeks)

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  10. I'm an Ascending Butterfly facebook fan! (Annmarie DiPasqua Weeks)

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  11. I'm a Carolyn Rubenstein facebook fan! (Annmarie DIPasqua Weeks)

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  12. I tweeted! http://twitter.com/amweeks/status/3374085640

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  13. I follow. I had to rely on my perseverance when I was laid off. jelly15301@gmail.com

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  14. Technorati fav. username-jelly15301 --- jelly15301@gmail.com

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  15. Twitter follower. username-jelly15301 --- jelly15301@gmail.com

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  16. Facebook fan. username-jelly15301 --- jelly15301@gmail.com

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  17. I follow. I had to be very tenacious and persevering to obtain my college degree - it took me 8 years to get a B.S degree! But now I'm a critical care nurse and can provide for my family - it was all worth it!
    mannasweeps (at)))) gmaildotcom

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  18. I follow Tracy on twitter @mannabsn

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  19. I follow Carolyn on twitter @mannabsn

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  20. My husband and I had a dark time about 4 years ago. It took about 6 months before we were finally through it all; I would say we are much closer now. Thank you

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  21. I follow! I perservered after I had two miscarriages and a stillborn and finally had a baby girl!
    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  22. http://kngmckellar-glorias.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-feature-launch-ascending-butterfly.html#comments

    blogged
    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  23. Follow Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter as kngmckellar

    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  24. follow Carolyn Rubenstein on twitter as kngmckellar

    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  25. became a Fan of the author on Facebook: Gloria McKellar
    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  26. Became a Fan of Ascending Butterfly on Facebook: Gloria McKellar
    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  27. http://twitter.com/kngmckellar/status/3505136434

    tweeted
    kngmckellar@hotmail.com

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  28. When I was 22 years old, I decided to go to college. I was working as a Home Day Care Provider and I already had 3 sons. I wanted to attend school because I wanted to be able to do something else besides Day Care when they got older and I wanted them to have a good role model. After all, I figured, if I could attend college at night,run my own business during the day and raise three sons, they had no excuse to aim high themselves nor could they be ashamed of who their mother was. After three years, I received my AA degree and after another 2 years, I received a BSW degree in Social Work. Unbeknownst to my children,the whole time I was in college,my adoptive parents, who were alsoalcoholics, would tell me and my husband how stupid I was thinking that I could make it through college or that I could ever do anything with my life. After all, I had my first child out-of-wedlock and my parents used that as a way to show how dumb I was. Fortunately, my persaverance kept me going. I wasn't dumb. As mentioned earlier, I did get an AA degree and a BSW degree. But even though my parents kept saying how dumb I was, I even attented Graduate school and gave birth to 3 more boys. Finally, I wasn't able to finish graduate school, even though I was very close. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and the chronic pain was daily and continous. It was so bad that I took narcotic medication daily but again my persaverance kept me going. I worked as long as I could but wasn't able tofinish my graduate degree. I still have the same diagnoisis, and the same parents, however, I'm not dumb and my persaverence will also get me through. I have better pain control now and if I ever get money, outside of a school student loan,I would gladly go back to school. I see them same persaverence in my wonderful children too. And guess what, they are very smart. Thanks, Tricia. I am at chessiedays@ymail.com

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  29. perseverance pulled me through when my mom died.
    erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

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  30. My Mother's passing, years ago, still makes me pull out the perseverance.

    edgenemmers@gmail.com

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  31. A few years ago my brother was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. It has been hard, but family and faith have made it easier to persevere.

    wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

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  32. I follow Tracy on twitter!
    username: wordsmoveme

    wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

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  33. I follow the author on twitter!
    username: wordsmoveme

    wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

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  34. I faved on technorati!
    username: wordsmoveme

    wordsmoveme at gmail dot com

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  35. I follow and I really had to persevere after my ex quit a 300k a year job due to alcoholism, tried to commit suicide, was hospitalized, rehab. Went through heck with him and then he, after 3 months of inpatient rehab, took off with a drug addict he met there. That was probably my rock bottom.

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  36. I subscribe! brdgcombs(at)aol(dot)com

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  37. A time in my life when perseverance pulled me through was when I was looking for a job.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

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  38. I became a fan of Carolyn Rubenstein on Facebook.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

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  39. I became your fan on Facebook.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

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  40. I subscribed to your blog.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

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  41. I fueled your blog.

    lilyk@mail2world.com

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