I don’t think I have told you that Dr. Joshua Schiffman, Medical Director, High Risk Pediatric Cancer Clinic Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dept. of Oncological Sciences at the Huntsman Cancer Institute has agreed to write the Forword for Grace:A Child’s Intimate Journey Through Cancer and Recovery ! I am very, very happy about this for so many reasons!!!!!!!!!!!!
I met Dr. Josh when he came to Cottage Hospital to “sub” for Dr. Dan during my fourth round of chemo. Without spoiling the Forword, I will tell you that he and I have a lot in common. I liked him so much when he took care of me that I made him a Giant Card in my “hospital art studio.” Dr. Josh and Dr. Dan have something in common… they give and give and give and give so that children like me can survive.
From Grace:
Next in my hospital art studio, was the creation of The Giant Card. It was for Dr. Josh, and it was a 3′ x 5′ masterpiece, if I might say so myself. I couldn’t merely make him a normal card– I wasn’t normal.
Coloring the huge, block letters, spelling out, “Thank You Dr. Josh,” I told Mom, “I want to give him something he has to lug around.”
I taped and glued just about everything to it. Examination gloves, medicine cups, sterile wipes, and those sticks they use to squish your tongue down, were all adorned with flashy, silvery glitter.
My lunch arrived right in the middle of my project. I felt I was far too busy to eat, but quickly observed my food options. Opening my bowl of soup, I found an unexpected item floating amid its brothy liquid. Nurse Nancy and Nurse Gail surprised me– with a plastic fly swimming in my soup. Laughing, I turned to them, and their sneaky expressions changed to smiles. Ah… I loved it. Thank God I didn’t get boring nurses. I would have died, not of cancer but, of boredom. We all decided that I should tape the fly on Dr. Josh’s card and, once it was securely fastened, I observed my work. Beautiful. He was going to love it.
Melinda Marchiano 
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