NBC News. Princess Kate announces she is undergoing treatment for cancer
Earlier this spring, the Princess of Wales had disappeared from the public for some weeks, prompting speculation as to what was up with her. On March 24, 2024, she announced she had been diagnosed with cancer and subjected to abdominal surgery.
Having been there, I would wish it on no one. The only thing worse than the surgery is the condition that necessitated it. And maybe the nasty recovery.
Kate has also been treated with chemotherapy. A June report said she is doing well and planned to resume some public appearances.
Earlier this month she attended the men’s tennis singles final at Wimbledon — she is apparently quite the fan — and then a ceremony opening a new garden at the London Natural History Museum.
There has not been a report on the type of cancer, but from the photo, she looks like she is doing well.
A gift for a fellow traveler
Over dinner one evening, a close associate suggested I send Kate a copy of Alligator Wrestling in the Cancer Ward, which details my own journey through Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I found her mailing address online, dashed off a quick typed note, signed it, and spent some $15 to ship the book to England.
In June, I found a letter in the mailbox addressed to Alligator Publishing LLC. The postmark was Buckingham Palace. The envelope was marked Private and Confidential, and carried the royal seal of King Charles III.
This should have been an historic event for a small town in rural Kansas.
The letter within was signed by one whom I take to be the Princess’ administrative assistant, although I’m pretty sure there is a more exalted title for that at Kensington Palace.
Despite the intimidating “Private and Confidential” label, the note reads in part: “…[Y]our gift is greatly appreciated. The Princess of Wales was saddened to hear of your cancer diagnosis but is pleased to learn you have made good progress with your recovery.”
The letter goes on to assert: “Her Royal Highness would have me pass on her warmest thanks and very best wishes to you.”
So there!
Now… just as soon as the paparazzi photographs her with the Alligator under her arm, I’ll be open for morning network TV interviews, and my signature in your personal copy of Alligator Wrestling will be worth a lot on eBay.
And more gifts
Speaking of how much Alligator Wrestling is worth… if, like the Princess, you believe this book can be “greatly appreciated,” then I would ask you to make copies available. There are hundreds of cancer patients making their tortuous way through the outpatient radiology Cancer Center and the inpatient Cancer Institute at Ascension Via Christi’s St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.
I was at the Cancer Institute during my own treatment, and that is the place where I now visit patients twice a month. Everyone I see is offered a signed copy of Alligator Wrestling in the Cancer Ward.
Comments are universally positive (which you might expect) but there is more than that: Doctors, nurses and administrators go out of their way to express their appreciation for the book.
In particular, there is continued gratitude among the hospital staff for the consistent availability of complimentary copies for patients and their families.
Those copies are provided by you in the Alligator posse.
Last week, I delivered 20 copies to the girl at the front desk in the Cancer Center. In the waiting room was a man of about my age awaiting his appointment, his wife with him. I took a copy of the book from the stack just delivered and approached the couple. Kneeling, I introduced myself and learned they were from western Kansas, in town for the day for a radiology treatment.
He gave me his name; I wrote a brief greeting inside the book and signed it. I let the couple know the book was made possible by those who had made gifts to Via Christi Foundation.
I would ask you to continue to support this work. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is clearly expressed in Alligator Wrestling in the Cancer Ward, and our constant prayer is that the peace of Christ and hope during dark days can be experienced by those who receive it.
If you have not already done so, click the link below to make your donation. Thank you so much.
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