Minnesota Oncology is very grateful this month for the donation of 150 copies of a newly published book for children of moms with cancer.

The author, Aurora Whittet of St. Louis Park, lost her mom to breast cancer three years ago. Shortly after, she put her grief into action by writing a children’s book called Mama’s Knight: A Cancer Story of Love. Aurora was 27 when she lost her mom to cancer. One of the first things she thought was, “I’m an adult, and the grief is overwhelming. I can’t imagine how painful this must be for young children.”

{image_1}That inspired her to write this 40-page book, which is essentially an emotional toolbox to help kids and parents communicate about what it means when mom has cancer. The book is filled with activities designed to make coping with illness easier on both the mom and the child, and can be personalized for each child. A graphic designer and illustrator by day, Aurora did all of the illustrations in this book.

{image_3}Dr. Amy McNally of Minnesota Oncology, who treated Aurora's mom, has read the book and said she can’t wait to share the book with her patients: “I have never seen anything like this in my many years of caring for women. This book provides an amazing, and much-needed, tool for families with young children who are facing the challenges of cancer and treatment together.”

{image_2}Aurora says that she will always be grateful for the care her beloved mother received at Minnesota Oncology. “Dr. Amy McNally gave my mom hope, when there was no hope left,” she says. “She was honest and real and laughed with us along the way. I am so grateful she was my mom's doctor. Three years after my mom had passed away I took my grief and wrote a book for moms with cancer and Amy graciously consulted with me as I developed Mama's Knight: A Cancer Story of Love to help families explain what it means for mom to have cancer."

Copies of Mama's Knight will be available at the Minnesota Oncology booth at the Breast Cancer Education Association Annual Conference at the Mall of America on Saturday, October 8 as well as in Minnesota Oncology clinics. Also check Minnesota Oncology's Facebook page for a special book giveaway promotion.