Product Description

This is the story of one woman. But it's not just one woman's story. It's about family. And it's a story that could belong to any one of us at any time.

Caron was 41 when she died, leaving behind two sons, Gabriel and Charlie. A few weeks after Gabriel was born - and her own father died - Caron found a lump in her breast. Gloria knew at that moment, that all their lives would change for ever. The next seven years of Caron's life, and her family's, became a quest for recovery that ultimately took them across the world. They became experts in the illness and its treatment, both conventional and alternative. All the while Caron was living in the public eye and keeping her own, devastating secret.

The loss of a loved one is the most terrible thing to contemplate. And all of us will have to face it at some point in our lives. Although Caron lost her battle with cancer, this isn't a sad book. Told by Gloria, with extracts from Caron's own diaries, it's an inspirational and honest account of how Caron, Gloria and the whole family faced and coped with illness; it's a celebration of an unbreakable mother - daughter relationship and how that relationship withstood the strain of Caron's illness. And above all it's a book to commemorate a spirited, magical woman. A woman who loved life and fought to hold onto it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #93531 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-03
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Synopsis
This is the story of one woman. But it's not just one woman's story. It's about family. And it's a story that could belong to any one of us at any time. Caron was 41 when she died, leaving behind two sons, Gabriel and Charlie. A few weeks after Gabriel was born - and her own father died - Caron found a lump in her breast. Gloria knew at that moment, that all their lives would change for ever. The next seven years of Caron's life, and her family's, became a quest for recovery that ultimately took them across the world. They became experts in the illness and its treatment, both conventional and alternative. All the while Caron was living in the public eye and keeping her own, devastating secret. The loss of a loved one is the most terrible thing to contemplate. And all of us will have to face it at some point in our lives. Although Caron lost her battle with cancer, this isn't a sad book.

Told by Gloria, with extracts from Caron's own diaries, it's an inspirational and honest account of how Caron, Gloria and the whole family faced and coped with illness; it's a celebration of an unbreakable mother - daughter relationship and how that relationship withstood the strain of Caron's illness. And above all it's a book to commemorate a spirited, magical woman. A woman who loved life and fought to hold onto it.

Customer Reviews

A moving account of Caron Keating's battle through cancer
I used to consider myself as a resilient reader unable to be moved by emotion when reading until I picked this book up. I found this autobiography utterly compelling and was moved by Gloria Hunniford's account of her daughter's losing battle with cancer. Caron's experience touched me in so many ways and teaches the reader the value of living every second as though (ironically), is your last.
Caron Keating was grieving the death of her father when she discovered a lump in her breast and the book indirectly infers that her diagnosis may have been the result of a broken heart. Caron fought until the end but could never accept that she was dying testing the fortitude of her close family and friends. Her husband is truly remarkable and moves heaven and earth in this book to enhance the quality of life. Caron was consumed by her illness in the end and this is manifested through her search for alternative therapies until the very end. Prepare to be moved, this is a heart rending story.

A beautiful and loving tribute.
Gloria Hunniford does Caron proud in this wonderful book that depicts Caron's life.

It would have been all too easy for Gloria to show the readers only the most positive aspects of Caron's character and to leave out her flaws but she hasn't done that here. She paints a picture of a daughter who could be wilful and stubborn but also tenacious, funny, imaginative and above all loving - as a wife, daughter, sister and mother.

The strength of the authors special relationship with her daughter shines through the pages of this book. It really touched a cord with me when Gloria poignantly recalls seeing mothers and daughters out shopping after Caron had died and envying them their afternoon out together - the kind of normal mother/daughter 'thing' that she can never experience again.

This is a really honest record of Caron's life from beginning to the too early end. Written in a very readable way with anecdotes, memories, some gorgeous photographs and a very personal tribute from Gloria to Caron at the end, I would thoroughly recommend it.

Brutally honest, written from the heart.
A biography-esque book that looks at life through different perspectives. On one hand you find a loving mum telling the story how she saw it and on the other the daughters version of how things really were. A book that features love, fame, anger and a brutal disease that ended a beautiful young womans life prematurely. Most books I read if I like them I cant put down, this one I had to to wipe the tears that were streaming down my face. I bought this book for my mum for Xmas who was then diagnosed with breast cancer two months later. I am sure this book was an inspiration to her and to all the family. I am now reading the book for a second time to ensure I didnt miss anything. I cant recommend this book highly enough but be warned have some tissues handy. ps My mum is okay.