The Year I Pressed Pause: My Journey with Breast Cancer

This book was written by two-time cancer survivor, Heidi Schafer-Edwards. After a bout with thyroid cancer at age 39, Heidi was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer at age 44. This book chronicles Heidi's cancer experience from finding a lump, to diagnosis, chemotherapy, surgery, more chemotherapy and reconstruction. The autobiographical memoir is written in a journal format, using posts that Heidi originally shared on her CaringBridge sites. As a long-time teacher, Heidi intersperses basic breast cancer information and draws on the expertise and advice of other cancer patients. As a mom of three girls aged 11, 11, 14 (at time of diagnosis), she discusses parenting while dealing with a serious illness; as a wife, she discusses navigating marriage and cancer. Heidi drew great strength from her identity as a Christian and openly shares regarding her faith journey during cancer.

Heidi lives in north central Wisconsin with her dog, husband, and three girls, one who is away at college. She is a novice writer, having dabbled at storytelling for years and dreaming of publishing something someday. She is currently an English language interventionist at an elementary school where she is lucky enough to get to work with K-5th graders on their early literacy skills. She loves cleaning and being with friends, walking with her husband at night, and pontooning in the summer. She is an avid traveler and is always planning her next trip.