Temporary Roommates is a novella set in the Central West End of St. Louis, next
to Forest Park, where the 1905 World’s Fair was held, and, down the street from
the hospital where I spent the majority of 2007.
The writer handbooks
all tell you to write about something you know, so when I stared out the window
after being told I had breast cancer, instead of focusing on the fear of what
might be, I spun a story about a nurse who needed a place to live.
As the treatments
continued, I had a lot of time to think about this story. As the months passed through spring and
into summer, I, like my heroine yearned to be outside. Maybe not running like Annie enjoys,
but at least walking, hearing the birds and feeling the sun on my face.
I’ve been cancer free
now for five years and although I still haven’t taken up running, I’m a lot
like my spunky nurse heroine, always trying to find my way in the world without
help. But I’ve found that taking care of each other is a calling. So I wanted to share my top five gifts
for any friend undergoing cancer treatments.
1-Offer to help. No,
scratch that, don’t just offer, show up to clean their house, or drive them to
chemo, or even sit and talk on the porch.
2- Ease the
boredom. I tell everyone I know
the best part of cancer was time to read.
If your friend isn’t a reader, crosswords are great, too. Just something to pass the time while
waiting for the next appointment.
3- Food. As time
passed, the chemo made food less appetizing. So I ate a lot of mashed potatoes
and ice cream. Find out what your
friend loves, then stock their fridge.
4- Be an exercise
buddy. Studies have shown some advantages for people who exercise through the
months of treatment. Added
strength, energy, and maybe even just a healthy dose of the feel good stuff
that floods your brain after working out.
(Be sure to clear plans with your friend’s medical professionals.)
5-Offer to take your
friend to their appointments. I
found myself wondering about the future way too often when I was alone. Having
someone there kept me in the moment and focused on getting better.
Annie Baxter, my
heroine in Temporary Roommates is
given doggie duty, escorting a puppy through the halls to meet patients. I tend
to agree with my character, there’s nothing quite so healing as a big wet puppy
kiss.
Blurb: Annie Baxter has her dream job.
Now, all she needs is a cheap apartment close to the hospital. Troy Saunders knows his life as an
intern is all about the long hours. He doesn’t have time to play doctor to some
Nurse Barbie. So when his sister
finds a great apartment walking distance to work and next to the best running
paths in the city, he’s sold. Two leasing agents, two prospective renters, one
apartment. Can they co-exist without
fireworks?
