My Journey with Farrah - Alana Stewart [0]
A Story of Life, Love, and Friendship
Alana Stewart
To my beautiful friend and soul-sister Farrah, who has so deeply
affected my life and will live in my heart forever.
And to my children, Ashley, Kimberly, and Sean, who live in
my heart always.
A friend is more than an ally. As it says in the I Ching, even thieves have alliances. Alliances come and go.
A friend, however, is more than that. In a world where love has become so cheap, friendship is a love that refuses to be cheapened. It means more than just lending a hand, or sharing the easier niceties of an easy existence. A friendship that is always easy is a friendship that is not yet beautified.
A friend is willing to take a stand for you…even when sitting something out would be easier. A friend has your back…refusing to ignore it when someone else is subtly stabbing it. A friend can stay up all night and celebrate your victories, but remains awake with you unflinchingly in the hour of your agony.
A real friend will rework their schedule, fly an extra mile, spend capital, proactively support your dreams and take seriously your visions. An easy friend is often a false friend, but a real friend…a true, fiercely loyal friend…if ever there was a pure and precious diamond of the heart, that is it.
—MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
Contents
Epigraph
A Note from the Author
Introduction
Horrible News
Treatment in Germany
Fighting the Terrorist
A Pleasant Distraction
Good News…Bad News
Cancer for a Day
Never Surrender
One Day At a Time
Hard Choices
Photographic Insert
Looking for a Miracle
Back to Germany
Keeping the Faith
The Final Chapter
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Credits
Copyright
About the Publisher
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
WHEN FARRAH AND I WERE ON ONE OF OUR EARLY TRIPS TO Germany getting her cancer treatment, I went to this little gift shop, the Summer Haus. I bought a book, written in German, about two friends, and I gave it to her back at the clinic. We flipped through it. Neither of us could understand a word of German, but we got the gist of it: it was about two women and their journey of friendship. Farrah turned to me and said, “You know, you should do a book like this…about us.” I didn’t think much more about it at the time. But I never forgot it.
When the opportunity to do this book was actually presented to me, I had to think long and hard about it. In fact, I agonized over the decision. During the past two or more years that Farrah and I had been on this journey together, I’d protected her like a mother lioness guards her cub. Now was I doing the right thing by sharing many of our private moments? Even though Farrah had originally encouraged me to write this book? Her health took a turn for the worse, and I could no longer seek her input.
So I turned to Ryan for his advice. He was positive and supportive. “You have to do it,” he said emphatically. “There will be lots of people writing books about her. Yours will be the truth, and it will be a wonderful tribute to her. You have to do it!” He was extremely reassuring.
Now I feel comfortable with my decision; that it will honor Farrah in the way that Ryan and I both envisioned. I know this book would have made her proud. My dream was that, by the time this book was out, she’d be better and I could present her with the first copy of it. Sadly, that won’t happen now.
I prayed and meditated and asked God to show me the highest sense of right. What I got was that this was my gift to others, to share through my eyes the incredible courage and spirit of Farrah. I hoped I could, perhaps, give some support and encouragement not only to people fighting a disease, but also to those loved ones and friends walking the path with them. I had never experienced anything like this before, and there were many times I felt inadequate and frightened. I’m sure this must be a common feeling.
These entries are a tribute to the value of friendship; whether it’s helping a friend who’s fighting cancer or any other challenge. By putting myself aside temporarily