A Quiet Courage

Book excerpt: Fun-loving though shy at times, Shirley McCallum lived her horses but tragedy struck when, at age 22, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. Although most people now survive this type of cancer, Shirley and her family found themselves facing a battle against overwhelming odds. Shirley was a lively, intelligent and beautiful girl with an impish sense of humour who loved her horses. We admired the way she coped with her illness, but until we read this book, we had no idea the full extent of her strength over the years of suffering. Her personality shines throughout the book, along with those of her parents. Although the book has focused on mainly Shirleys illness, her father knows that she would like to be remembered as the bubbly young blonde charging about on her pony over the hills of Lindean, with her favorite collie dog running after her. Her family remembers her this way, but they cannot forget the difficult years during which she fought her illness with such bravery. This book is a lasting testament to Shirleys courage, and now the greatest reward would be that someone who is fighting a similar battle will be inspired by her story.