NILES — The moment that inspired Myrna Hunt, of Niles, to write a book about her battle with breast cancer happened in her hospital room just before her surgery April 28, 2010, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.

That morning, Hunt, who is devoutly religious, had been asking her anesthesiologist and other medical personnel whether or not they had prayed that morning.

“When you are going to administer something to someone, I need to know you have a connection,” Hunt said.

When she pressed her surgeon, Roy Winslow, about his prayer habits she was a bit surprised when Winslow not only said he had prayed but also offered to pray with her and her husband, Delbert and son, Todd.

“That touched my heart,” Hunt said. “He prayed the most beautiful prayer.”

Standing in her hospital room clutching the hands of her family and surgeon in prayer, Hunt’s initial fears about the surgery began to melt away. It was in that moment that her gratitude for the dedicated doctors, nurses and family members inspired her to write a book chronicling her journey through her fight with cancer.

“People take healing for granted,” Hunt said. “We should never take anything for granted. I thought I need to give an expression of love to these people during this time that I needed affirmation that everything was going to be alright. They all came to my rescue.”

In the fall of 2010, a few months after a successful removal of the cancer and radiation treatment, Hunt published her book “My Journey | My Story, My Song.”  In addition to detailing how she survived her battle with cancer, Hunt mentions each person who helped her along the way. The book also features a CD containing four songs of Hunt playing piano, which she prescribes as another tool in her fight of the illness.

A copy of the book is available at the Niles District Library. Hunt did not want to sell the book for profit, so the books are free by request. Those interested simply have to call Hunt to receive a copy. Hunt said she has distributed between 300 to 400 copies.

Hunt first became aware that she had a high risk of contracting breast cancer in 1995, when a mammogram revealed that she had some abnormal cells. To make sure that she had the best chance for early detection, Hunt scheduled a mammogram every year. Her diligence paid off. In March 2010, doctors discovered a lump in her left breast and she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer.

Hunt said she was terrified when she received the diagnosis.

“I immediately thought, ‘this is my death sentence,’” Hunt said. “All kinds of horror thoughts came into my mind.”

But Hunt said the kindness of Lakeland Hospital staff helped her to better understand her options for treatment and put her fears at ease so that she could focus on recovery.

After her surgery, Hunt had to go through a five-day radiation treatment. In the wee hours of dawn when Hunt arrived back at the hospital she said she was always greeted warmly by hospital personnel, who would tell her jokes and make sure that she was comfortable. The interaction always helped her to feel better about enduring the radiation, she said, and she left her treatments with her spirits high.   

Those who know Hunt know that her passion and determination are a big part of her character. So, when the Olivet AME Church of South Bend asked Hunt if she would play piano in a concert four days after her surgery, Hunt decided she would not let surgery recovery stand in the way of playing music.

Hunt’s nurses from the Berrien County Cancer Service, who visited her every day to change her bandages, disagreed.

“They said, ‘You can’t go. You just had surgery,’” Hunt said.

Hunt changed their minds when she played the nurses the songs she wanted to perform on her piano. 

“When I got through playing the song, they had tears running down their cheeks,” Hunt said. “They said, ‘OK, we will allow you to go, but you have to leave right after your performance.’”

At the church, Hunt prefaced her performance by sharing what she had been through in the past couple of days. When she finished her piece called, “Medley,” the church audience gave her a standing ovation. It was a moment when one could say Hunt felt she had truly defeated cancer.

To bring her dream of publishing a book to fruition, Hunt contacted Glenn Roper, of Berrien Springs, who owns a company called The ah Ha! Factor. Days after the book published, Hunt knew exactly who she wanted to have the first copies. She called her doctors, nurses, family and friends who had been by her side during her battle with cancer. Hunt invited them to a dinner party where she gave them each a copy of the book.

As the eight-year anniversary of her book’s publish date approaches this year, Hunt said she hopes her book continues to inspire those who read it to have faith in their strength during times of struggle and to always remember to thank those that take the time to care.

To get the book:

Call, Myrna Hunt at (269) 683-3071