| View Larger Image | Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient | Paperbackby RuthAnn Hogue (Author), C. Stratton Hill (Foreword)
| List Price: | $13.95 | | Price: | $11.86 | | You Save: | $2.09 (15%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Mapletree Publishing Company | | Edition: | 1stst Edition | | Page Count: | 192 Pages | | Publication Date: | September 15, 2005 | | Sales Rank: | 1,777,043st |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
Terminal cancer patient Walter Schifter was contemplating his life. Reporter RuthAnn Hogue was documenting both his life and impending death while contemplating a few eternal matters of her own. Barely out of journalism school, the 35-year-old mother of five was nearing her final court date in divorce court. She hadn't been to church in months. At least she had a best friend to see her through the turmoil. If only she were single already, maybe he could be her boyfriend. But there were serious issues to consider. For starters, Jason, a talented television news producer, was more than 12 years her junior. On top of that, they belonged to different faiths. Throw in a budding friendship with someone of the opposite sex before the divorce was final -- at a time when nearly every day required thinking about the eternal consequences of life and death, and you've got a stew thicker than the Manhattan clam chowder Walter's talented wife Lillian was known to whip up to indulge her beloved's every last whim. Amidst all this RuthAnn visited Walter frequently and reported his thoughts and fears in a three-week series for the Daily News-Sun, a newspaper serving the Sun Cities in Arizona. Join them in this remarkable and inspiring story. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 6 reviews)
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A MUST HAVE & READ FOR ANY COUNSELOR by A. Cottman (AZ)  5 Stars
February 22, 2008
I have had the fortune to come across this book as my own family had to say farewell and as a mental health professional I've passed this book onto others. A must have for any counselor like myself. A++ Excellent Author & journey
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Goodbye Walter by Linda Artac (Phoenix Arizona)  3 Stars
January 02, 2008
At first I was a little confused about who this book was about, Walter or RuthAnn. But as I finished the first chapter, I realized that it is about both of them and how Walter's terminal illness enlightened him about his life's purpose and the difference that he made and touched RuthAnn's life in profound ways as well. Isn't that the meaning of enlightenment? I think that it is showing another, by example, something that makes a difference in their own life and transforms them. Through her relationship with Walter, his wife and his friends, RuthAnn began to see life through a different, more empowering avenue and she made more positive choices. I appreciated the opportunity to get close to people that I would not have otherwise gotten to know and realize again, how precious and wonderful it is to be alive....it's not about me....all the time!
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An influential biographical depiction of a struggle for life and the many barriers required for survival by Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) 5 Stars
March 09, 2006
Goodbye, Walter: The Inspiring Story Of A Terminal Cancer Patient by RuthAnn Hogue is an influential biographical depiction of a struggle for life and the many barriers required for survival. Hogue's personal story will enrapture the reader in its telling of a difficult and inconceivably strenuous time for both the author and Walter Shifter, her friend dying of cancer. Goodbye, Walter is very strongly recommended for its inspirational content for readers looking to overcome their own difficult situation, as well as readers who have friends with cancer or other terminal conditions.
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Very Personal Narrative by L. Rogers (Germantown, MD USA) 5 Stars
July 09, 2005
I am in agreement with Mr. Hall. (The reviewer from Sierra Vista obviously has issues.) The thing that strikes me so much about this book is the sense it gives you of how important life is--not just the importance of being alive, but of living life with a purpose. Death can come to any one of us at any time. Live life earnestly, love earnestly, and rejoice that you have a place in the universe. This point is made with great PERSONAL power.
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The beauty of this story by David A. Hall (Infinity Dental Web, Mesa, Arizona) 5 Stars
June 10, 2005
As the publisher, it's interesting to see the reaction of different people to Goodbye, Walter. Some seem to get it and are deeply touched by it. There may be others who can't understand why the focus in the book is on RuthAnn, the author.
We, the publishers, asked RuthAnn to focus on herself--it wasn't her idea, and the original manuscript she submitted didn't do that. The reason is that the beauty of Walter's story is the change he wrought in her. Here is Walter Schifter, who felt so worthless as he was approaching the end of his life that he wanted to commit suicide. However, once he is properly cared for, the richness of his personality and his value as an individual come out. He comes to realize that, even though doctors have told him he has only two weeks to live, every day still matters because he now has a purpose for living. His focus changes from his pain and misery to what he can do for others during those last days.
RuthAnn, as she comes to know Walter, is profoundly affected by his sense of purpose, and she is touched in such a way that she decides to put her own life back together.
I love her honesty and her openness. She is struggling with a life that has, in its most important aspects, come unglued, and she freely shares that with us. Walter doesn't preach--he's not that kind of person. But, with his example and his deep desire to be useful to others, he helps her see what is truly important in life. As she builds her life on those important things, it falls into place. And that is the point of this story. It's a profound, beautiful lesson.
We are seeing tendencies in society to devalue the lives of those with terminal illnesses, people who are totally dependent on others. Some even encourage them to end their lives early. With this book, Walter and RuthAnn show us that life has eminent value, even in its final, potentially miserable days.
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