The Mission Walker: I was given three months to live...

What a story this is! I love reading autobiographies- they are one of my absolute favorite genres of books. I have been blown away by several books written about and by people who, through God's grace have conquered death. In this particular one, the author documents her life battling cancer which threatened to take her life within three months. I was amazed by her desire to live and her strength to fight through each day of pain and the daily rigour of treatments and doctor's visits and bad news.

Personally, I was a little confused by the faith held by the author, Edie Sundby. The beliefs expressed in this book would not offend anyone of Christian, Catholic, Orthodox (the author thought highly of a blessing given to her by an Orthodox priest) and maybe even Buddhist? I just found the author didn't attribute her healing to Jesus as much as she ought to have. However, this was an inspiring read and I would hope to have as much strength and will to fight cancer as she did.

Of course, that is not all there is to this book. As the title suggests, this book focuses on the author's miraculous walking journey across southwestern America. Edie's goal was to live the last days of her life to the fullest and she truly enjoyed herself and continues to find zest in life. Personally, I don't know how necessary it is to walk across difficult terrain when you could die any day. I would rather invest in different relationships while staying active if possible as well as sharing the love of Jesus during my last days. However, as I'm sure is the case already, Edie's tenacity is an example and encouragemt to other cancer victimes to fight to live.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Edie Sundby was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and given only three months to live, she vowed to fight. She sought out the best care that the medical community could offer, and she relied on the faith she had inherited from her cotton-farmer parents. But Edie also found healing through movement. Edie knew that if she was still walking, she was still alive.

"The Mission Walker" is both an adventure story and a reflection on the universal experience of confronting our own mortality. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

Edie’s story shows that the sum of a million steps is a life forever changed.