I will never forget the day I learned that my friend’s 8 year old son had been diagnosed with Leukemia. I won’t forget it because nothing had ever made the world feel so small.

About a year ago, I was getting ready to visit the school where my friend (and former boss) was the director. They were in the first weeks of their summer program. I had been anxiously waiting for an opportunity to show my first book to the elementary school children that attended that program.

My book, Tristan Wolf, had been well received. The reviews on Amazon were generous and my friends and family were supportive and encouraging. My first adventure as a writer was apparently taking off. But in reality, the book wasn’t selling as well as I had hoped. As a matter of fact, at that point, two months after the book’s release, the sales on Amazon were still in the single digits.

Yes, I was worried, and I knew I needed to maximize my marketing efforts if I ever wanted my book to sell. The way I saw things, Amazon was an ocean and my beautiful book was just a fish, too small to be noticed. I decided I would go directly to my audience: children and their parents, through school visits. If they liked my visit, they would be very likely to buy my book. If they bought my book, they would be likely to leave a review. Reviews are like sparkly scales for Rainbow fish. They help you get noticed and make you shine in the Amazon Ocean.

My friend Dawn was one of the first people who asked me to do an “Author Visit” with my book and possibly do a craft. I was so thrilled! I sent her a media packet I had already put together, with notes to send home to parents, reminders about the visit, order forms, and a visit plan. I was determined to look professional, and I also wanted the kids to have a great time.

So, a couple of days before my visit I asked Dawn if she had everything ready, just like any good PR person would do. She, of course, had everything ready and planned. I wanted to make sure those order forms would reach the children’s backpacks before they went home that day!

That same day she posted on Facebook that she was taking her son Gage to the doctor for some labs. He hadn’t been feeling well for a while. She is a person of faith and she was asking for prayers for her boy. I had seen Gage a few days before, and he “looked” fine, he was the usual, sharp, energetic 8 year old I had known for quite some time. I was sure, and everyone was sure, it was something a little medicine would cure.

I really didn’t think much of it and went back to worrying about my book and school visit. At home, my husband and children saw me working hard on the wolf masks I was taking for the kids to decorate. They saw me practicing reading out loud, trying to soften my accent. They saw me going back to my check-list countless times to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything. Feeling in control made it less scary. I wasn’t scared of being in front of children. I worked at a pre-school and I also knew several of the kids that were going to be there. But this time I wasn’t reading a Dr. Seuss book. This time I was reading my book, and I really wanted everyone to like it! That night I made a mental reminder, to text Dawn in the morning and ask her about Gage.

Finally, morning came. After tending to my family and taking my children to school, I did my usual Facebook morning round. I posted something about being excited to do a school visit the next day. My morning coffee and routine went like it always did, and I felt like I was finally ready for the exciting days ahead. I would have to start looking for the next school I would visit.

When my daughter fell asleep for her mid-day nap, I went back to check my Facebook page. The thread Dawn had started the day before was exploding with comments and prayers. Her new message at 12:26 was: “Please continue your prayers. We just found out that Gage has Leukemia. We won’t know anything else until tomorrow.”

My heart dropped and my eyes filled with tears. Leukemia? How could a lively boy be sick with such a horrible illness? I had just seen the pictures of his vacation and his bright smile! But now he had cancer. Cancer and child are two words you don’t want to see in the same sentence. Ever. I found myself crying for Gage and for my friend.

While thinking about them, my eyes opened and I realized that the world was far more than books, marketing and writing. Life happens to people far and near and it can quickly change your world. I had been so worried about a stupid visit! I had been so obsessed with ‘doing things right’ that I forgot what was important.

When I picked my boys up from school, I hugged them. I hugged them tightly trying to compensate for the hugs I had not given the days I was ‘too busy’. Yes, I felt guilty. I know I shouldn’t have, but I think it’s part of the roller-coaster of emotions one goes through when news deeply affect you.

I was impressed by Dawn’s toughness, though. She was heart-broken and obviously scared of what lay ahead, but she had the courage only a Mom can have in the face of adversity. I could read her fierceness in every post, in every message. She took to social media to keep people updated and also to create awareness of the creeper illness that shows up in 1 out of every 300 kids. At that point, Gage’s bone marrow was 97% leukemia. A few more weeks and his leukemia would’ve been incurable. Mom’s hunch that something was wrong saved his life.

I thought my school visit was cancelled, and I wouldn’t have cared. I was surprised when Dawn texted me and asked what time I was going to show up. In the middle of everything, she was still thinking of her dear school, the one she had founded and devoted herself to as a ministry to nurture children through early education. She told me that everything was ready, and even though she would not be there, the kids would still be waiting for me.

I put on my best dress and my best smile. I knew that everyone at school was shaken by the news. I knew that the world wouldn’t stop. I knew I was ready, and that I would give the kids the best I could give them. They deserved it.

We had a great time. I read and did a craft with the kids. I was pleased to be among those children that were so eager to learn, to do, and to talk. I was thankful for the opportunity to foster imagination and creativity in their young minds. That was the importance of my work. The rest would come along.

Now, Gage is doing much better. He’s almost finished with his first year of chemo and he has become a local hero. His prognosis is good and his family is, as usual, fighting and being optimistic. Leukemia is not easy and the fear of it doesn’t stop after chemo. But the Novosad’s have found a way to make the worst into something good. The sun doesn’t stop shining. Survivors like Gage make it shine even brighter for the rest of us.

I keep on writing and I keep on visiting schools. I keep on promoting my books and I’m doing my best marketing efforts. When I take a look at my Amazon sales page, sometimes I smile satisfied, but most of the time I only smile. I look at my healthy children and I understand that there are things more important. The rest will slowly find its path.

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Team Gage is determined to help find a cure to childhood cancer, that’s why they’ve set up a fundraising page and are planning several activities to raise 50,000 dollars for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society. If you’d like to help, follow the links below:

TeamGage Fundraiser Page

HopeForGage Facebook Page

Mariana Llanos is the writer of two children’s books, Tristan Wolf and A Planet for Tristan Wolf. Her books can be found on Amazon.com. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three children. She works at a preschool teaching music and art. You can find out more about her HERE

Tristan Wolf on Facebook

Tristan Wolf on: Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.com

Planet Tristan Wolf on: Amazon.co.uk – Amazon.com