by Patty Elzinga

Patty Elzinga, owner of successful beauty salons, Heidi Christines Salons and Spas, for more than 20 years, was sidelined from her busy life when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004. Here, in her own words, Patty reveals the struggles and triumphs of her year-long battle as her friends and family rallied to support her. This deeply poignant account is full of insight, tender moments of both hope and despair, and solutions to some of the challenges she encountered during her treatment. Patty hopes to use her knowledge of the beauty industry and experiences with chemotherapy to help others. She and her husband, Bob, are small-town Midwest natives with four children and six grandchildren. They live in Lowell, Michigan.