Not wanting to hide her illness from her three young girls, Rhonda made it a point to be open and explained every step of her treatment in such a way that even a 4-year-old could understand.

This openness not only prepared the children for what to expect, it created an environment that allowed Sally, her youngest, to ask questions, voice her observations, and make comments about her mother's illness. Her candidness allowed the Zwebers to view cancer from a child's perspective and ultimately made living with the disease easier for the whole family, even as Rhonda went through aggressive treatments.

In just one year, Rhonda underwent several rounds of chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, a bilateral mastectomy, radiation, breast reconstruction, and a hysterectomy. But through it all, the family maintained their regular schedules, refusing to let cancer take over their lives and Sally's comments became an integral part of the journey.

In an effort to preserve Sally's words and help her family and friends remember the journey, Rhonda kept a journal throughout her treatment. Though it was not her initial intention to publish it as a book, Rhonda recognized the potential her daughter's words had to help other families in similar situations. So with encouragement from family and friends, Rhonda turned her journal into "Mommy's Hats."

The 36-page book is filled with Sally's own words that express the honest and innocent experience of a 5-year-old throughout her mother's battle, accompanied by photos of the family on the good days as well as the bad.

The title refers to the many hats she wore throughout her treatment, but Rhonda admits that the hats were more for other people's comfort, also noting that choosing to be open and honest about her illness put people at ease.

"Mommy's Hats" is an inspirational book that provides hope and shows that cancer doesn't have to be scary, sad, or negative. Rhonda says her goal is "to hand this book to someone personally and say, 'Here, this will help.'"

About the Author

Rhonda grew up in a small town in Minnesota, and she still lives within a few miles of her childhood home. She lives in Prior Lake with her husband, Val, and their three daughters, Ashley, Hailey, and Sally. She is a full-time mom who enjoys helping out at church and at her children's school. Despite her ordeal, she feels blessed that she is able to share her story with the rest of the world.

To order a copy of Mommy's Hats By Rhonda Zweber, please click here:

http://www.eloquentbooks.com/MommysHats.html