When I was little, I
wanted to be a veterinarian because I have always loved animals. My dream was
to own horses and be a vet at a zoo. But that all changed suddenly when I
diagnosed with brain cancer.
The surgery, chemo and radiation treatment were
awful. For eight weeks after my surgery, I could not walk, talk, move my hands,
eat, and had to have everything done for me. It was a very frightening time for
me. It was my animals that helped me get through my illness and treatment. In
fact, my parents promised me an animal after every treatment cycle to get me to
co-operate. Animals helped me in ways that no person ever could. When I was
able to return to school, it was difficult.
My classmates treated me
differently. I felt like they treated me like a glass doll and no one would
come close to me for fear I would break. I could no longer do the things with
my friends that I used to do before I got sick. I could not walk, let alone run
and play tag with my friends without falling. My voice sounded funny because my
vocal cords were affected. I had to wear a hat because I had no hair. My hands
were weak and I had trouble writing and doing things. I used to have so many
friends and could do so many things. It was my animals that helped me get
through these difficult times. They do not care if you do not have any hair, or
can't walk well, they just loved you unconditionally and not for your
appearance or abilities.
Despite all that
happened to me, I was a fighter. I was not going to let the cancer or the
limitations it left me with win. I knew I could not pursue becoming a vet so I
volunteered at a local zoo and worked with the zookeepers. I loved volunteering
and helping them care for the different animals. However, I soon realized that
I did not have the strength or endurance or even the height to do the work of
an animal keeper. I am only 4'8 because of the radiation to my spine and will
not grow any taller. Even though I am 19 years old, people mistake me for being
only 10 yrs old. I kept searching for how could I fulfill my dream to work with
animals.
I have always loved taking photos of animals. When I was little, my
parents would give me and my sisters a disposable camera whenever we went on
vacation. They encouraged us to take pictures of our vacation. Well when we got
our film developed, my photos were all of the dogs that I saw! So when I had
the opportunity to take a digital photography class my senior year of high
school, I did. My teacher early on told me that she saw potential in my
photography skills.
She said I could tell stories through my photos. Of course,
the majority of my photos were of animals. It was when I was in my first
college class that I realized how I could use my love and passion for animals.
I was given an assignment to put together a project that showed what my career
goals were.
I had been volunteering with foster children and preschoolers at
St. Joseph Children's Home and Child Development Center and decided that
I would share my love of animals with young children and help them learn to see
the beauty and detail of all animals using my photographs and creating a
children's photo book. And so with the wonderful guidance of Lisa Umina at Halo
Publishing, I have published my work, "What Do You See When You Look at
Me?'.
With my book I hope to not only help young children learn to appreciate
animals and the world we live in but to inspire others, like many of the foster
kids, who have had bad things happen to them. I am using proceeds from my book
to give back to the different groups who have not only helped me in my journey
but believed in me and gave me chance. When these people looked at me, they did
not see what the cancer did to me but they saw potential and good. I want
people to realize that when you reach out and encourage someone, you really do
make a difference in their life. And most of all I want people to know that no
matter what happens to you in life, you can always choose to take something bad
that happens and turn it into something good, just have faith in God.
About the Author:
Sarah E. Sauer is a childhood brain cancer survivor. She is
also an animal lover. Sarah’s love of animals was something she drew on for
strength throughout her illness. In her first children’s book, Sarah shares her
love and respect for wildlife animals through her photos she took for her high
school digital photography class. Sarah is currently studying early childhood
education and hopes to share her love and knowledge of animals to promote and
develop an appreciation of wildlife in young children. She currently lives in
Corydon, IN with her family and her horses, llamas, donkey, cats and dogs.
Author website http://www.halopublishing.com/bookstore/Sarah-Sauer
Publisher website http://halopublishing.com/
Find out more about Sarah E. Sauer and her book at the World
of Ink Author/Book Tour, visit http://tinyurl.com/carfswr
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