We are pleased to introduce Charlotte Stiverson as this week’s Feature Friday. She has lived in Columbus for most of her life and has been a 4th grade teacher at Columbus School for Girls for over 25 years. She enjoys hiking, knitting, sewing, baking, being outside, writing and travel. 
When Charlotte would go to her chemotherapy treatments, she wanted to read a children’s book that would help explain to her students in a gentle, but realistic way what would happen as she went through chemotherapy. After not finding a book to explain this, one of the oncology nurses encouraged her to write a picture book. After working with experts and finding the right illustrator, Kati Aitken, Nellie’s Walk was published in August 2016 by the Oncology Nursing Society. To read more about it, visit https://cstiverson.wixsite.com/books.
You can also visit Charlotte this Sunday, October 22 at 1pm at the Book Loft for a signing. In addition, the Book Loft plans to donate 20% of the profit sales of this book to Komen Columbus.
And now, to learn more about Charlotte.
1.) When did you get diagnosed with breast cancer?
On June 12, 2012, during the first week of summer vacation.
2.) How old were you?
53 years old.
3.) What type of breast cancer were you diagnosed with and what was your treatment? HER2Neu Positive, Stage IA Grade 3, size 1.7 cm in left breast, with 2nd tumor in situ. Mastectomy of left breast and 13+ months of treatments A/C (Andriamycin & Cytoxan), Taxol, & Herceptin (finished treatments on November 1, 2013, with 44 treatments)
4.) Who inspires you today and inspired you to not give up hope when you were fighting cancer?
My husband, my mother, and my cat are always there to understand, help and support. The oncology nurses became friends. Dear friends, my teaching partner, and other family members continually offer support. New friends, who also shared the breast cancer journey, are a part of my life now.
5.) What advice or encouragement do you have for someone still going through treatment or has a loved one going through it?
Listen to your needs and take time to work through them. Keep asking questions until you understand the answer or decision. Work with doctors you trust and respect. Say thank you to your support team. For me, daily walking, hiking, and being outdoors helped to restore my thoughts.
While it is not pleasant to discover that you have breast cancer, it is an experience to 
make lemonade out of lemons. I have learned so many new things, have discovered more (both old and new) friends, and now look at the world and life from a different perspective. The experience also encouraged me to take on new challenges that relate to the growth during this cancer journey, such as writing Nellie’s Walk. Not only did Nellie’s Walk provide time for me to reflect on the cancer experience and learn more about it, but it allowed me the opportunity to create a picture book to help others, especially in the area of adults explaining the side effects of chemotherapy to younger children in a gentle, non-threatening manner.
make lemonade out of lemons. I have learned so many new things, have discovered more (both old and new) friends, and now look at the world and life from a different perspective. The experience also encouraged me to take on new challenges that relate to the growth during this cancer journey, such as writing Nellie’s Walk. Not only did Nellie’s Walk provide time for me to reflect on the cancer experience and learn more about it, but it allowed me the opportunity to create a picture book to help others, especially in the area of adults explaining the side effects of chemotherapy to younger children in a gentle, non-threatening manner.
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