Shannon Joy Mekeel
My blogs
| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Occupation | Author |
| Location | St Petersburg, FL, United States |
| Introduction | When my husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I searched for a blog like this for support and sanity. But there was none to be found. I couldn't believe that we weren't warned about what was to come, but his doctors just told us to "enjoy the rollercoaster ride that is androgen deprivation therapy," I was scared because the treatment that was supposed to save my husband's life was changing who he was. With no support system, I started journaling, and I went on trips because I didn't want to fight with him and make things worse. My journal became the most profound way for us to communicate while I was visiting my girlfriends around Florida. I refer to them as mermaids because each of them saved me from drowning in their own way. My 30-day journal became a love letter to my husband and then it evolved into something more important. Prostate cancer was the catalyst, but my memoirs, entitled You Have Arrived - inspired by my GPS while I was traveling - absorbed my greatest fears. Through sharing my truth and bearing it all I know that I will connect with others who are also hurting in their own way, because quite frankly, we have got to start talking about the hard stuff again. |
| Interests | workplace advocacy, feminism, workplace diagnostics, spouse awareness, prostate cancer's effects on intimate partner, androgen deprivation therapy, preventing divorce because of prostate cancer |
| Favorite movies | Truman Show, The Big Blue, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty Woman |
| Favorite music | country, classical, rock, pop, jazz, R&B |
| Favorite books | Eat Pray Love, Big Magic, The Red Tent, Evergreen, Wild, The Angel Makers |