Nolan would grow stronger each day, but it was a long process. Day after day, Nolan had to work hard, to fight hard. It was terribly upsetting for me to watch him and see his determination, his lively will, and also his sweet nature. Mom said, “He’s a lot like someone else I know. I’ve seen this before. Tough and feisty, and the sweetest little thing.”
Seventy-three days later, Nolan came home happy and healthy.
I think my son is like my dad and Aunt Sue, and I hope he is like me—faced with incredible challenges, never giving up, and trying to do it all with a smile. We’re a family of fighters. We’re unsnappable.
Acknowledgments
Dear Susan,
Writing this book has been as much a part of our story together as anything else we’ve done. I’ve watched you write as the months have gone by. Undeterred you kept going. We’d talk, laugh, and sometimes cry, and then you’d write some more. We’d get stuck morning, noon, and late into the night. You’d call to me from over our store desk, voice brimming with frustration, “Come on, Mom. What comes next? What’s the next word?” Then, you’d put your head back down and start writing again, asking, “How does this sound?”
There were moments when I feared you wanted to quit, but I desperately hoped you wouldn’t. And you didn’t, you pushed yourself to write more and you pushed me to stay with it too. Thank you. I didn’t want to let you down and with that I’ve relived some of my happiest and saddest moments. All along, I believed this was your story to tell. It just took some time to find the right words. And you did.
Love,
Mom
I was never into books as a kid. It’s probably because reading wasn’t my strong suit. My grandpa couldn’t believe I didn’t like reading, and the fact that Mom and I wrote our own book would blow him away! Honestly, I’m still not sure how we pulled it off either, but I am proud of the writing, the story telling, and our effort to share what we hope is even just a glimmer of inspiration. That’s what kept me wanting to get this thing right. That hope that we could inspire even one reader.
We are grateful to those who have helped us along the way, but I must first say this book would not have happened without my mom. She was the steady voice saying “You can do this” when I doubted. I’ll never forget our tears and uncontrollable laughter in writing The Cookie Cure. Mom, we did it!
There wouldn’t be a book without our dedicated literary agent, Jo-Lynne Worley. The Worley-Shoemaker agency has stood by us from the beginning. Jo-Lynne and Joanie, thank you for believing in us and continually telling us to keep writing. A special thank you to the late Dr. Kathy Cramer for once telling us that someone would want to read what we have to say. To our editor, Anna Michels, thank you for your patience in working on this project with us. We are grateful for our publisher and the entire team at Sourcebooks.
It goes without saying that Aunt Sue has a special place in my heart. This certainly would have been a very different story without her, perhaps no story at all. If I could give all this back to meet her for five minutes, I would. But, that’s not how it works. Aunt Sue—I am better for “knowing” you.
Dad, thank you for being adamant that I write what I know. You are the most supportive and caring father. Your selflessness doesn’t go unnoticed. I have been blessed with wonderful parents and to be a part of a fun and loving family. To Robert, Luke, and Carey, I am lucky to call you, not only my siblings, but my friends. And Carey, where in the world would I be without you? You are priceless.
To Randy, I know you didn’t really want your name in the book, and if so you wanted to be “Gustavo”…sorry! Thank you for not laughing when I said, “gingersnap company” years ago, and “writing a book” years later. Your love and confidence have pushed me to be the best version of myself. You and I are better because we’re together. And to my sweet boy, Nolan. You are the pure joy in each day.
And from Mom:
Ken, your “it’s not about me” attitude is unmatched. Not only did you protect the kids from your worries, I know you protected me too. I am grateful for you and each day we have together. To my children, Robert, Susan, Luke, and Carey, I am proud of the caring people you have become. There is nothing better than listening to your hysterical banter around the table! I love being your mom. I hope you carry my aunt Sue stories with you always. Randy, I’ve witnessed your courage during life-shattering moments. You know you are an exceptional person to me. And Nolan, you are the most unexpected gift.
To my parents, Bob and Connie Carver, it is my good fortune to be your daughter. For Mother, who lived by the motto “I only knew to carry on.” And Dad, for reminding me to “Lean on me. My shoulders are broad.” I did, and thank you. To Chris and John, and your memories of the happy days we shared with Sue as the Carver kids. Also, I have a special thank you for Hoxsie for giving Sue so much joy and happiness. I am exceedingly grateful for our lasting friendship. And to Andrea for your generosity in making that possible. To my uncle, Don McNamee, for his own quiet courage and generous support.
Mom and I are grateful to our incredible friends. Thank you to Anastasia, Stephanie, Gracie, Ellen, Claire, Brenda, and Luanne for being the voices of encouragement along the way. We also feel grateful for our dear friend Sister Sally White, GNSH, for her every prayer.
I wish to especially acknowledge Dr. Joan Weens, MD, for her integral part in saving my life and my dad’s. We are grateful for, not only her brilliance, but also her compassion. Thank you to the amazing doctors, nurses, and staff at Atlanta Cancer Care, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Emory. Dr. Michael Seyfried, MD, thank you for never being too busy for your patients.
To the cancer researchers and fundraising organizations—keep going. Your work makes a difference. We are acutely aware that every hour someone is hearing the words they never wanted to hear. Nothing about that is okay.
One last thing, there have been countless people cheering Mom and I along from the very beginning. Whether it was a kind word, comment, suggestion, phone call, email, interview, article, television segment, or photograph you have our sincere gratitude. You kept us going and helped get our cookie idea from garage to store to the nation, and even more so, you helped keep a cookie with a message of hope alive.
Thank you,
Susan
About the Authors
Photo credit: Jenica Johnson
Susan Stachler is a cancer survivor and cofounded Susansnaps with her mom, Laura Stachler. Susan graduated from Auburn University and lives in Atlanta with her husband and son. Laura graduated from the University of Southern California is the mother to four children and also resides in Atlanta with her husband, Ken. After surviving Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age twenty-two, Susan joined her mother in her dessert business and began building their now nationally recognized cookie company, Susansnaps. Laura and Susan went from caregiver and patient to entrepreneurs and, through it all, mother and daughter. Their unique gingersnap cookie company, Susansnaps, is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
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