This is the Blog Book Tour Review of Dr. Chad Moutray’s book My Life with Laura: A Love Story. Below is a quick synopsis of each of the stops along the Blog Book Tour. I enjoyed reviewing each and every stop on this successful tour. Honestly, it was just refreshing to read, listen, and feel how each of the people involved in this tour took what Chad wrote straight to the heart. I don’t think that Chad actually realized just how much it would affect so many people, in so many profound ways. Thank you Chad for contacting Fight Pink, and sharing such an emotional and spiritual journey with the world!

Day 1

Today is the final stop in the amazing Blog Book tour of My Life with Laura: A Love Story! Fight Pink was the first stop in this wonderful two week tour which included ten different blogs who either interviewd, wrote a book review, wrote a story, did a podcast and wrote about the “Breast Cancer Husband” perspective on life living with a breast cancer diagnosis. Fight Pink kicked off the Blog Book tour with Dr. Chad Mourtay. We did a podcast with him. It was a very fun and informative Pod cast. Make sure you take some time to listen to Stacy Martello talking with Dr. Chad Moutray on the amazing story he wrote about his life with Laura.

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Click play to start Fight Pink’s interview with Dr. Chad Moutray

Day Two

Day Two of the Blog Book tour brought us to Shannon, and her blog Fighting my Cancer. Shannon is a triple negative breast cancer survivor. Chad and Shannon met serendipidously a few months ago. Shannon said, “I did not want to use today’s blog entry to summarize Chad’s book. It is a memoir, chronological and factual. Instead I wanted to reflect more on the mystique of the breast cancer husband.” Within the interview posted on her blog she asked Chad many questions about being a breast cancer husband including: “Obviously, there was a tremendous amount of support from family, friends, and your church but, who was looking out for your well-being as a breast cancer husband?” Chad replied, that his church was instrumental in helping him cope. Many men from his church created a weekly prayer group to pray for Chad. Shannon was touched at how Chad was able to write his story to find relief from the horrible disease that look Laura’s life and ended their relationship. The life with Shannon’s breast cancer husband is ending and that story will be printed soon in the form of a Texas divorce decree. While Shannon’s breast cancer husband left her when she was diagnosed, she says of course there are always two sides to every story. Her story is a gift…One strange gift of cancer…knowing that when the supposed love of your life bails, you smile really big knowing that at least it’s not another cancer diagnosis! She has incredible strength, class, dignity, and her health. Shannon closes with the thought that “Chad Moutray’s book reminds us to be very careful what you take for granted.”

Shannon, we appreciate your perspective, and thank you for being part of this amazing blog book tour!

Day 3

Day 3 of the Blog Book Tour takes us to Jacki Donaldson’ blog Cancer Spot.org. She is a breast cancer survivor, 4 years now! She admits that it was tough for her to write the post. Why? She decided to share passages from Laura’s very personal diary. Something that Chad put into the book to share with the world. Chad admitted it was hard for him to read the passages not only because Laura had passed, but because men are taught not to read their wives, or girlfriends diaries. Jacki felt sad, and a bit guilty in a weird sort of way that she is living and Laura isn’t. Jacki says, “Laura had the same disease I had, and that makes me consider my own mortality (again).” While reading Jacki’s blog, you can feel what she feels. She brings you into her mind and heart. She talks about how “breast cancer swoops in, takes over and does what it wants.” In feeling that, we all know that cancer does what it wants, but if we arm ourselves with the sheilds and swords of awareness and be united in the cause, we can make a difference. Jacki is paying tribute to Laura by honoring her life that was lost along the way, hoping that it will empower those struggling with Breast cancer.

Thank you Jacki, for sharing your thoughts and feelings!

Day 4

Day 4 Make Some Lemonade! When Life gives you lemons, stick em’ in your bra! This is the 4th day of the Blog Book tour for Chad Mourtey’s book My Life With Laura: A Love Story. Gena Womack is a 30 year old middle school teacher with lots of spunk! Her blog is very uplifting, funny and very nice to look at! She writes, “Read with caution as it will take hold of your emotions and give you insights you never thought existed,” in her description of how Chad’s book affected her.

Gena gives her review of how the book made her “cry a river of tears, and shows how deeply Laura was loved.” Gena shares her insight into her feelings while reading the book and how she appreciated the “personal touch” of Laura’s journal entries that Chad shared throughout the book. Gena said that it gave the book a reality to relate, to know that they were real, and not just characters.

Gena said it best when she said, “Being a breast cancer survivor, this book covers many of the issues I constantly think about and even some I try to not even address out of fear. Chad covers it all and lets the reader know it is okay to go through the process. Like I said earlier, I admire Chad for his courage to write this book. It will forever be a part of me. After reading the book you will find yourself wanting to be a better person and embracing life with the spirit of Laura at your side. ”

Thank you Gena for your kind words (especially that the book “ROCKS”) and review of My Life with Laura: A Love Story.

Day 5

Day 5, The Uniboob Club! Christina Olachia’s wonderful blog which is entitled The Uniboob Club: Breast Cancer does not define me as a woman, but my battle with Breast Cancer Does! She claims that her blog is just the ramblings of a crazy, hear me roar, I am alive and still rockin’ with one real and 1/2 fake boob, breast cancer survivor! Christina is personally one of my favorite people on this planet. She and I have become great friends, and breast cancer brought us together! I thank goodness for MySpace where I found her, or she found Fight Pink, not sure which came first…

Christina is a beautiful person, and a triple negative Breast Cancer survivor. She and Laura were both diagnosed with triple negative which brought this closer to Christina’s heart. In her review of the book written by Chad, she talks about how “Laura was courageous in faith. She knew God’s grace and allowed herself to be a vessel of strength for all of us to embrace. In this book My Life with Laura: A Love Story, we learn how to be brave from Laura herself. Laura was beautiful, courageous and a true fighter.”

Christina shares her feelings: “In Chad’s telling, the reader is brought in on a personal level into the Moutray’s fight. This is a love story, beautiful, tragic and compelling. It is a journey through beauty, joy and struggle. As I read this book I felt as if I were personally invested in Laura and Chad.”

When you read how this book affected Christina, it brings you to a level of understanding and pulls you into Christina’s struggle while reading….her feelings of joy and hope…her feelings of being “part of the Moutray family.”

Christina closes her thoughts on the book with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson…”It is not length of life, but depth of life.” She said, “Laura knew this well. She left us all a life not only to remember, but a hope to live by.”

We thank you so much Christina for your profound words, and your ability to share such bare feelings.

Day 6

Day 6 keeps us rolling on this tour to Route 53 and blog owner Erik! Erik is the only MAN on this blog book tour. Chad and Erik have become somewhat of friends during this whole process. You see, Erik is a blogger, and his blog is mostly about his wife’s diagnosis of Breast cancer. It is amazing how tragedy brings the most unlikely people together, to help each other in times of need. Erik can really feel comfortable in talking with Chad, because Chad was there. Chad stated that Erik’s interview with him was “extensive, personal, and hopefully thought-provoking.”

Erik begins with how he would “hope to shed some insight on “the other half” of breast cancer. ” Erik talks about how Chad and he had “separately shared a life event as both of us became caregivers for our wives who had/have breast cancer.” Erik blog continues with some deep, thought provoking questions. One of my favorite questions that Erik asked Chad was about how he often got women who write him saying they wish their husband was as supportive and he always think that the moment you hear is when you know how you will be.

He asked Chad, “You and I both took that step forward instead of back To what do you attribute your strength in the face of Laura’s battle with cancer? What made you the supporting husband that you were?”

Chad’s answer surprised me, he referred to two things. His Grandfather and his faith. His Grandfather because he saw his Grandfather take care of his Grandmother during a few illnesses, and saw his Grandfather as a “rock”, a pillar of strength for family. He used that memory to draw from. He also said his faith. His faith which grew as time progressed with Laura’s illness.

Erik asked another question of Chad, “If you could give advice to other men (and wives) out there who are going through rough times in their battle, what would you tell them?” Chad stated, “Life does not always go according to plan, and it is easy to say the cliche, “That is not what I signed up for” and call it quits. Laura and I met, fell in love, got married, and had a child; it was the typical life plan. But, then it changed, and life became difficult.” He never entertained the thought of leaving Laura. Although not all men stay during times of great difficulty and stress, Chad said he “never thought” of leaving Laura.

The interview is extensive and so thought provoking, I can’t do it justice here, so please visit Erik’s blog Route 53 to read the whole interview. Thank you Erik for asking the questions that some wouldn’t have the insight to ask!

Day 7

The blog book tour continues with Angi, and her blog…Cancer is not a death sentence! Angi is a really an amazing woman. I have come to know her over the past few months, and have spoken to her many times, as we shared stories and pain and fear and joy. I met Angi online as I did Christina. Angi even lived in Las Vegas for a time, alas I did not even know of her then. I brought up the idea of her being part of Chad’s blog book tour, and even though her blog title is contradictory to the story of Laura, I felt it was appropriate, and asked Chad to contact her.

Angi did an incredible job of expressing her feelings about how she felt while reading the book, “Though I set out with a promise not to cry when I read the book, I can say that the shear magnitude of real and raw emotions portrayed left me with no other choice in the matter.” She set out to read the book and then talk to Chad and ask a few questions – Angi said, “but by time I finished the book I was so flooded with tears I could hardly lay down and go to sleep, let alone think a single thought. I laid there and sobbed uncontrollably.” Wow…..while I am re reading her accounts of reading the book, I sit here with tears flowing down my cheeks, and feel the power of the amazing words that Chad wrote.

Angi quoted several of her most favorite quotes from the book in her blog. One of the most touching and most revealing quotes was when Chad said, “Her breathing had been erratic for some time, but it was not until I sat beside her and held her hand that she let go. I do not know if that notion is true – that Laura waited for me before she died. Regardless, I was so happy that it was just the two of us together when she passed. I will never forget that last moment with Laura for as long as I live. Although it was tragic, it was at the same time profoundly romantic – the two of us holding hands just as Laura’s spirit was released to heaven.” That quote leaves me speechless.

Angi looked at this story as a Love Story. She wanted to make sure that everyone knew that. Angi said, “There are many details to this story, and the story’s main focus is NOT about the cancer, but rather their life together. I think this book serves as a beautiful reminder of that life and love, and it’s something their daughter will cherish forever. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it because of those reasons.”

Angi felt as if she had lost a friend, because of the inviting way that Chad had written the book. Angi walked away sad that Breast cancer had claimed another life, but touched that Chad loved her more than enough to showcase their love story for the world.

Angi, thank you for your tears, and for your touching words…that mean so much!

Day 8

Day 8 takes us to the blog Cancer Book Review and Tina Koral. I met Tina while reading up on Breast cancer when I was diagnosed last year. Since then, Tina is a regular writer in the Fight Pink writers corner. Tina is a published author with her book If I Just Breathe, where she talks about being a breast cancer patient, being misdiagnosed, and being so young. Tina was diagnosed late, because her doctors didn’t think she could have Breast cancer at such a young age. Tina writes on her blog. “As a breast cancer survivor, I was a bit hesitant to take this book on. In general, I don’t enjoy reading of people dying from cancer. It scares me. I knew I would have trouble reading this story in particular, because Laura and Chad’s daughter Charlotte was just two when she lost her mom, about the same age as my own daughter.”

Tina, once she got past the initaial hesitation did say that she enjoyed the book, even though she actually knew she would picture herself in Laura’s situation, and she was not sure she wanted to go there. Upon finishing the book, she realized that while some parts were very sad and a little too close for her, she enjoyed it. Tina said, “I’m glad to have read it. We need to read books like this.”

Thank you Tina for your great review of My Life with Laura: A Love Story!

Day 9

Clergygirl is the 9th stop in the blog book tour! Jennifer Starr-Reivitt is the Clergygirl! She takes a different and spiritual approach to showcasing Chad’s book. Jennifer was diagnosed much like Laura, and was told she had mastitis after nursing her newborn. She has taken up the cause of educating women, and doctors on the danger of misdiagnosis mastitis. In her review, she relates Laura’s struggle with that of Hannah in 1Samuel.

Jennifer said, “How hard it must be to give yourself over to God, a living sacrifice, ready and willing for anything, including death. And trust that His way is far greater than our way. His wisdom far exceeds our knowledge and understanding.” This is a profound statement, and one that makes us think how our life is really in the hands of God.

“She continued to glorify God, and drew hope from His Word, in the face of death,” Jennifer said. She enjoyed the experience of reading such an amazing book of faith, and love and heartache.

Jennifer closes with, “And that a precious little girl, Charlotte, and her father Chad need our diligent and faithful prayers as they continue on this life journey.”

Jennifer we appreciate your vision and faith, thank you for being an integral part of this Journey.

Day 10

Well the final stop for the blog book tour brings us to The Serendipity Factory and my friend Traci. Traci has a wonderful site which is a resource for encouragement and inspiration. They honor people for being true to themselves and their dreams. They believe in collecting and sharing happy discoveries that make the world a brighter place.

Traci says, “I enjoyed reading Chad’s memoir, and it was a great learning experience as well. This book would be a great resource for a person who has cancer — to learn from Laura’s attitude, and to understand how a relationship with the Lord can help sustain them through their trials. It is also a great resource for a family member or friend to understand what a person battling cancer is going through, and to learn the little things you can do to provide support.” Traci interviewed Chad and asked him some very important and intriguing questions.

Traci talked about how some of Laura’s thoughts that were from her personal journals, really moved her. She was so awed by “Laura’s ability to make sense of her battle, her beautiful attitude, her unshakable faith and her selflessness.”

One of Laura’s journal entries that was in the book was, “Be happy. Seek God. Be true to yourself. Life is too short to be miserable, and who knows what tomorrow brings. My life has been filled with joy, and I pray that it continues to be so. Some days are slower than others, some are tougher. Such is the ebb and flow of life. Seek meaning in troubled times (especially then) for that is when God is teaching us.”

All of Laura’s journal entries are so amazing and inspiring. We are so thankful that Chad was able to convey Laura’s message and show us not only her story of being a cancer patient, but her shining spirit!

Traci has a great interview with Chad, and I can not do it justice here, please take the time to read her interview. Thank you for the interview Traci!

Well that covers The Blog Book Tour! We visited many cities while traveling on this blog book tour, we visited Nevada, Texas, California, Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Washington, D.C., California again, and D.C. again. Whew…that was a cross country whirl wind of a blog book tour!

We thank Dr. Chad Moutray for this wonderful book, and wish he and Charlotte the most amazing sucess in their life, their faith, and their journey!

Stacy Martello