Graduation of a Soul: A Life Awakened by Cancer by Linda Trummer—Book Review
Updated: 4 days ago
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV
While I’m sure Linda Trummer would say her life is far from royal, she has certainly used her experiences to make a difference in the lives of others. After realizing she had survived what she once thought was her cancer diagnosis expiration date, she started a Facebook group, Mantle Cell Lymphoma: The Journey—to share hope and provide a safe place for members to share their hopes and fears related to the disease.
The Journey has become a lifeline for its 2,900 members from around the world.
Linda shares the good, the bad, and the ugly of her cancer treatments and their aftermath. She is a maestro of words, and her memoir is a beautiful symphony even when she reveals the darkest of times. Anyone living with a chronic disease will find inspiration and relate to her experiences.
After overcoming her tumultuous early life, Linda championed children who experienced trauma no child should have to endure. She also worked to help parents who struggled to parent because they had never been parented themselves. The hardships of all those she worked with weighed heavily on her mental and physical health. So when she received her Mantle Cell Lymphoma diagnosis in 2015, she was no stranger to shattered lives.
During treatment, her poetry blossomed and became a source of strength. Here are two beautiful examples:
“Full Circle”
I walked through fire, and somehow found my way back to light. Not the same Light I knew before—but a softer one, one that understands shadows.
“Looking Back”
I didn’t know I was healing, not at first.
I only knew I was breathing,
And sometimes that’s the beginning.
Linda also might be compared to the Unsinkable Molly Brown. Mantle Cell Lymphoma could be likened to a sinking ship without enough lifeboats. But Linda doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who’d claim a lifeboat seat while leaving others to go down with the ship. I see her gathering passengers and helping them figure out what they can use to stay afloat until help arrives.
The way Linda has chosen to celebrate life by serving others is an inspiration. I couldn’t put the book down until I finished it.
Graduation of a Soul: A Life Awakened by Cancer is available on Amazon.
Blessings,
Angela
Angela’s husband was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma in January, 2026. She blogs about their experiences living with and receiving treatment for MCL. Check out her blogs. If you’d like to receive occasional updates on her husband’s health or humorous glimpses of everyday life—join her monthly email list by clicking the “Join Now” button and providing your name and email address.
To read: Starting Treatment for Mantle Cell Lymphoma After Six Months on Watch-and-Wait by clicking the button below.
Angela L. Gold is an encourager who shares the love of Christ in her writing. She is the author of The Lion Within and Kill Shot.
