February 25, 2016 – Margaret’s memoir, My Parting Gift: A Memoir For Roy James Rattenbury, is a very touching and honest chronicle of her marriage to a man who was stricken with cancer and died from it. It records her long, loving support to her husband, discusses her psychic pain and healing and outlines the lessons she learned in her quest to achieve resiliency. It would be of great value to anyone involved in that same quest.
-J.J. Barr, Author, Delta, BC
April 16, 2015 – Once I started to read this book I could not put it down. A couple who found true love later in life only to find their journey cut short. A very well written, loving, heartwarming and inspiring read. So proud of you.
-Shirley Beaton, Burnaby, BC
February 27, 2015 – I found this book to be both gripping and heartwarming and a compelling read. From the start this book was riveting, to know that these two individuals, so together in soul and spirit, so much in love, were now at risk of being torn apart by illness was heart wrenching. They clung to each other in all their trials and tribulations and through their love and devotion worked in harmony, knowing that all things are possible. I was very impressed by the ability of Jim and Margaret to have the emotional strength to start their search for a cure so soon after Jim was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and by their refusal to accept the doctors’ advise to make the best of what they had. This is an amazing story of courage and fortitude. I learned that in all adversities it is better to hope than despair. I learned that life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. A gripping story of strength and endurance of true love and friendship and overcoming hardships. My Parting Gift is an interesting and decisive account of a loving couples journey to find a cure for cancer and the exceptional length they went to save themselves with great cost to their emotional well-being, for the survivor travels this long journey with and without their soul mate by their side…
– Teresa McDonnell, Delta, BC
January 21, 2015 – “‘My Parting Gift’ gets right to the core of human emotions when confronted with the passing of a loved one. Margaret has depicted the love, the challenges, the fight, the loss, and then ultimately the unexpected aftermath of anger, resentment, and hostility of divided family members. I found it compulsive reading and couldn’t put the book down. There were so many recognizable “ah ha” moments contained within the pages which will help soften the loneliness of grief for many. I just loved this book – it is a beautiful treasure trove of healing.”
– GD, Vancouver BC
January 21, 2015 – “Oh my goodness ‘My Parting Gift’ is beautiful… I flipped it open and it landed on the page with a photo of you and Dr Gong ..my Mum called him The King because she said he rocked on his feet like Yul Brenner in the King and I. I cried, laughed, reflected… amazingly well written and Jim’s poem for you took my breath away..beautiful. So many evocative memories ..I briefly read some parts and your recollection of the Haidan Hilton – it is so much clearer than mine ..I had forgotten the near hysteria caused by a Blue Sky day 🙂 I can almost smell the place again ..all the memories just flooded back …it was as if I had just just arrived there. I too got my breakfast from the Bread shop at the bottom of the escalator in the mall. Well was actually breakfast, lunch and dinner. My mum was very fond of you and Jim and loved nurse Oh. I will cherish this memoir, I know reading it will be cathartic, it will certainly be emotional, thank you so much … Much love”
– Elizabeth Murphy, Toronto, Ontario
January 24, 2015 “Thank you so much for your book. I picked it up last night and couldn’t put it down all evening. I loved it! I actually decided to read the last third first which I had not read or was not written when you sent me your copies that you were working on. I confess I cried for you … several parts that so touched me. How you organized and brought together the insights, recommendations, quotes and excerpts was so well done. I truly was impressed and I think the book would be very helpful to others in similar situations and with such excruciating losses. I already have gotten help out of it myself. It is a self help book for sure and I know you wanted to be able to give that back. You have shown a great deal of honesty and strength writing this and I can read how difficult that was for you at times. I shall now read the rest of the book over the next couple of days but I just wanted to let you know how wonderful , I think it is already. Your mother would have been so proud of you. Congratulations!!”
– Patricia Hansen, Egmont, BC
February 26th, 2015 – “A poignant and thoughtfully crafted story with highly relevant insights and wisdom on ways for us all to build resilience and fortitude. Many readers will gain inspiration and focus from reading this compelling literary work.”
– Mike Thompson, Victoria, bC
Resilience for Joyful Living 