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Only Ltrek Like If!
"You tried to put on this brave face because
you went intending to cheer her up. Instead,
the very first thing she did was to cheer you
up."
— Rabbi Daniel Nevins
The Book's Genesis
In the book's introduction, Saylor
recounts visiting the gift shop Susie
Graham ran at the time near her
West Bloomfield home. He hoped to
convince her to stock a book that he
wrote.
As they talked that fall day in 2005,
Susie said she and Bill had an idea for
a book, too. It would be about Alex
and her battle with cancer, but also the
power of a wish and how it changed
lives. "I know her story can encourage
and inspire others, especially those
facing adversity in their lives:' Susie
told Saylor.
A follow-up meeting crystallized
the book's theme. Saylor writes that
he and the Grahams "agreed the story
they wanted to tell was not only about
Alex, but the people she knew and
loved. It was about how a life-threaten-
ing illness impacts both the individual
and that person's family and friends.
It was about how the choices we make
today can influence the present and
the future."
Saylor continues, "Doors of oppor-
tunity and adversity force us to make
life-altering decisions. The way in
which we respond reflects our charac-
ter and may one day define our legacy"
He concludes: "Listen and learn
from the many voices in Alex's life as
they share their perspective on what
transpired and their personal thoughts
on living a life that matters."
A Big Heart
The Grahams will donate their share
of the book sales to the Make-A-
Wish Foundation of Michigan (www.
wishmich.org), the American Cancer
Society (www.cancer.org) and other
causes that help very ill children.
Alex's dream in her never-say-die
waning days was a public service
announcement in which kids with
cancer asked other kids to smile at
them, not stare. The 60-second TV
spot touched countless viewers as
Alex and nine other kids afflicted
with cancer playfully shared that
inspired message. It was Alex's intent
to be a godsend whether she survived
or not.
The book title, When One Door
Closes, derives from inventor
Alexander Graham Bell, who said:
"When one door closes, another
opens; but we often look so long and
so regretfully upon the closed door
that we do not see the one which has
opened for us."
At a pre-publication event held June
18 at Specialties Showroom in Berkley,
Bill Graham admired his daughter's
life and wish. Mindful of her spirit,
he told guests: "Be humble, be kind
and bring joy and hope to your fellow
human beings."
Sprinkled through When One Door
Closes are quotes from Alex's diary.
One entry beautifully characterizes
who she was: "I am a feather with the
heart of a stallion."
That illustrates the dustcover testi-
monial from Rabbi Harold Kushner,
author of When Bad Things Happen
to Good People: "A moving story of a
brave girl who confronted tragedy not
by asking, 'Why me?' but by asking,
"What can I do with this to help oth-
ers?" ❑
"When One Door Closes: A Teen's Inspiring
Journey and Living Legacy," Three Dot,
LLC, $24.95. Pre-order a copy at Barnes &
Noble's special pre-publication rate, $18.71:
www.alexswish.com.
"When One Door Closes is Alex's story. Sometimes a young person is
an Old Soul, someone whose wisdom, compassion, capacity for love and
courage could not possibly be learned in the course of their short life-
time. To meet someone like this is to confront mystery — and be blessed
by it. Blessings to you, Alex. May your light shine on and on."
- Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D, author of Kitchen Table Wisdom
and clinical professor, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
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