Review
KIRKUS REVIEWS
TITLE INFORMATION
DADDY'S GIRL
A Father, His Daughter, and the Deadly Battle She Won
Michael Schnabel
Armin Lear Press (314 pp.)
$19.99 paperback
ISBN: 9781956450361 March 23, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
This debut memoir follows a father and his family in the Midwest joining the battle against the cancer attacking his daughter.
In 2005, Schnabel and his wife, Colleen, were excited to hear that they would be new grandparents. But before long, their expectant daughter, Stephanie, was racked with serious abdominal pains and some bleeding. While she believed this was cancer, she told no one and refused any medical testing that might put her unborn baby at risk. The 27-year-old sixth grade teacher and her architect husband, Mark, soon welcomed a healthy son. Unfortunately, Stephanie's pain and bleeding hardly let up, and a doctor finally diagnosed her with colon cancer. She needed not only surgery, but months of chemotherapy at a Kansas cancer research center as well. It was an arduous and often scary fight, but not one that she had to handle alone. Her family became a "Team of Five"—Stephanie with her parents, her husband, and even her baby boy, Caden. They supported and championed her through each of her treatments while getting updates on her condition that weren't always promising. Friends and colleagues were equally encouraging, including someone at the architectural firm giving his vacation days to Mark and neighbors starting a fund to help cover medical bills. Schnabel had to watch his daughter suffer and sometimes doubted whether she would make it past her illness. But as Stephanie vowed to see Caden grow and be there for his first day of school, she proved she had the strength and fortitude to survive.
Despite Stephanie's harrowing journey to becoming cancer-free, Schnabel puts a positive spin on events in this autobiography. Periodic "life lessons," for example, are consistently upbeat and inspiring, even if they're familiar—"Find joy in simple things" and sincerely apologize after saying something hurtful to "begin the healing." Although part of a family of devout Roman Catholics, the author doesn't evangelize, opting to push a more universal message of staying optimistic even in the bleakest times. Humorous bits alleviate the grave subject matter. Schnabel praises Caden's "job of eating, sleeping, pooping, and providing ongoing entertainment," and owns up to the "grandparent delusion" that his grandson is the "best looking, smartest, and most talented child ever." Still, this book provides a lucid, engrossing view of what it's like to fight a merciless disease. The waiting room, for example, sparked a potpourri of experiences and feelings, from happy moments to restlessness, with the most headstrong individual not immune to an emotional breakdown. Alongside Stephanie's tumor-removing surgeries and bouts of chemo, the author relates highlights of her life—including memories that just popped in his head at the time. Schnabel evokes sympathy in a sublimely understated way, as he recalls the lackluster driving lesson he gave her and when, as a girl, she first exhibited her lifelong fear of needles. There's plenty in this candid memoir that readers can apply to their own lives, which the author essentially summarizes in his closing, supplying a series of tips to overcoming a "medical challenge."
A remarkable, hope-filled account of triumphing over a serious illness.
JULIA'S REVIEWS January 13, 2023
Daddy's Girl by Michael Schnabel is a powerful book that is truly inspiring. The author wrote the book for his grandson in order to journal his (the author) daughter's cancer journey.
What should have been the happiest time, the birth of a grandson, became the start of a rocky road as a cancer diagnosis was given. The future looked uncertain but baby Caden gave his mother Steph, a reason to fight. "Every time I worry about the cancer, I look at you (Caden) and have my reason to keep on fighting."
The author opened the book with: "Love is the bond that holds us together... Hope keeps us moving forward." This is not the journey of an individual, this is the journey of a family. Cancer does not affect one person in isolation but affects all those who know and love that person. Sometimes the family was fearful but they looked to God and they held on to hope.
Faith in God was strong. Despite all the tests, the health reports and fears, not once did they question God. "Steph has never asked, 'why is this happening to me?'" In fact in the midst of it all the author declares "I whisper a thank you prayer for all the blessings we have received." And there were many blessings and instances of God's provision.
This book is not a gloomy read. We hear of the cancer walk but also of life before the diagnosis as there are snippets of happier times.
Michael Schnabel also talks much about their faith as they fix their eyes on God. He reminds the reader that "in the presence of light, darkness recedes. Keep the faith."
Peppered throughout are 'life lessons'. These are nuggets of truth that can help all our lives - as we remember to love, to forgive and to hope.
After five years of being cancer free, Steph declares "live every moment - Laugh every day - Love beyond words."
We also hear of others who do not survive but who were helped by Steph having walked a similar road.
At the end of the book is a long list of lessons learnt over the years. It is inspiring.
Daddy's Girl is such a powerful read about an amazing family. I can really recommend it.
Incidentally 2022 was the year I walked with my husband through his cancer journey. It was a hard year. There were tears, there was love and there was faith. Without God, I would not have had the strength to walk through 2022 as I did. God kept us going. As did my connect group, who prayed when I had no words to pray.
So I stand with Michael Schnabel and I echo his words as I leave you with my favourite and most powerful quote:
"Sometimes we don't understand what is going on, because it's above our heads. But we must remember, if it's above our head, its still below God's feet."
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
