CINCINNATI (WXIX) – A Cincinnati woman is working to complete a major milestone as she battles cancer for the fourth time.
Julie Maggard has spent nearly the past decade battling cancer while also working to publish her first book. She has spent hundreds of hours in chemotherapy over the last eight and a half years.
“I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, and was given six months to live….I said no….I have things to do,” Maggard said.
Book inspired by family memories
Maggard came up with the idea for her book, “Grandpa Charlie the worm eater,” during one of her several fights with cancer.
“I wrote the book years ago, but never did anything with it and I just found the perfect person to help me put it on paper, so that was about 3 years ago,” she said.
The book is based on a tradition between her and her cousins growing up and memories she has with her family.
“It’s about my grandpa. He had 34 grandchildren, so when you have that many grandkids, you have to get creative on how to entertain them and how to keep them out of your hair, and so he would eat worms for us,” Maggard said.
Cancer returns despite treatment
Maggard started chemotherapy three years ago to try and stop the cancer from coming back, but recently doctors discovered the treatment was no longer working.
“Unfortunately, it has come back, and I don’t know where we go from here,” she said.
She now has cancer in her liver, spine and two lymph nodes.
“This is the fourth time it’s came back, and each time we go through treatment and my body responds well to treatment and it goes away, and pops its ugly head up and we have to start over again,” Maggard said.
Watch anytime, anywhere with FOX19 NOW+(WXIX)Goal to read to great-grandchild
Maggard said the book has been an outlet for her during this difficult period in her life. She is looking forward to reading the book to a new member of the family.
“Our very first great grandbaby, due on Mother’s Day, actually- May 10th. So that’s my goal, to read it to that baby,” she said.
She said she is optimistic this first book will not be her last.
“I have another story once we get past this one about grandpa, so maybe make a series,” Maggard said.
Her family said they now have a publication date on Amazon for the book on Dec. 10.
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