DEGREE ARSON. NEW AT SIX AN ANKENY MOM AND CANCER SURVIVOR IS SHARING HER STORY THROUGH A NEW BOOK. WE FIRST INTRODUCED YOU TO LISA LUND DURING THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC AS KCCI. ETHAN HUMBLE REPORTS. SHE’S NOW TEACHING HER TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS ABOUT HER SICKNESS IN WAYS THEY CAN UNDERSTAND. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR REESIE. WHETHER SHE’S CELEBRATING HER DAUGHTER’S AT HOME TO YOU OR WORKING ON EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AT IOWA STATE, LISA LUND HAS BEEN KEEPING HERSELF BUSY IN RECENT YEARS, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HER STAGE FOUR LYMPHOMA DIAGNOSIS BACK IN 2020. JUST SIX WEEKS AFTER HER FIRST DAUGHTER, QUINN, WAS BORN. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY TOUGH. PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING I’VE EVER HAD TO DO. BUT NOW 33 YEAR OLD LISA HAS BEEN IN REMISSION SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2020. AND SHE AND HER HUSBAND, NICK, NAMED THEIR SECOND DAUGHTER, REESE, AFTER HER ONCOLOGIST, LIVING THE MOM LIFE SUPER BUSY. SO TRYING TO KEEP THE REGULAR WORK LIFE SCHEDULE. BUT THEN ON THE WEEKENDS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN. NOW SHE’S WRITTEN HER OWN BOOK TITLED MY MOMMY’S GREATEST ADVENTURE. IT’S HER WAY OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN HER BATTLE WITH CANCER TO HER KIDS, TO EXPLAIN TO A THREE AND A ONE YEAR OLD ABOUT A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS JUST IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. CARL AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT WANT TO SCARE THEM ABOUT. AND I WANTED TO TRY AND BE OPEN WITH THEM ABOUT, BUT ALSO TEACH IT ON THEIR LEVEL. THE BOOK INCLUDED VARIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY SHE WAS AWAY FOR TREATMENTS. I WAS HIKING IN THE GRAND CANYON OR I ATE A LOT OF ICE CREAM. THAT’S WHY I’M REALLY SICK. SO AGAIN, NOT LIKE SUPER TRUTHFUL, BUT LIKE IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND AND NOT BE SCARED ABOUT MY CANCER DIAGNOSIS THROUGH BOTH THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE BOOK, IT’S ALL BEEN PART OF A MENTAL SHIFT IN HOW SHE’S LIVING EACH AND EVERY DAY. YOU JUST DON’T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED ANYMORE, SO YOU’RE DEFINITELY MORE IN THE MOMENT. YOU’RE WANTING TO EXPERIENCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU JUST DON’T KNOW IF TOMORROW IS HANDED TO YOU. ETHA

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Mom with stage 4 lymphoma releases child-friendly book about diagnosis

Updated: 10:22 PM EDT Oct 7, 2023

A mother in Ankeny, Iowa, has written and released a child-friendly book for her daughters about her battle with cancer.Lisa Lund, 33, was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma the day the United States declared COVID-19 a national emergency in 2020 and has been in remission since November of the same year.Now, nearly three years later, she’s written her own book titled “My Mommy’s Greatest Adventure.”It’s her way of trying to explain her battle with cancer to two daughters, Quinn and Reese.”To explain to a 3 and 1-year-old about a cancer diagnosis is just, it’s impossible, and it’s something that I didn’t want to scare them about,” Lund said. “I wanted to try to be open with them about it but also teach it on their level.”The book includes various child-friendly explanations for why she was away for treatments.”I was hiking in the Grand Canyon, or I ate a lot of ice cream, and that’s why I’m really sick,” she said. “Not super truthful, but in a way that they can understand and not be scared about my cancer diagnosis.”Through both the diagnosis and the book, it’s all been part of a mental shift in how she’s living each day.”You just don’t take anything for granted anymore. So you’re definitely more in the moment. You’re wanting to experience as much as possible because you don’t know if tomorrow is handed to you,” she said.Lund’s book can be purchased here.

ANKENY, Iowa —

A mother in Ankeny, Iowa, has written and released a child-friendly book for her daughters about her battle with cancer.

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Lisa Lund, 33, was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma the day the United States declared COVID-19 a national emergency in 2020 and has been in remission since November of the same year.

Now, nearly three years later, she’s written her own book titled “My Mommy’s Greatest Adventure.”

It’s her way of trying to explain her battle with cancer to two daughters, Quinn and Reese.

“To explain to a 3 and 1-year-old about a cancer diagnosis is just, it’s impossible, and it’s something that I didn’t want to scare them about,” Lund said. “I wanted to try to be open with them about it but also teach it on their level.”

The book includes various child-friendly explanations for why she was away for treatments.

“I was hiking in the Grand Canyon, or I ate a lot of ice cream, and that’s why I’m really sick,” she said. “Not super truthful, but in a way that they can understand and not be scared about my cancer diagnosis.”

Through both the diagnosis and the book, it’s all been part of a mental shift in how she’s living each day.

“You just don’t take anything for granted anymore. So you’re definitely more in the moment. You’re wanting to experience as much as possible because you don’t know if tomorrow is handed to you,” she said.

Lund’s book can be purchased here.

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