Just before Christmas I listened to Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad. It is one of my favorite books of 2021. I listened to the audio book on the Libby App.
In June, 2011, at age 22 the author is diagnosed with leukemia. The story recounts her diagnosis, treatment, remission, and re-entry to the world as a survivor. Suleika's writing is beautiful.
Although my journey with COVID is so much different than cancer, I resonated with this story on many levels. I too have felt in between lives: the living and the sick; the lawyer and the registered behavior therapist; before and after.
I admire how much Suleika accomplished on death's doorstep. While she was in the hospital getting chemotherapy, she wrote a column called Life, Interrupted for the New York Times. In connection with her column, she produced a video series.
In response to her column, fans started writing to Suleika. Like me, many readers related to her story. Sick as she was, she responded to some of the letters.
Suleika didn't wait until she was cured to create. She learned how to work in a way that took her illness into account. After Suleika's bone marrow transplant, she had to stay in isolation for 100 days, because she had no immune system. Each member of her family decided to do a 100 day creative project to pass the time. Suleika, who had always wanted to be a writer, decided she would write every day. She put her books, pencils, journal, and computer on her bedside table in the hospital. She made herself write every day, even if it was just a sentence.
I respect people who set goals and follow through with them. I used to do this. I am less dependable these days. Often, I am either to sick or tired to do much more than work.
I related in small part to Suleika's isolation. When I isolated for 30 days after I contracted COVID, I used to hold my hand on the glass as people walked by my window to drop off my groceries and prescriptions. But 100 days is a horribly long time, and she was in the hospital, which is worse than being at home.
Suleika said the chemotherapy gave her horrible brain fog. Her words came out jumbled. I can relate. In this short post, I look back and see incorrect words and missing words. Each one a painful reminder of how different my brain is post virus.
Even after Suleika was in remission, she still got sick all of the time. She still had to rest. She had to ask for help from friends and family. She had a hard time readjusting to life in remission. She decided to do another 100 day challenge. She traveled across the US to visit some of the people who had written her while she was in the hospital.
As I often do when I love a book, I search and follow the writer on social media. I found Suleika on INSTA and began browsing her posts. I scrolled down and saw that the day I started reading her book, she posted on INSTA that her cancer was back. She would be undergoing another bone marrow transplant.
Fast forward to the present day and Suleika is doing another 100 day project: painting her way through cancer. I love everything this woman does. I love everything this woman writes.
Between Two Kingdoms may be one of my favorite books ever. It really struck a chord with me. It was the first book I've listened to in a while that I really connected with. Plus, I feel compelled and inspired by Suleika.
Suleika is still writing. During COVID 19 isolation she started The Isolation Journals to offer hope to those struggling with isolation. She is active on her INSTA feed, despite battling cancer.
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