Life, with Cancer: The Lauren Terrazzano Story

Lauren Terrazzano was a journalist for Newsday%E2%80%94part of two Pulitzer-winning reporting teams%E2%80%94who died of lung cancer before she turned 40. Her father chronicles her life as she battled the illness, using excerpts from a series of columns she wrote for Newsday: "Note that the name of this column is Life, with Cancer. The emphasis is on %E2%80%98life.'" Her sense of humor remained intact during much of her illness. "%E2%80%A6after the nurse would leave her with the [morphine lollipop] in her mouth, she was apt to twirl it around her mouth, turn to one of her friends, and proceed to do her best Shirley Temple imitation, singing: On the mor-phine lol-li-pop%E2%80%A6" Terrazzano also lets the reader share in Lauren's many investigative stories (from air crashes to senior abuse) and her strong desire to make a difference. Critical moments include the confirmation of the diagnosis ("she was still holding out hope th everything would work out for the best") and the drastic treatment: removal of her right lung. Terrazzano's pain comes through and so does Lauren's courage, humor, and realism in the face of her deadly disease. Agent: Linda Konner, Linda Konner Literary Agency, (Oct.)