Cancer survivor shares pearls of wisdom in book

THANKS to support from friends and colleagues, a Morningside breast cancer survivor has published her personal journal and now hopes to help other cancer patients.

Pearl Blignaut, who works at Spar Eastern Cape’s Distribution Centre in Perseverance promotions and advertising department, is launching Pearl: A Can

cer Survivor’s Story on Saturday morning, with proceeds from sales going to the Veronica Minnie Cancer Support Trust.

The 45-year-old Blignaut was diagnosed with stage-one, grade-three cancer in November 2013 and penned her thoughts, feelings and experiences after friend and colleague Soraya Reciet brought her a notebook as a gift when she was discharged from hospital.

Blignaut said the book was initially written for her two sons – Keirin, 23, and Kyle, 18 – to help them understand her journey.

“Before I was diagnosed, cancer had always been something distant to me and to my family. That’s why I looked at it as a God send, an eye opener for all and a reality check.”

Blignaut said it was aimed at helping people of all ages understand the reality of the illness.

“This book is meant not just for people who have cancer or have been affected by it in any way, but for everyone as I refer to the cancer within all of us – whatever personal crisis you could be going through that is your cancer.”

And, although the cancer was only at stage one, it was grade three which meant that it required aggressive treatment.

“It was painful beyond words, only someone who has been through it would understand.”

After two years of unbearable pain, Blignaut sat down with her oncologist and asked the big question: Is the cancer gone?

“He was totally honest with me. He said I will never be completely rid of the cancer and will have to go for check-ups every three months.”

Her decision to make the Veronica Minnie Cancer Support Trust her only benefactor was influenced by the great need Blignaut saw in the Bay.

“I want to help people in the city who stay far away and need money for transport to go for treatment and see consultants. I know it’s not much but I’m just hoping it will make a difference.”

As well as Reciet’s original gift of the notebook, friends and colleagues who encouraged her included Alan Stapleton who told her “Pearl, you have to let people read your book”, her managing director Conrad Isaacs and Roseann Shadrach, who co-ordinated the launch.

Isaacs sponsored 350 of the 600 copies as a gift for for Eastern Cape Spar distribution staff, and still more friends and colleagues rallied around for the launch.

Palm Villa has offered the venue free for the launch and others also have pitched in with food, photography, lucky draw prizes and drinks.

Blignaut added she was speechless at the way people in the Bay had come together to make the launch a reality.

“It has all been such a blessing and I am very grateful.”

The book will be available at R120 at the launch, which is from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday at Palm Villa in Greenbushes. Tickets cost R50.

• Further information and tickets, from Shadrach at Roseann.shadrach@spar.co.za .