Lessons From My Son's Tattoo: Living With Resilience, Despite the Unthinkable

In the story of a heartbreak that no mother should have to face, Caryn Franca manages to put into words the unspeakable feelings that give a voice that is universal as we all go through the tragedies that are a part of life. Her memoir shows that though we may suddenly feel crushed by life, we are not alone.

Caryn’s son Nick was diagnosed with cancer at fifteen, beginning a hard-fought six-year battle. They moved forward one day at a time. And though it is a mother’s job to teach her son, Caryn found that Nick was the one teaching her. For one so young, he became amazingly courageous and inspiring. On his back he tattooed a compass with the words courage, strength, friends, family, and faith: his guideposts for life moving forward. He encouraged his family to get inked as well, and over the next few years, his family learned just how important those ideas were.

Slowly, they each had to learn how to live with loss and find encouragement in the small miracles that happened each day. By leaning on each other and developing inner strength, they found the courage to push forward—with his memory in their hearts and the lessons he taught them etched into their skin.

Caryn Franca maintained personal journals and a blog throughout her son's six-year battle with cancer. She is the cofounder and former president of Band of Parents, a nonprofit that raises money for cancer research. To date the group has raised $6 million and has funded a trial that is now standard protocol at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. More information about the nonprofit can be found at bandofparents.org.

Caryn holds a bachelor's degree in education and has trained as a life coach with CoachU. She has found success in network marketing with Shaklee Corporation. This is her first book.