Cancer survivor writes children's books on difficult topics
More than six years ago, cancer survivor Ryan Arnold says he was certain he was going to die.
In 2015, the now Sault resident was diagnosed with a major tumour in his brain, known as Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer.
Doctors told him that he would be gone by the summer of 2016.
After multiple unsuccessful rounds of treatment, specialists were shocked that in early 2020 the tumour was completely gone, s Arnold said Wednesday.
“They kind of put their hand on me and said, 'Ryan, we've never seen anything like this, it's a miracle from God.'"
Arnold began writing as part of his recovery in 2018 and eventually it became therapeutic. He saw it as a way to communicate with his then-young daughter, for when she grew up.
"This was my way of speaking to her from the grave," he said.
The cancer survivor has written nine books, all of which are at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. A number of them cover some difficult topics.
“There aren’t a lot of books out there at all that really talked about critical, terminal illness, from a family member death, in a children's area,” Arnold said.
Library CEO Matthew MacDonald said the books are a great addition to their selection.
“He’s written them in a way that’s much easier to understand some of these very difficult concepts for young ages,” MacDonald said.
Arnold's first series, 'I'd Give You My Last Hop,' was written for his daughter.
“Kind of a map to how I wanted her to be raised and to look at, and to have those morals," he said.
"A lot of them talk about standing up to bullying, and a lot of them talk about not looking at people that are different as less than you.”
The author doesn't make any money from his books, with all of the copies at the local library being donated.
He even pays out of pocket to get the stories illustrated.
It costs him roughly $700 for the books to get illustrated and printed, and he said he has multiple stories written, and is waiting until he can save up funds, or receive donations to have them published.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca