In the autumn of 2018 my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Our children were 1 and 3 years old. I’d told him I was sure the lump was just a cyst, and like many wives I pride myself on always being right, so the news came as a bit of a blow.
Henry had to take several months off work (and his work was amazing about it). Some people, faced with a course of chemotherapy, would take the opportunity to take a break. And he did do a lot of sleeping and a lot of watching TV in an exhausted, nauseated daze.
But he also started a blog, called, characteristically, It’s Only Chemo. The title was a nod to the fact that there are worse things in life than chemotherapy, and, more than that, thank goodness that chemo exists as an option. Henry has always been a writer, but getting cancer gave him the nudge to share his writing with the world.
The chemotherapy came to an end on Christmas Eve, but Henry kept on writing. It’s Only Chemo became The Common Reader, here on Substack, where he continues to publish posts several times a week. He remains allergic to the idea of taking any time off.
Today, his first book is published. Second Act is about people who come to their calling later than expected. Not necessarily late in life, but long after the point when people would usually expect someone to do that particular thing. Daniel Rothschild says Second Act provides ‘exceptional context for thinking about aging, talent, and finding purpose in life, through the lives of people who led extraordinary lives in unpredictable ways.’
One of the traits of a late bloomer is that they never give up, no matter what life throws at them. Another is that they prepare and prepare and prepare, and then when their moment comes, they’re ready. I don’t know if Henry’s a late bloomer, but he’s a relentlessly hard worker and he never gives up.
Our children, now 6 and 8, are wildly excited that their daddy’s name is on a real book that they can hold in their hands, and asked for a copy they could keep for themselves. Henry told them they can’t read it yet, because some of it’s not appropriate for small children. Making sure he doesn’t get too pleased with himself, they said they don’t want to actually read it, they just want to own it.
But you might want to actually read it. It’s good. And don’t take his wife’s word for it: Daniel Rothschild says it’s ‘a fun, pleasurable book to read. Henry’s a great writer and going through this journey with him is a joy.’ says it’s ‘smart, funny, and insightful’. says ‘with its mix of compelling stories and persuasive evidence, Second Act will make you realise that, far from being done, you haven’t even got started yet.’
Well done Henry, for never giving up. I might have been wrong about the cyst, but I was right about one thing: I knew, with you, that I was onto something good.
