Somebody's Bright Balloon

<I>Somebody's Bright Balloon</I> is divided into three sections. Self andOthers: Receivers are poems that depict with truth and hope thetravails of a cancer patient and the author's interaction with otherpatients and medical professionals.<p> The second section Givers offers poems about doctors surgeonsnurses and other hospital staff who care for seriously ill patients. Thefinal section The Dark Side is about concomitantdepression and mental illness that many patients experience.<p> <I>Somebody's Bright Balloon</I> offers a rare glimpse into the thoughtsimpressions and coping mechanisms of a cancer patient duringtreatment and recovery and how he assimilated the reality of cancerinto his life.<p> Caregivers -- from family members to health care professionals -- havegained compassion and understanding through the insights provided inMcCallum's poems. Other cancer patients have found strength in theknowledge that their fears and reactions to cancer and its treatment areshared experiences.