title: Trekking Through Cancerland: Letters from the Journey
author: Karen Loss
description: Karen Loss is a meeting coordinator for a large research and development company in Virginia. She has served as a Washington, DC tour guide for several years and been a freelance writer off and on over the last 20 years. She enjoys music, dogs, the outdoors and international travel.
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  _For Jane, the believer_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Thanks are due to Garth Nix, who first led me down this long and winding path.
  To Russ Galen, who filled my beggar’s bowl. To Steve Saffel, who suffered as
  no mortal editor should ever have to suffer. To Keith Clayton, who kicked butt
  as Trapper John to Steve’s Hawkeye, and Crystal Velasquez, who could easily
  get a job project managing a time machine. To Cate Paterson, my sword and
  shield. And Brianne Tunnicliffe, for riding shotgun on this madness. The rock-
  steady babes at the Queensland Writers Centre are owed my thanks and
  gratitude. And Pete McAllister, as always, was a dude. There is no way I can
  repay the loving support of my family, Jane, Anna, and Thomas, except maybe by
  getting away from the keyboard more often.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  **DRAMATIS PERSONAE**
  
  
  
  
  
  **MULTINATIONAL FORCE COMMANDERS**
  
  
  
  
  
  Anderson, Captain Daytona, USN. Commander, USS _Leyte Gulf._
  
  
  
  
  
  Francois, Captain Margie, USMC. Combat surgeon and chief medical officer,
  Multin