What Was Good about Today

I first read this book many years again from the Reader's Digest condensed book. At the time it captivated me and still does years later. I have read this amazing story of love and courage more times than I can count, and whenever I feel a bit low, I refer to my copy for inspiration. I was diagnosed in 1998 with AML, and my immediate thoughts went to the book and the positive way in which Sara and her family came to terms with her illness and treatment. I thank Sara's mum for sharing her own personal story.

I read this in a Readers' Digest Condensed Book several years ago and it made a lasting impression. I think everyone should read it to learn how to be a happier person. It makes you truly appreciate life, despite any rough times you're going through. It taught me that having good health really is one's most valuable possession. It made me realize my life was much better than I thought it was. Seeing how an 8-year-old girl could remain cheerful and brave despite facing the physical and emotional pain of cancer made me realize how pointless it was to agonize over a bad day at work or a minor mistake I made. The author asked her daughter at the end of each day in the hospital "What was good about today?", which made me see the importance of focusing on the positive. Some days the only good thing Sara could find to say was that she had lime Jello, which really drives home how lucky the rest of us are. This coping method reminds me of the recommendation in Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance book regarding starting a gratitude journal in which at the end of the day you write down the five things you are the most grateful for (only Carol Kruckberg came up with this coping strategy years earlier when faced with her daughter's terrifying illness). Before I read it, I thought it might be too depressing to read, but far from it. A very touching and uplifting book.

Having lost a child to a debilitating disease, this book touched me to the depth of my soul. I knew that I wasn't alone. Mrs. Kruckeberg is able to articulate the struggle of life and death so well. Her writing is honest, even when painful. Her daughter, Sara, will remain in your heart forever!

This story touched me, as Mr. Kruckeberg was one of my teachers last year. As a graduation present, he gave me a copy of his wife's book about their daughter's fight against leukemia. I was afraid to read it at first, because I knew it would affect me, but I finally opened the book, and could barely bear to put it down. It left me with a lot to think about. This is definitely worth reading, especially if you have lost a family member to a disease.

A truly moving story about the author's 8-year-old daughter Sara. From the initial diagnosis of leukemia to her untimely death, Sara's spunk and positive energy rarely wavered. Despite her pain and prognosis, Sara and her family finished every day by answering the title's question: "What was good about today?" Deeply moving, yet hopeful. Rob Sullivan (author) Climbing Your Way to the Bottom: Changing the Way You Approach Your Job Search.