Aurora author shares family's battle with cancer

When Kim Griffin was a little girl, she'd tell her mother she loved her "to the woods and back."

"The woods seemed so far away," the Aurora woman says now, and the comment was intended to convey the immeasurable nature of her devotion.

Years later, the phrase would be inscribed on her husband Kevin's wedding ring. And 25 years after their wedding day, those words echo in the title of Griffin's first book, "Love You to the Woods and Back."

Griffin and her husband will sign copies of the book at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville.

The book grew from a blog Kim started when Kevin, 50, was diagnosed with colon cancer almost six years ago.

The blog on caringbridge.com was a way of staying connected with the couple's support network, which extends to Ontario, Canada, where the two were a couple in high school.

"We had family and friends in Canada, as well as here, to keep informed of how Kevin was doing," Kim said.

The self-published book is more than a chronicle of his illness, he said.

"It doesn't just address my journey. It addresses how it affects my family, everybody around me, my faith, my work," he said.

Kim said that while the book takes readers through her family's story, it also relates coping strategies she has found helpful.

"I talk about being in the moment as opposed to the future or the past, because that brings anxiety and depression," she said.

The blog turned into a book at the urging of author K.M. Daughters, Kim said. The pen name actually refers to two sisters, one of whom helped Kim navigate the self-publishing world.

"She empowered me, put me in touch with an editor," she said.

The vice president of business development at Reebie Storage and Moving, Kevin has been the head coach of the varsity lacrosse team at Marmion Academy for the past eight years.

"I was born and raised in Canada and played lacrosse all my life. When I moved down here, I noticed there was a shortage of coaches," he said.

Kim is secretary to the principal at Patterson Elementary School in Naperville. The couple's two sons, Troy, 22, and Liam, 20, both attend St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.

Kevin said he is receiving maintenance cancer treatments at Naperville's Edward Hospital with the aim of preventing the further spread or worsening of the disease.

"Currently, I'm in chemo sessions. I've gone through about 10. I do them every two weeks," he said.

He said he's also had seven or eight surgeries.

Despite the side effects of his treatments, Kim said he maintains his work and coaching duties.

"He truly rarely misses a day of work," she said.

Kim said both Reebie and Marmion have been supportive as has her employer, Indian Prairie Unit District 204, throughout Kevin's illness.

At Reebie, she said, "They moved a couch into his office so if he needs to, he can lie down and rest," she said.

Marmion students have visited Kevin in the hospital.

Kevin said some 50 Marmion families are expected at the book signing.

The book is available for purchase at Anderson's for $14.99, said Ginny Wehrli-Hemmeter, who handles Anderson's events and publicity.

"We ask people to buy the book (at Anderson's) to get it signed," she said. Attendance at the book signing is free, she said.

"For every book that's sold, we will donate $1 back to the Colon Cancer Alliance," Kevin said.

Kim said the book is also available on amazon.com.

If you go

What: "Love You to the Woods and Back" author Kim Griffin book signing

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3

Where: Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville

Info: www.loveyoutothewoodsandback.com or (630) 355-2665