Why Me?
My Fight for life from heartbreak to hope
A Memoir
Why Me?
TESTIMONIAL
Meet the author
Black British Author
SHARON-ANN PHILLIPS
Growing up in South-East London, Sharon-Ann attended John Stainer Primary School, Catford County Secondary School for girls, South East London College, Croydon College and finally Bromley College of Technology, where she studied for an AAT Degree in accountancy.
She began her career as an Accounts/Payroll Clerk. Over the years as Sharon-Ann became more established in her career, she mainly worked in the City and the West End of London with various positions such as Accounts Manager, Accounts Supervisor and Business Office Manager.
In 2011 she, together with her husband Danny, became joint owners of a thriving Caribbean restaurant in Brixton’s Coldharbour Lane, although this unit closed due to regentrification: a new door opened and Bickles Catering was launched.
Sharon-Ann has always had a passion for poetry and writing from an early age and particularly enjoyed writing short stories and plays; her hobbies include graphic designing and Backgammon. She is a member of Tenovus choir, a cancer-care Charity in Sutton. She works closely with one of London’s leading hospital in assisting with the training of Primary Care Nurses, by sharing her experiences, she hopes this will limit and eventually put an end to the mis-diagnosis too many of us endure. Sharon-Ann also helps out as a volunteer at her Church.
Fighter and writer
Sharon-Ann describes herself as a fighter and a writer.
After a series of devastating, heartfelt events, including the loss of her older sister, both parents and the devoted father of her children, she was unexpectedly left to battle a life-threatening cancer and a rare heart disease called Amyloidosis which inevitably changed her life. Sharon-Ann went from a fit and active working mother of three to someone she hardly recognised. This condition left her weak, frail and unable to climb a flight of stairs without gasping for breath.
Sharon-Ann continually puts her trust in God and determined not to allow her medical condition to obstruct her, or succumb to what the doctors said - she fought back!
Being laid off work and disabled by her condition, this was the catalyst which sparked her writing and while recovering at home, she wrote her first Memoir “Why Me?” where she openly and honestly bares all in this touching and life-changing event, Sharon-Ann simply puts as ‘My fight for life from heartbreak to hope.’
By combining her passion as an author, with a gift to encourage others, she hopes that by sharing her experiences in “Why Me?” she will bring hope, insight and inspiration to all who may be dealing with devastation through loss - and a typically taboo subject.
“Why Me?” was published in 2019 and has made an enormous impact on the reader, hence the great reviews.
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Being told you have cancer, can often take you to a very dark place. Please do not suffer in silence. You are not alone.
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press
MacMillan Cancer’s PRESS RELEASE and Christmas campaign
Featured in the Croydon Advertiser – 3 January 2020
In December 2015, Sharon Gayle was discharged from hospital so she could spend "one last Christmas" with her family.
The mum-of-three, from South Croydon, had been diagnosed with myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, and amyloidosis, a rare and serious condition which can lead to organ failure. Mrs Gayle was told she had just months to live - she didn't expect to live past 2016. But the brave mum has defied the odds and is now looking forward to spending yet another Christmas with her family.
"It took over a year of going back and forth to my GP’s and to my local hospital before my cancer was finally diagnosed," said Mrs Gayle. "But in November 2015 it was confirmed I had myeloma as well as a heart condition caused by amyloidosis...............
....................Mrs Gayle believes her experiences can potentially inspire those who continue to battle cancer, so much so that she has written a book.
"I want to share my experience," she explained.
"The struggles to get diagnosed and the importance of treating people as individuals – one glove does not fit all. We’re all different. Patients need to be looked at as unique.
"Many people with myeloma don’t get the chance to voice their experiences, as they don’t survive, so that’s why I wrote a book, ‘Why Me?’, as I am so passionate about sharing my experiences and my story.
"My book is about the other side of cancer… the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Every 15 minutes someone in London is diagnosed with cancer. Macmillan relies almost entirely on public donations to funds its vital cancer services. To help us this Christmas, donate today at macmillan.org.uk/christmas2019.
‘Why Me?’ is available to buy from www.sagayle.com
