My Books and Publications

For most of my life I have been blessed with excellent health. When I was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation at the age of 46, I had to get used to taking chronic medication like beta-blockers and anticoagulants. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 64 and one year later with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, my world was turned upside down. The initial shock and disbelief were overwhelming, but it was through this harrowing journey that the idea for "Red Devil" was born.

What started off as a blog about my experiences soon turned into something more. This memoir is a deeply personal account of my battles with these life-threatening illnesses, the frequent hospitalisations and the gruelling rounds of chemotherapy that followed. It is a story of resilience, hope, and the power of the human spirit.

Throughout this book, I share the challenges I faced - physically, emotionally, and mentally - and the triumphs and personal growth that emerged from these experiences. The recurring themes of resilience, hope, and the stubborn will to live are woven throughout my story, reflecting the core values that guided me through the darkest times of my life.

"Red Devil", the title of this book, refers to one of the prominent chemotherapy drugs used to treat some forms of cancer, due to the red colour and dreadful side effects. This is more than just a memoir - it is an invitation to join me on an intimate and inspiring journey of survival, discovery, and self-reflection. It is my hope that my story will raise awareness of these conditions, inspire and offer solace to those facing similar challenges and shed light on the resilience of the human spirit.

I invite you to read this book and and embark on this journey with me.  Turn the pages to discover the incredible strength that emerges when faced with life's most daunting challenges.

This is an updated translation of my debut book Gesonde Aftrede.

Dit is vanselfsprekend dat ‘n mens emosioneel en finansiël gereed moet wees alvorens die groot stap om af te tree suksesvol geneem kan word, maar die waarde van goeie gesondheid word dikwels onderspeel in ‘n mens se aftreebeplanning. Sommige mense word weer deur swak gesondheid gedwing om af te tree, selfs al is hulle nog nie gereed daarvoor nie. Wanneer ‘n mens egter emosioneel en finansiëel behoorlik beplan het vir jou aftrede en direk daarna met kanker gediagnoseer word, begin jy te wonder oor die betekenis van karma…

Gesonde Aftrede is 'n persoonlike memoir en onvergeetlike reis saam met my terwyl ek die genadelose uitdagings van sporadiese atriale fibrillasie, prostaatkanker en chemoterapie vir Fase 4 Nie-Hodgkin limfkanker konfronteer. Wat begin het as 'n blog oor my ervarings het verander in 'n verhaal van oorlewing, 'n intieme memoir van deursetting, hoop, en die krag van die menslike gees, informeel en met humor geskryf. Ontdek die ongelooflike krag wat na vore kom wanneer mens gekonfronteer word met die mees ontmoedigende uitdagings van die lewe. 

Ek hoop dat hierdie memoir bewustheid sal kweek vir hierdie siektes en inspirasie en vertroosting sal bied aan diegene wat soortgelyke uitdagings in die gesig staar. Die boek word opgedra aan almal wat nog hoop het. Hoop op beterskap, ‘n gesonder lewe en ‘n gesonde aftrede.

Hiemee nooi ek jou saam op hierdie inspirerende reis. Lees gerus my boek en beleef die ongelooflike krag wat voortspruit wanneer 'n mens die lewe se grootste uitdagings in die gesig staar.