Death Was Never An Option! (Paperback) | Released: 06 Dec 2015

In May of 1977 I had reached all of life's goals I had set for myself. I had a wonderful husband, two beautiful, healthy children, a boy and recently a girl, and a career as a college physical education instructor. I lived in a typical, suburban neighborhood with a station wagon and a dog. I was financially stable - the world was at my feet. My only problem was an annoying cough that for some reason wouldn't go away. A month later I would find that my perfect world was about to be shattered. In fact, it had come crashing down upon me. I was diagnosed with Stage IV of Hodgkin's Disease, lymphatic cancer, and was told that at that time that I had only three months to live. Suddenly I was faced with the challenge of a lifetime. I underwent major surgery, massive radiation treatments, grueling chemotherapy and worst of all ten months of blindness. Through it all I refused to let the disease get the better of me, continuing to participate fully in my life as a wife, mother and career woman. To me, humor and staying in good physical shape would become the two most important components for facing this insidious enemy. From diagnosis through recovery and on to a rich rewarding transformed life, Death Was Never An Options! is a straightforward and honest, often moving and surprisingly funny look into a andid account of a battle with cancer and loss of sight. Moments of fear, frustration, embarrassment, love, and joy are captured on each page. Approaching every obstacle with optimism and humor, this story celebrates life and the ultimate triumph of a passionate and determined woman. Most of us either know someone who has had cancer or have experienced the frightening disease ourselves. It is now possible to take a humorous look at a serious subject with a happy ending. Death Was Never An Option! is an inspirational chronicle of one woman's determination and perseverance through a life-threatening experience. As the author I feel that this story conveys a unique, personal perspective into the insidious disease to which we all are prey. The ability to learn about, acknowledge and defy the cancer shines through what would otherwise be a dark journey. I recommend this story to all who need encouragement and hope.
About the Author: About the Author - Dr. Kristine Setting Clark University of San Francisco graduate and author Dr. Kristine Setting Clark was a long-time feature writer for the San Francisco 49ers' and Dallas Cowboys' Gameday Magazine. A gifted athlete in her own right, physical education teacher, wife, mother, and later, a high school administrator and college professor, Dr. Clark has never let anything stand in the way of her goals; not even a life threatening bout with Hodgkin's Disease, blindness in both eyes for ten months, and the resulting partial blindness, at age 26. Her passion for life, her incredible optimism, and her drive to live life to the fullest has endeared her to her former students, friends and to those on whom she's written, including her childhood football idol and close friend, Bob St. Clair of the San Francisco 49ers. Besides Undefeated, Untied, and Uninvited: A Documentary of the 1951 University of San Francisco Dons' Football Team, she has authored ten other books: Legends of the Hall: 1950s, St Clair: I'll Take It Raw: (foreword by Gino Marchetti), Lilly: A Cowboy's Story - (foreword by Roger Staubach), Tittle: Nothing Comes Easy - (foreword by Frank Gifford, The Fire Within - Jim Taylor (foreword by Bart Starr), and Controlled Violence - Sam Huff (foreword by Frank Gifford), The Fighting Donovans - Art Donovan (foreword by Gino Marchetti), Cheating Is Encouraged - The Oakland Raiders of the 1970s and Football's Fabulous Fifties. Kristine is also an avid advisory board representative for Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. In February of 2014, Kristine's first book, Undefeated Untied and Uninvited was the subject of an ESPN documentary for Black History Month. The documentary was entitled The '51 Dons and was narrated by Johnny Mathis. She is currently working on a treatment for a documentary on her latest book, The Fighting Donovans. 
 In 1977 Kristine was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin's Disease and was given three months to live. She eventually beat the disease after enduring ten months of blindness caused by the grueling chemotherapy treatments. Her latest book, an autobiographical memoir, Death Was Never An Option! has been released and the television treatment has been written by Jamie Williams, former San Francisco 49er tight end and screenwriter of the movie Any Given Sunday.