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On Feb. 21, 2020, Mary Zoller went to her local women’s imaging center to have a mammogram and ultrasound. Her examination resulted in the detection of a 1.3-centimeter lump in her left breast and a lymph node that her radiologist claimed “doesn’t look normal.”
This diagnosis put Zoller, a Colorado grandmother, on an unexpected odyssey that included chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and radiation treatment. To complicate matters, this occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the diagnosis significantly impacted Zoller’s physical health during this time, her emotional health grew more vibrant and positive with each day. Her unshakable Christian faith coupled with a supportive circle of family and friends enabled her to stay strong during the most challenging stretches of her road to wellness.
Zoller recalls this period of her life in her remarkable memoir, “Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors.” Through a series of email updates to loved ones and journal entries, Zoller describes the painful process of discovering how the cancer metastasized and the extensive medical care she required to exorcise the cancer from her body.
For each new obstacle she faced, Zoller responded with a biblical passage or inspirational observations from faith-focused writers, including Charles Spurgeon and Corrie Ten Boom. Throughout her ordeal, Zoller’s trust in God became more powerful, fueling a greater resolution to move forward.
Processing Bad News
Zoller was not a stranger to cancer. She was previously treated for melanoma in 2002 and 2011. But the suddenness and severity of her breast cancer diagnosis caught her off guard.
Upon receiving the bad news, Zoller did not suffer alone. Instead, she immediately began emailing her Need Each Other Now (NEON) Sunday school class and texted her prayer group and friends.
She explained what transpired and asked for prayers. Her request was fulfilled with heartfelt messages of love and support for Zoller and her husband, Bob.
A follow-up with her radiologist determined the lump in her breast showed Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. When Zoller began receiving chemotherapy, she emailed her support circle about the sadness of knowing that she would begin losing her hair.
Later in the book, she laments further at having her hair fall out during a shower and in greater volume while brushing what remained. She asked her husband to shave her head to avoid the daily anguish of hair loss. He shaved his head too in an act of solidarity.
Zoller emphasized the positive in a treatment course that was riddled with setbacks and unpleasant surprises. She explained to her email followers that the hair loss was temporary. This should be seen as proof that the chemotherapy was successfully attacking the cancer cells.
She also found a Bible verse in Isaiah 43:18-19 to mirror her situation: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Crediting Medical Professionals
Something important should be noted. While Zoller’s enthusiasm for her faith is boundless, she never uses her book as a platform for proselytizing. Nor does she claim that faith alone has cancer-curing powers.
“Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors” is an individual expression of faith. It shows how the author calibrated her focus by using her faith to address the difficult situations that arose in her medical care. While she is generous in stating her faith, she is equally generous in highlighting the wonderful work of the medical professionals caring for her.
Throughout the book, Zoller identifies the multiple drugs that she was required to take, along with the curative and disruptive side effects she experienced.
Perhaps the most touching sentence in the book involves a small personal celebration with one of her medical professionals after receiving a good news update: “The doctor saw fit to give me a huge hug (with masks on, of course), and it was such a blessing to have that physical touch from a healer and that she was so happy and pleased with the results.”
The author had more than a few setbacks, but she recognized that they would not be permanent and constantly looked to move beyond them. Her perseverance is a marvel to behold.
During her treatment, Zoller wished that she could be an encouragement to other patients who are experiencing similar health issues. While COVID-19 protocols limited her interactions with fellow cancer patients, she is making a more profound effect with “Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors.”
For anyone going through a health crisis or who has a family member or friend in such a precarious situation, this book provides a sincere message on how to confront a health crisis and stay focused on the positive elements that contribute to the healing process.
‘Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Warriors: Writings of a Journey Through Cancer’
By Mary Zoller
WestBow Press: Aug. 12, 2025
Hardcover, 306 pages
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