Damaged But Not Broken

A Personal Testimony
of How to Deal
with the Impact of Cancer

By Larry Burkett
Moody Press, $18.99

ISBN 0802482422

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Burkett shares a lesson in surviving

Review by Latayne Scott

For years, readers of Christian books have relied upon the "inside" information and Scripture-based advice of financial counselor and author Larry Burkett. His radio shows, speaking appearances, and more than forty books on business and personal finance have been a benchmark on these subjects.

But now Larry Burkett sees himself as a different kind of insider -- an insider to pain. In his newest book, Damaged, But Not Broken, Burkett teams up with writer Michael E. Taylor to tell candidly about Burkett's own emotional earthquake -- learning how to be a survivor of cancer.

"I'm a private person," Burkett shared. "The diagnosis of cancer was so sudden and so startling to me that the last thing in the world on my mind as I went through it was the thought of writing a book on the subject. But I had to learn a lot -- in a hurry -- and it seemed right to me after a while to share what I'd learned with the rest of God's people."

Indeed, the discovery of cancer in both his left shoulder blade and right kidney was especially jarring to a man who could trace five generations of cancer-free ancestors. The urgency and gravity of his situation led to two surgeries -- on both sides of his body, and set in motion a series of events that led to further complications. Furthermore, by Burkett's own admission, his reckless determination to push himself to recover left him "a physical wreck."

Noticeably absent from Burkett's book -- and his frank discussions of his now pain-filled life -- are the familiar "five steps of grieving" that contemporary sociologists insist is part of the process of dealing with such a catastrophic event. "I've never felt angry or resentful for going through this situation," says Burkett. "I made some fundamental mistakes, for instance, in the timing of the surgeries, but I still believe I made the right medical decisions. But I know that when you sign up for an army, you commit all to your Commander. You no longer have the right to ask 'why.'"

Perhaps it is this lack of self-pity that makes the Burkett book such a useful one. His experience with a Czech clinic led to insights on "alternative" medical treatments ("American medicine is 'alternative' in many foreign cultures!"), on pharmaceutical companies ("Many wonderful and effective treatments are never explored because the big drug companies know they can't make money on them"), and even on financial advice.

"Although most chuches can help a family in need with daily living expenses, few are prepared to help with major, catastrophic medical bills. They just don't have the resources . . . . Consider the average American church member only gives about two percent of his or her income to the church. If people would give ten percent of their first fruits to the Lord's work, there would be plenty of money available to help needy families."

For Burkett, learning to live with realities that don't go away -- like chronic pain -- has produced a harvest of humility, compassion, and understanding.

"The great lesson I learned as an insider to pain is that I have a lot higher tolerance for pain that I ever suspected. Before the cancer, I had the attitude of 'I'm tough -- I can take it' because I'd never really experienced pain. Now I know some of its secrets: pace yourself, be honest with yourself and others, and see your heightened sensitivity to the pain of others as a great gift."

Burkett's book, Damaged But Not Broken is an intimate look at the effects of cancer on a Christian -- providing both compassionate insights and practical advice for sufferers and caregivers alike.

Latayne Scott, reviewer and author of nine books, lives in Albuquerque, NM.