Here at
Writers Who Kill, we often focus on writing as a skill for telling mystery
stories. We deal with fear, hate, and doubt in the context of seeking out bad
guys and bringing them to justice. Also, in facing a blank page with an empty
mind.
Today, I’d like to introduce you to a real life
hero, who uses writing to make sense out of facing and battling a rare medical
condition. Tanya Gee is a brilliant attorney and dedicated wife and mom. In her
career, she has worked in a public defender’s office
prior to attending law school; as a law clerk, staff counsel, and clerk of
court in a state appellate court; and as a lawyer focusing on appellate law and
business litigation in a high powered firm. She’s a recognized expert on
appellate practice and co-author of a blog, Noticing Appeals: Abusing Our Discretion One Post at a Time, about
legal issues, oral advocacy, and legal writing.
During this legislative session,
the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives each passed similar
resolutions honoring Tanya Gee for her accomplishments and courage, and
recognizing that: “Now armed with the same positive spirit, boundless optimism,
and cheerful humor that has sustained her as she surmounted previous challenges
in life, she is waging an inspiring and determined battle against an extremely
rare form of cancer, bolstered by an amazing outpouring of support and care
from a broad support network of loved ones.”
The fact that Tanya writes with
great delight, awareness, and gratitude at a time when many persons facing similar
circumstances would focus inward instead of sharing their experiences is a
wonderful gift -- not just to her family and children, but to all who know her
and who get to know her.
I asked Tanya to be a guest with us today as a
testament to how choosing to write can enable one to lead a courageous life.
Tanya, thank you for joining us at WWK. Please
tell us a little about yourself, your diagnosis, and your prognosis.
Thank you for your interest in my
story, Paula. You’ve talked a bit about
my professional life, so I would simply add that I am the mother of two amazing
kids who both ground and elevate me, and I have a very patient and kind
husband. I was diagnosed with
dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma in February of this year. It is an extremely rare and very aggressive
form of cancer. I was very lucky to
detect it early. To date, I have
completed 10 rounds of chemotherapy and have had my right hip joint (both the
ball and socket) removed. I am scheduled
for another 8 rounds of chemotherapy in the coming 3 months. I am happy to report that at the end of that
treatment schedule, there will be only a 9% chance of any recurrence of this
cancer.
How has your undergraduate work in sociology
influenced your legal and other writing?
I have always been keenly
interested in social justice. When I was
in college, I decided to work at the York County Public Defenders’ Office to
observe the ways we treat each other as a society, as well as the interaction
between people and judicial institutions.
I learned some important lessons during this experience. I watched heroic figures quietly uphold our
sacred constitutional values every day with no fanfare or recognition. In fact, they usually experienced the
opposite. I saw heartbreaking examples
of young people whose families and authority figures had failed them. This experience is what led me to law
school. When you think about it, our law
is really just a codification of social justice. It’s designed to hold people accountable and
to protect the defenseless. Sometimes it
works, and sometimes it does not. But I know
that when I write best, social justice usually plays a role.
What draws you to writing and what type of
writing do you like most (to do, to read, or both)?
I think I am at my best when I am
advocating a cause I believe in. I’m
sure that is true of most people.
Sometimes, that can be difficult.
When one of my clients is involved in a contract dispute, it is
critically important to them, and jobs may be on the line. We might be fighting to uphold or establish a
critical nuance of the law, and these considerations motivate me. However, I am far more passionate when the
fate of a child is at stake. Serving as
someone’s advocate is always a sacred duty, but never more so than for people
who have trouble defending their own interests.
When I read for pleasure, I tend to gravitate toward those same types of
themes.
You chose to participate in Caring Bridge to
keep family and friends informed about your life. Could you tell us about that
organization, what it offers to persons facing serious illnesses and how it has
benefited you and your family?
I am increasingly convinced that
Caring Bridge saved me. In the
beginning, we set up our site for very practical reasons. When I was first diagnosed, someone who had
been through a similar illness explained that managing well-wishers would be an
important part of this process. He told
us that even keeping people up to date could become overwhelming. Caring Bridge is an amazing organization that
provides a way to do just that without becoming burdensome. It is a free service funded by donations and
one we have been very thankful to be able to use. As my treatment progressed, Caring Bridge
became something much more than a communications tool. It became a power source. Some people talk about the power of prayer or
positive energy. Whatever you call it, I
can tell you that it makes a tremendous difference. It gave me serenity at times of incredible
stress and pain. There have been times when
I could almost tangibly feel the thoughts and prayers of my friends.
How has it been to share writing duties with
your lawyer husband, Chris Koon, on the Caring Bridge site?
It has revealed interesting
differences in our styles. I always try
to write the updates, but there have been many occasions when I just did not
have the energy. Regardless, it is
always a collaborative effort. One of us
writes the first draft, then the other revises and suggests changes. We keep going back and forth until we are
both satisfied. Invariably, I find
Chris’s writing to be very factual and informing, but lacking in emotion. Cancer is a passionate experience. The emotional highs and lows are extreme, and
I always want to convey that emotion. I,
on the other hand, usually focus so carefully on emotion that I lose sight of
the story. Chris will read my draft and
point out that I didn’t mention anything about traveling to Houston for
surgery. Hopefully, between the two of
us, we have entertained, informed, and conveyed our feelings. I think we also have gained a greater respect
for each other’s abilities.
As brilliant as you are at legal writing, my
favorites of your posts are the ones you write on Facebook when you talk about
your wonderful children. How are they doing? Are they readers and/or writers?
The kids are doing very
well. It was important to me that cancer
not interrupt their lives, so I gave Chris standing orders to focus on
them. Fortunately, we are blessed with four
grandparents who all live nearby, so Chris has been able to keep the kids in
their routine during my treatments. Our
kids could not be more different. I
think they are actually closer than many siblings as a result because they
complement each other so well. Will is
reserved, quiet, and honest almost to a fault.
He likes to read in his room by himself.
I love to peek in and watch the adventures in his imagination unfolding
on his expressive face. Will can also
sit for hours and quietly rub my back when I am feeling sick. Sabin is a performer and a social
animal. She fawns over my “beauty” when
I return from chemo. Sabin loves to be
read to or (pretend) to read aloud. She
craves interaction, and her positive spirit always gives me a lift. The other day, she said to me, “Mommy, I
don’t really like you right now.” She
then paused for dramatic effect before belting, “I LOVE you!” I am still grinning.
Do you ever consider writing fiction? If so,
what would you write?
I am probably most happy when
reading books with my children. I love
children’s literature, and I am certain I would try to be the next Judy
Blume. I would surely fail, but the
attempt would be fun and satisfying.
What encouragement would you offer to writers
who face the dreaded writer’s block?
I’ve always thought of writer’s
block as a literary Chinese finger trap.
The more you struggle against it, the tighter it squeezes. I think the mistake most people make with
writer’s block is to fight it. Sometimes,
our mind and body speak to us, and it’s usually a good idea to listen. I think writer’s block is a message from your
brain to disengage and rest. When you
try to force inspiration, it feels just that… forced.
E.B. Davis, a fellow WWK blogger, likes to ask
our guests if they prefer the beach or mountains. Do you have a preference?
I was raised in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, and I will never forget the first time I saw the ocean. It was almost overpowering. Chris is a Clemson graduate, and he has had
some success in creating a love of the Blue Ridge in my heart. Nonetheless, while I love the mountains, I
will take an ocean view every time.
Tanya, thank you for providing us with a true
profile in courage. Keep writing. We need to hear your voice.
