The Waiting Room - by Darlene Martens (Paperback)

About the Book

When a diagnosis of prostate cancer sends Jake and Darlene into turmoil, their new normal includes sitting in a lot of waiting rooms-including the waiting rooms in their own minds.

Book Synopsis

"The Waiting Room [...] takes us through not only one man's fight against cancer, but also a spiritual one through [Darlene's] own eyes."-Dr. Raj Goel, BSc, M.D., FRCS

When a diagnosis of prostate cancer sends Jake and Darlene into turmoil, their new normal includes sitting in a lot of waiting rooms. They constantly find themselves having to wait for tests, test results, and doctor's reports. They also create waiting rooms in their own minds where they struggle with fear, anxiety, and worry.

Since an appointment isn't necessary to see the Great Physician, they go to Him often and sit with Him in His waiting rooms of grace, hope, trust, praise, and prayer. And when they ask Him to heal Jake, the Lord responds: "Wait."

Over time Jake's body grows weaker, but his faith in Jesus remains strong as he recalls a faithful, loving, and trustworthy God.

How will this story end? Will Jake experience healing while in this waiting room called life? Or will his healing come when the Lord calls him home?

Review Quotes

"The Waiting Room is a joy to read. It is heart-warming, humorous, touching, sad, difficult, poetic, hopeful, and uplifting all at the same time. We need it!"

-Maria Unger, Bachelor of Religious Studies, Communications Diploma Deer Run Church, Leamington

"Darlene and Jake are a happy retired couple whose relationship with each other and God is rocked by a cancer diagnosis. Many books about life with cancer concentrate on the challenges of its treatment and recovery. Darlene's primary focus is a less often discussed aspect-that of ubiquitous anxiety-provoking waiting.

You will be captivated by Darlene's honest and frank disclosures. She deftly describes her own and Jake's responses to waiting and beautifully shares how God answers their cries for help. Her precise use of Scripture is compelling, such that the book sometimes reads as a powerful devotional.

Readers of this book will better understand the challenges of prostate cancer and likely gain new empathy for those who are "waiting.""

-Susan King, BScN

"Darlene and Jake were patients of mine for many years prior to my retirement, and I was involved at the beginning of Jake's cancer. Darlene embraced the theme of being in the waiting room as she and Jake journeyed through his diagnosis, treatment, and continued watching of his cancer. The more I thought of it, it's a very apt metaphor for Jake's journey, but also of ours-even if we don't have cancer. We seem to often be waiting. God sometimes doesn't feel present. But as Darlene points out, God is always there.

This book is especially suited for families on a cancer journey, but really it's good for all of us who are waiting for God to work in our lives. Darlene's words remind us that God is always waiting with us. His timing is not ours, but He is always sitting with us in our waiting rooms."

As Jake says repeatedly in the book-and knowing Jake, he says this with firm conviction-"God's got it.""

-Peter M. Kelton, H.Bsc., M.D. Family Doctor, Essex County / Former Attending Physician, Erie Shores Health Care, Leamington / Medical Director, Royal Oak Long Term Care, Kingsville

"The Waiting Room by Darlene Martens takes us through not only one man's fight against cancer, but also a spiritual one through her own eyes. The impact that the word "cancer" can have on an individual and the loved ones around them is underestimated. The journey provides spiritual reference, strength, hope, and guidance so they can overcome this difficult chapter in their lives-a chapter that unfortunately finds itself within many families and friends in our community. I commend Darlene in her writing and hope that she doesn't have to be in many more waiting rooms for years to come."

-Dr. Raj Goel, BSc, M.D., FRCS