Heal Yourself and Others by Laughing, Loving, and Learning
Personal Memoir
Date Published: August 27
Publisher: Oxygen Publishing
Embark on a transformative journey of self-healing with David Walking With
Grace, a remarkable non-fiction work by Dr. Neal Boeder. Raised on a humble
family farm, Dr. Boeder inherited a profound sense of service from his
parents. However, his own life was not without its trials and tribulations,
as he faced personal adversity and experienced the pain and wounds that
touch many of us.
Unyielding in his commitment to confront his own pain, Dr. Boeder embarked
on a courageous quest to transform his suffering into a wellspring of
healing power. With grace and resilience, he embraced the challenges that
lay before him, embarking on a remarkable path illuminated by listening,
learning, laughter, and love. Along this awe-inspiring journey, he
encountered unexplainable miracles, tangible manifestations of a higher
power at work.
Through the lenses of a parent, patient, and physician, Dr. Boeder
fearlessly delves into tough and sometimes controversial subjects, infusing
his narrative with poetic humor. In David Walking With Grace, he invites
readers to join him on his odyssey of pain and healing. From grappling with
life-threatening heart conditions to battling two cancer diagnoses, from
navigating the complexities of divorce to confronting his own inner demons,
Dr. Boeder discovered profound methods to heal himself, his family, and his
patients.
For those ready to embark on a profound expedition of self-discovery and
empowerment, this book is an absolute must-read. Dr. Boeder's powerful
insights will ignite a flame of inspiration within you, encouraging you to
embrace the lessons, laughter, and love that can be found even within the
depths of pain. Prepare yourself for an extraordinary experience that may
just be the prescription you have been yearning for.
Open the pages of David Walking With Grace and unlock your potential to
heal yourself and others. Dr. Boeder's poignant storytelling will guide you
towards a transformative understanding of your own journey, and inspire you
to navigate the labyrinth of healing with courage, compassion, and profound
self-discovery.
EXCERPT
Science is a critical element of how I explain things. As a physician,
science is how I heal. Sometimes people describe miracles that they
don’t understand, but as a physician, there is a logical medical
explanation. I advocate for people to use modern medicine in their healing.
I am not just a physician, I am also a patient.
At 43, during the summer of 2022, I received the distressing news that
I had again developed head and neck cancer. I went through it in
2017. Surprisingly, this was not a recurrence of my previous cancer
but a completely new one on the opposite side. It is an exceptionally
rare occurrence, happening only to about one in every 2,000-3,000
individuals. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side this time. My
daughter witnessed the unsettling sight of her father undergoing
surgery, resulting in matching scars on both sides of my neck, five
years apart. Surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, enduring pain, and
significant weight loss consumed our summer. Our eagerly anticipated
summer bucket list, which we create every year, had to be put on hold.
The many conversations about life I had envisioned having with my
daughter now hang in uncertainty. The amount of time we have left to
spend together on this Earth is unclear. Little did I realize that
this seemingly unbearable situation would transform into the most
profound blessing of my life.
I completed surgery in mid-July; technically, my surgeon completed
the surgery. I just took a long nap. Typical man, sleeping on the job while
a talented woman does the work! My surgeon is kind, intelligent and
skilled. I recommend her to anyone. She’s so skilled I am
helping her pay off her med school loans, one surgery at a time, every
few years. She is going to need to name an exam room after me!
The surgery or nap was a tough one to wake up from, a lot of hurting
but also a lot of healing. The kind nurse would give me pain meds to
help and heal me with empathy and kindness. We talked about families. She
pulled up a song I asked her to. It comforted me, Peace Be Still by
Hope Darst(2). It reminded me of that day in the pool with my infant
daughter. “I don’t want to be afraid every time I face the
waves.” I was hurting, but the voice sang, “I’m not going
to be afraid, Cause these waves are only waves, Peace be still, Say
the words and I will.” Years ago, I was trying to help my
daughter be calm and understand she should face those waves when she
went under the water. I wanted her to hear my voice and be calm. Now I
was the scared child, being told I could face these waves. Just to be
still. As I lay in pain, that song and conversation about life had as
much to do with easing my pain as the pain meds.
Ten nights later, the most powerful healing in my life would occur.
About the Author
Neal Boeder is an internal medicine physician, a two-time cancer survivor,
and a dedicated father living in Minnesota. Born with a genetic heart
condition, growing up on a farm and then living most of the past 20 years in
the Twin Cities metro area has shaped his worldview. It allows him to relate
to both “blue collar “and “white collar” worlds with
humor and empathy. He values remaining humble, humorous, helping others, and
the importance of hard work which his parents taught him.
After experiencing a miracle during his second cancer journey, Neal felt
compelled to share his insights on healing. His debut book David Walking
With Grace is a candid and refreshingly humorous account of his journey of
recovery, science, and faith. He gives readers insight into all dimensions
of “healing,” including the physical, spiritual, emotional, and
social aspects. He writes through the lens of physician, patient, and
parent. He explores a wide range of conditions and experiences, from medical
aspects such as cancer, pain, depression, and addiction, to life challenges
such as divorce, societal divides, and abuse.
Neal hopes to help individuals, families, and society find ways to
heal—to create a better world for future generations. Beyond his
professional work, Neal volunteers his time, talents, and treasure into
efforts and causes supporting children in third-world countries, as well as
a diverse group of people in difficult circumstances in the U.S.
He prioritizes raising his daughter. She is a major inspiration for his
writing. Neal hopes she leaves the world a little better than she found it.
Being born during a total eclipse of the sun added a touch of cosmic wonder
to his life. His genetic heart condition adds a reminder of our mortality.
Neal has worked at multiple top hospitals and renowned healthcare systems.
Neal enjoys spending time with his family and friends. With a wide range of
interests, his favorite aspect of his hobbies is getting to know people and
their personal stories. During rare downtime alone he works on self-growth,
enjoys comedy, and enjoys watching a variety of sports.
Contact Link
Website
Purchase Link
Amazon
