ROCKINGHAM — Local educator Kelly Wheeler is using her own experience with cancer to help children “understand some of the unfamiliar experiences” that can come with treatment.
Wheeler, currently a remote teacher and grant writer, recently published “The Day My Hair Went on Vacation” as an autobiographical children’s book to remind “young readers that cancer may change how they look or how they feel, but it never changes who they are.”
Wheeler was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 1988 at the age of 5 — a month away from starting kindergarten — and treated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I was a child trying to understand a world that suddenly included hospital rooms, doctors, bloodwork, IVs, medicines, radiation, long days away from home — and eventually, watching my hair disappear,” Wheeler says in the preface.
“Cancer was scary,” Wheeler continues. “Sometimes it hurt. Sometimes I was tired, angry, confused, or simply wanted to go home and be a regular kid again.”
Despite the obstacles, Wheeler said she also experienced “unexpected moments of laughter, art, friendship, ridiculous food cravings, water-gun fights, kindness, and joy.”
Wheeler’s story also involves her faith throughout the ordeal.
“Long before I understood what was happening to my body, I began learning something that has stayed with me throughout my entire life: we do not have to understand what God is doing to know that He is with us,” Wheeler says. “In the hospital rooms, frightening moments, victories, disappointments, and ordinary days in between, He met me there.”
Wheeler’s mother was an English professor at Appalachian State University and also taught at Rohannen Junior High.
“Literacy was a strong part of my upbringing,” she said. “As an artist and a writer I have always wanted to combine the two. Most of my life I have wanted to author and illustrate books across genres.”
Following her battle, Wheeler went on to study art and children’s literature at East Carolina University and has taught across the country — including a stint in Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle — and overseas in China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Mexico.
In addition to teaching, Wheeler said she is an “avid writer,” serving as a contributing columnist for the N.C. Humanities Council in the past. She has also used her writing “to share my journey abroad for many years for children’s advocacy.” Wheeler has also previously published prayer journals and said other adult books are in progress.
Nearly 40 years after her experience, Wheeler says she wanted to tell her story “in a way that speaks directly to children — the way I would have wanted someone to speak to me.”
“For me this was inevitable,” she said. “I am so thankful to be able to share experiences in hopes it will encourage others to find their voice to help others.”
Wheeler said she decided to publish the book because of an increase of children being diagnosed with cancer.
“Parents with a medically ill child know that they spend a significant portion of their childhood in a hospital and traveling,” she said. “Considering this and my own experiences, I just wanted to provide opportunities for children to have books that are relatable and can speak to their experiences. Cancer treatment can be very isolating, even more so for children.”
Wheeler says her book doesn’t pretend that cancer is easy.
“Instead, it gives children permission to be children while going through something incredibly difficult,” she said. “They can be scared and brave. They can cry and laugh. They can miss home, ask questions, wear a silly wig, make art, cuddle a stuffed animal, and wonder what their hair will look like when it finally comes home from its very long ‘vacation.’”
A search shows that there are similar-titled books on related topics, including: Paula Quinn’s “My Hair Went on Vacation,” about a girl with alopecia; and “When My Hair Went on Vacation,” by Chloe Castellano.
Wheeler said she was not aware of the other titles at the time of publication.
Wheeler’s book, published Oct. 8 on Amazon, is 28 pages and recommended for children ages 5-17. It is available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle formats.
“There are multiple publishing houses I could have chosen, after living and teaching abroad for many years, I knew I wanted to open the market to allow children access globally,” she said of her choice to publish through Amazon.
Wheeler said this is the first of several books in a sequence, and that several signings are currently being planned.
“My hope is to involve organizations and individuals that played a big part in the experiences shared in the book,” she said. “The signings will have activities for children and will be family friendly.”
Wheeler is planning to give copies of the book to Leath Memorial Library in Rockingham, as well as to the school library at L.J. Bell Elementary —where she attended during treatment — “as a thank you for their commitment to caring for children.”
“The other elementary schools will also receive a copy to have in rotation,” she said, “to share with children to build understanding, empathy, and character.”
NOTE: This story has been updated to include the author was unaware of the other books with similar titles. 3:13 p.m. 10-13-26.
