USCA nursing school interim dean dedicates children's book to father

Dr. Maggie Dorsey's father, Earl Thurmond Sr., was just 53 when he died of colon cancer in 1985.

His loss inspired the USC Aiken School of Nursing interim dean to dedicate a children's book in his memory, "My Hero, My Dad the Nurse Knocked Out Cancer."

Her book features a young boy, Michael David Daniels, whose father is a registered nurse. Michael learns that his dad is going to have a colonoscopy, and the father explains to Michael what that means. Following the procedure, Michael learns that the colonoscopy was essential: The doctor found what turned out to be a pre-cancerous polyp and removed it. As Michael's dad pointed out, colon cancer runs in their family.

"It's so important for people like me to have a physical exam and a colonoscopy, even when they look and feel great," his dad said.

The book is the third written by Dorsey and illustrated by Lorenzo Williams, a 1996 USCA graduate, artist and art teacher at Butler High School in Augusta. Her first two books also featured Michael and his dad. The first book, "My Hero, My Dad, the Nurse" looked at how men can enter the nursing field and become excellent contributors to the profession.

As for her newest book, "I just wanted to encourage people to have colonoscopies," Dorsey said. "It's a serious topic, but it's done in the book in a fun way."

A portion of the proceeds from book sales will benefit nursing scholarships at USCA. All three books are available at the USCA bookstore and at www.amazon.com.

For more information, e-mail Dorsey at maggied@usca.edu or call 641-3268.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.