Local author writes book about cancer struggle, faith

Bob Ottman has written a book about surviving storms.

It has nothing to do with the weather.

The 61-year-old author from Upatoi, Ga., takes readers on a special journey as he recalls the struggle his wife Nancy fought and lost with breast cancer and how it affected her, him and three sons younger than 10. It was a time when he was in a “dark place” and called his faith into question. It tells how a catastrophe can consume life and what happens to the human spirit.

The book published recently by WestBow Press is “Beyond the Rainbow Promise: Shattered Dreams. Shifting Realities. Broken Hearts.”

The book is available online at WestBow Press, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

He said it is not another self-help book from a leading and studied expert.

Asked what he wants people to take away from the book, Ottman replied, “I want readers to know there are others all around them that care about them and want to help and that it takes courage, real courage, to ask for and accept help. That was a tough lesson for me. There is a God, and he loves us in spite of the people we have become.”

The New York native is retired from Aflac and has lived in this area for 18 years. He has been married for 13 years to his wife Judy, who is retired from TSYS. There are five children from previous marriages.

Ottman’s first wife died in 1993 at 37. Ottman recalled her being treated in seven hospitals in 18 months.

He said he had thought about writing the book for several years after her death, but it was not until 2012 that he typed the first words.

The book uses fictitious names including one for his wife, whom he calls Natalie, to protect privacy, but all else is true.

It features a unique format. Chapters are called books and each begins with poetry composed by the author with titles such as “Choices,” “Journey’s Fate,” and “Courage Has New Meaning.” He calls them contemplations.

Each book also comes with an inspirational message from scripture such as one from Psalms 34:18-19, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have troubles, the Lord delivers him from them all.”

At the end of each book, the author moves away from the narrative to give “reflections” on that time. In one, he wishes there was a referee who could blow a whistle and call a timeout on life.

In another, Ottman writes, “I work hard to protect my heart from the sharp painful realities of life that seemingly pierce it. The silent retreat seems to work. But every time I retreat I allow my emotions to have control.”

“I explore in those reflections what I may have learned about myself and God,” he said.

Describing the theme of the book, he said, “how do you confront a catastrophic event that threatens the lives of the innocent, one that questions mortality and brings about outcomes we don’t ask for or want? How do you do this, confront this kind of event, and not get lost in yourself, or in the circumstance, or in the horrible after effects, with your heart in one place?”

Ottman said the book takes a “deep dive into faith.”

But there is no preaching.

Asked why he wrote the book, Ottman said, “I have always wanted to help others, and discovered I had a real opportunity to do that with my own life as an example. My goal is to help others navigate the stormy seas in life using my own storms as a platform to guide others forward.”

His wife’s journey begins finding a lump under her left arm that grows from the size of a pea to the size of a lemon. The cancer spreads quickly.

Ottman describes what it is like to hear that someone you love, someone young has a horrible disease and how you talk about it with children.

“I write about what happens to your heart and soul,” he said. “I question where God is in all of this. I explore why God lets these things happen.”

He said it was a journey through the dark times where “realities shifted daily and lives hung in the balance.”

Ottman said he learned “God is always present. We are just not always aware of His presence.”

“With God, you can face overwhelming circumstances and come out the victor,” he said.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Local author writes book about cancer struggle, faith."