2016届高三英语美文阅读(四).doc

2016届高三英语美文阅读（四） （1）美文 The Miracle Tape BY JANE UPCHURCH I cannot wholeheartedly say I am grateful for having had cancer, but I am so deeply grateful for all it has taught me. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2007. My first reaction was one of shock and disbelief. How could someone as robustly healthy as me have cancer? Before I knew it, the whole machine of cancer treatment had begun, and I was on chemotherapy before the tumor had even been found. The first lucky moment was when a friend who had had breast cancer years before sent me a battered and yellowing copy of Love, Medicine Miracles. At first I was not sure how it could help, but then I got to chapter 4. Bernie lists four important questions there to determine your attitude about yourself and your disease. The second question was, what happened to you in the year or two before your illness? I had to check what had happened to me in that time period, and a light went on in my head! It was like I had been struck by a thunderbolt. I checked my diaries and found twenty-six significant events, starting with the death of my father. I had been brought up to be strong, be independent, help others, and deal with events head on. Now I realized that all the deeply distressful events I thought I had dealt with had had a profound effect on my health. I fit the psychological profile of a cancer patient. I was gripped and read and reread the book during my chemotherapy. I also read every book by Bernie that I could lay my hands on and bought his CD to improve my immune system by meditation. After my last chemo session I became very ill. The antibiotics were not controlling my temperature, and I knew I was getting worse when a microbiologist was called. I could not eat or sleep. I told my husband that if I got any worse, I was not sure I would have the stamina to get through it. That night, as I could not sleep, I played Bernie’s CD over and over again until I almost knew it word for word. It was Be