Press Release

August 6, 2007

Book by Teacher at Ann Richards School Offers Lessons in Hope, Determination

Meg Brown, former University of Texas basketball player and a physical education teacher at the new Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, teaches a lesson of hope and inspiration in a book about overcoming cancer. Brown will be a featured author at the New Writers Event Book Signing at Barnes and Noble at The Arboretum on Saturday, August 11, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Brown wrote the book, Dancing with the Enemy: Letting the Good Outweigh the Bad, based on her journal entries she kept during four months of misdiagnosis, treatment, and recovery. It also includes her six survival secrets that she believes are the reasons she is in remission and healthy today.

Brown played basketball at The University of Texas from 1997-2001. During the fall of her fifth year of school following her eligibility, her athletic, healthy body began to fail. Symptoms surfaced, misdiagnoses were given, and uncertainty was the norm.

"After months of being treated for 'Austin Allergies,'" Brown said, "I found myself in the emergency room with an 18cm tumor in the middle of my chest.

"The correct diagnosis was Stage IV Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I completed nine rounds of chemotherapy and received a peripheral stem cell transplant (equivalent to a bone marrow transplant)."

Meg recently moved back to Austin and will teach math and P.E. at the new Ann Richards School, which begins classes on Monday, August 27.

Jeanne Goka, principal of the Richards school said Brown's personal journey would be an inspiration for students. "Meg knows first hand what can be accomplished through hard work and determination. And, the lessons she has learned about wellness and good health will also be good for our students to learn," she said.

Portions of the proceeds from Brown's book will go to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, she said.

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