Every Day Counts: Lessons in Love, Faith, and Resilience from Children Facing Illness

When Maria Sirois worked on a pediatric oncology ward she was astounded by the children she counseled. They seemed to know intuitively what adults struggle to re-learn—that playing relieves stress; it’s okay to cry; love is not a cure but is a powerful antidote to pain; meaning in life comes not from what happens to us but how we respond; that you should look for ways to make each day special, even if it’s a bad day.

Every Day Counts chronicles the remarkable stories of the children Maria worked with. It speaks directly to anyone who is sick, but also to therapists, doctors, and nurses, presenting an inside look at how they cope with the emotional strain of caring for the seriously ill, of being touched by grief yet not consumed by it. Sirois revels in the big triumphs—some kids cured or in remission—and in the momentary victories, such as that of a seven-year-old, scheduled to have her leg amputated, who challenges Maria to a hopping race and gleefully says, “I’m winning, I’m winning.” By sharing her own experience, Maria Sirois has greatly enriched our own.

Psychologist Maria Sirois did her internship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She was a lecturer for several years at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts. This is her first book. She lives in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

“Most afflictions of dying children are not contagious, but Maria Sirois reminds us that if we approach them with open hearts, we can catch some of their courage and faith.” —Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“Every Day Counts lives the message. This book will touch your heart and bring you to tears and laughter. —Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of Love, Medicine & Miracles