Born: 1956   Detroit , MI
Children: Spencer
Address(es):
Permanent :
Detroit , MI

Image	Title	Genre	Audience	Publisher	Date
	Magic from the Womb of a Real Woman	Poetry	Adult	Detroit, Mich. : Magic Poems Pub	2000
	More Magic : A Collection of Poems	Poetry	Adult	Farmington Hills, Mich. : MAGIC (Detroit, Mich. : Mays Printing Co.	1990
	Magic : a collection of poems	Poetry	Adult	Farmington Hills, Mich. : MAGIC (Detroit, Mich. : Mays Printing Co.	1987
	Black Awareness : Facing Reality	Poetry	Adult	Detroit, Mich. : Agascha Production	1977

What is the aim or goal of your writing: When people are diagnosed with cancer, they say "Why me"? "I say, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, Why not me?" " If I hadn't had cancer, I never would have met the wonderful people at Gilda's Club." In 1998 when Gwendolyn was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, she saw it as a new phase in her life. "I was ready to take on this task", she said. "I treated it like a cold. But still, I was afraid." She joined Gilda's Club and attended a wellness group, which became her bedrock of support as she underwent treatment. "I had some very sick days when I didn't know if I was going to make it," Gwendolyn said. "It was such a relief to be around people who were going through the same experience. I shared things with them about my illness that I didn't even share with my family." While Gwendolyn atttended her wellness group, Sprencer, her 14-year-old son, went to Noogieland. "Spencer was nervous and frightened, but at Gilda's Club he learned about cancer and gained understanding about what his mother was going through," she said. "For us, Gilda's Club became like a family." In 2003, Gwendolyn experienced a cancer recurrence and underwent a second and more intensive round of treatment. All the while, Gilda's Club remained very important to her. Now she is cancer free. Gwendolyn has remained active at her clubhouse, reaching out to welcome African Americans to Gilda's Club, and even bringing in her friend, the singer Patti LaBelle, for a benefit for the clubhouse. "With cancer, there is no racism," Gwendolyn said. "You either have a low blood count or a high blood count."

May inquiries be sent to you about doing workshops, readings: No

Donated books to the Authors & Illustrators database project: No

Skills:
Poet

MeLCat Links:
http://elibrary.mel.org/search~S15/?searchtype=a&searcharg=Burton%2C+Gwendolyn+Diane.&searchscope=15&sortdropdown=r&SORT=D&extended=0&SUBMIT=Search&searchlimits=&searchorigarg=aBurton%2C+Gwendolyn+Diane.

Last Modified On: 4/11/2014 12:00:00 AM