I was very fortunate to be introduced to Hawa in 2023, and worked closely with her up until her passing to create this memoir documenting her life. A single mother, breast cancer fighter, and founder of a cross-continent non-profit, Hawa’s story is undoubtedly important and relevant right now.

After I first met Hawa and her close friend Ginny, I was sent a series of letters that Hawa wrote during the Covid-19 pandemic. Whilst reading, I was touched by how raw and emotional the letters were. A Guinean living in the US with a terminal cancer diagnosis, Hawa's mission with her memoir is to change social stigmas around cancer back home in West Africa, to educate women about breast cancer, and share how to check for early signs.

What started out as a handful of letters, transformed into a detailed and heartrending memoir.

Once we began work in earnest, we quickly realised that the letters alone were not enough to convey all of the messages Hawa wished to say. We began to record lengthy interviews on meaningful topics related to her life and journey, which I transcribed and edited into chapters for the manuscript. As time was running out for Hawa, we opted to self-publish the memoir post-humously, with all proceeds going to to her daughters.