I Am Thilda

It is the summer of 2019 when Thilda’s world falls apart. The pain in her leg is not growing pains, but in fact a rare form of cancer. The revelation is followed by a period of operations and tough cancer treatments. She is forced to accept a new reality: trips to hospitals, treatments, and unbearable pain. But suddenly, something unexpected occurs. A chance encounter at her hospital leads to an unexpected friendship. Thilda begins to paint, take pictures, selfies, and talk about her days with her new friends. The result is a moving book about a unique young girl’s journey with cancer, about her family’s unfailing support, and a strong bond of friendship.

The youngest of five, Ismay was born and raised in the West Indies, where her father was a London Metropolitan-trained police inspector. After living in England, she settled in Sweden, where she ran a successful English language business. She became an amateur novelist in 2020 after meeting the subject of this novel.

She has two sons and four grandchildren and currently lives in Gothenburg, Sweden.