What I Want You to Know

When a mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, everything changes.

In this intimate and courageous letter to her three daughters, a mother, scholar and career woman shares her journey through illness while holding on to love, honesty, hope and the ordinary moments that continue to shape family life.

From braiding hair before surgery to shaving her head with her daughters after chemotherapy, from navigating motherhood and an academic career to quiet bedside conversations and breakfast in bed on difficult days, ‘What I Want You to Know’ reveals how ordinary moments can become lifelines during times of fear and uncertainty.

Written with warmth, vulnerability and wisdom, this is a story of resilience, caregiving, family, faith and the fragile beauty of being human. While rooted in one family’s experience with cancer, its message reaches far beyond diagnosis, offering comfort to anyone navigating illness, grief, uncertainty or change.

At its heart, ‘What I Want You to Know’ is a letter for every child, no matter their age, because we never stop being our parents’ children. It is also for every parent, guardian or grandparent navigating a difficult season and wondering what the children they love most need to hear.

Through one woman’s reflections comes a powerful invitation to consider:

What would you want your children to know?

 About the Author

Dr. Elizabeth Agbor Eta is a researcher, educator, author, speaker, and storyteller. Originally from Cameroon and based in Finland, she has built an international career in higher education, research, and academic collaboration. Her work explores global education governance, academic partnerships, learning, and social change.

In January 2026, Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer, an experience that reshaped her perspective on motherhood, work, relationships, and what it means to live fully. She founded Permission Granted, a platform for honest conversations about illness, healing, identity, and life’s difficult seasons.

What I Want You to Know is her first personal book. Written as a letter to her three daughters, it invites parents and children of all ages to embrace honest conversations, cherish ordinary moments, and navigate difficult seasons with love, courage, and hope.

Elizabeth continues to research, teach, write, speak, and advocate, bringing the same curiosity and openness to her personal storytelling that have shaped her academic life.

Website: www.elizabetheta.com