LITERARY LOCAL | Gina Lehman of Geneva, Onions Mean I Love You
- Glancer Magazine
- Mar 2, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 10, 2025
LOCAL MOM & BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR SELF-PUBLISHES HER FIRST CHILDREN'S BOOK
GENEVA–This local area resident is a self published author who is celebrating her first book. Gina lives in St. Charles with her husband Brad, daughter Margo, and three dogs. In June 2020 Brad encouraged Gina to self-publish one of her children’s books, a dream she had had since she won the Young Author’s Award in 5th grade. Gina recruited her cousin Maria to illustrate and they began working on putting a story that was handwritten in a notebook six years prior to life.
In June 2021, just two days after her 32nd birthday, Gina was diagnosed with aggressive Stage 3 Breast Cancer. Gina continued to work on the book throughout her treatments to encourage others, especially her daughter, to always have faith that you can overcome any obstacle.
In February 2022 Gina became cancer free and self-published “Onions Mean I Love You”. She is forever grateful for all of the love and support she has received and will always look for opportunities to pay it forward. Gina is involved in the community with organizations such as Random Acts Matter and Fox Valley Special Recreation Association and is eager for the opportunity to spread awareness about young breast cancer and to inspire other women to put their health first and to never let anything stand in the way of accomplishing their goals.
ABOUT THE BOOK
“Who’s chopping onions in here?” We’ve all heard this phrase before when someone is trying to cover up the real reason they’re crying. The truth is while onions do give you tears, it is LOVE that makes you cry! Happy tears, sad tears, laughing tears and more! In her debut children’s book Onions Mean I Love You, Gina wisely and sweetly explores how simple acts of service to others, no matter how big or seemingly small, show our family, friends and even strangers that we LOVE and care about them. Available at Amazon.
