Fear Differential is a deeply personal and spiritually charged fiction that follows Maria through the emotional crucible of nursing, heartbreak, loss, and inner transformation. It is a story of vulnerability, strength, and the quiet power of faith when life’s storms feel unbearable.
Maria begins her journey as a nurse, thrown into the frontlines of terminal illness, bearing witness to suffering, grief, and human fragility. As she cares for her patients, her own life begins to unravel—her marriage breaks down, workplace betrayal surfaces, and the emotional demands of her job push her to her limit.
Amid the pain, a forbidden love blooms just as her personal world collapses. Seeking refuge, she retreats to a Buddhist center, where nature, silence, and meditation guide her through the darkest folds of her heart. There, she reconnects with her inner voice, discovering that healing is not about escaping pain—but about embracing it.
Then, COVID-19 arrives, bringing new tests of loss, faith, and surrender. Through grief and uncertainty, Maria learns to let go, allowing life to carry her like a river current and discovering a deeper, more compassionate understanding of herself and the world.
Fear Differential is more than a fiction it’s a testament to human resilience, spiritual awakening, and the transforming power of love and vulnerability.
Key Themes
Frontline nursing during COVID, fear and courage, patient care and sacrifice, personal loss and renewal, faith and resilience.
About the Author
Gene Cardema is a registered nurse whose decades of service at the bedside inform every page of Fear Differential. She spent many years working in critical and transplant care, and she says the novel grew
That rich background means the medical details ring true, and the emotional journey is authentic. Cardema also frames her story with deep respect for fellow caregivers – as noted in the book’s dedication to those who “sacrificed and lost their lives” during the pandemic. Today she combines her nursing insight with her spiritual perspective to explore resilience and healing. Her hope is that readers will connect with a tale rooted in real-life healthcare struggles and triumphs.
TESTIMONIALS
“Fear Differential is a candid portrayal of Maria’s life—emotional, raw, and hopeful. Her spiritual journey lifts the narrative from pain to redemption.”
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