From 10,000 Miles Underway to Facing Pediatric Cancer

 Before she was diagnosed with leukemia at seven, Eleanor had already sailed more than 10,000 nautical miles with her father, Sean Patrick Sayers. Their life was spent at sea, filled with long passages, quiet anchorages, and a freedom few children ever know. Moving onto an old trawler seemed like just the next step in their adventure, but life had other plans.

The diary of this journey is a work in progress, a record of a family’s story, of joyful days turned difficult, and of a fight no parent is ever prepared to face. Subscribe to the blog for updates and to read real stories of hope and resilience.

Beyond Eleanor’s journey, this blog shares the stories behind the stories. Sean Patrick Sayers writes from his life as a middle school teacher, a father navigating pediatric cancer, and a sailor who lived aboard boats while crossing thousands of miles at sea. Here you’ll find reflections on culture, education, parenting, politics, and life on the water, along with stories from America’s forgotten backroads and earlier years that shaped the man behind the books. You’ll also get behind-the-scenes looks at Sean’s current writing projects, from post-apocalyptic fiction to historical essays, and raw insights from a life spent navigating challenge and change.

Purchase Hoplite Ridge, a science fiction novel inspired by Eleanor’s journey. Twenty percent of every sale supports families facing pediatric cancer.