I Am Not My Illness

When doctors deliver devastating news, you might wonder why me! The moment you hear the words that a loved one or you have a chronic illness or disorder; the world may seem to stop and life is coming to an end. Your natural reaction may be fight or flight! When I learned that my beloved mom would ultimately not survive a combination of leukemia and dementia, I was never the same. Her death was a teachable lesson that talking about her illness and sharing the way she never complained...
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When doctors deliver devastating news, you might wonder why me! The moment you hear the words that a loved one or you have a chronic illness or disorder; the world may seem to stop and life is coming to an end. Your natural reaction may be fight or flight! When I learned that my beloved mom would ultimately not survive a combination of leukemia and dementia, I was never the same. Her death was a teachable lesson that talking about her illness and sharing the way she never complained was a weight off my heart. My dad cared for his true love until her last breath. They were married for 60 years! Two years later, my amazing dad, diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, died.I began my own path of healing with a form of journaling by writing my weekly column, "Health Matters," published in the Los Angeles Wave Newspaper. The nearly four years of hearing from others about what they were going through and how they shined a light on their journey of courage and acceptance was therapeutic for both of us.After interviewing more than 300 people, I witnessed an unexpected healing process and transformation from victim to victor. It was emotional and fulfilling to know that I had a small hand in God's work to confirm that you are not your illness. I am grateful to Gregory J. Huskisson, Vice President/Content & Audience, of the Los Angeles Wave and all the men, women and children who courageously shared their stories.This book will affirm that you are not alone in this fight! Your illness or medical challenges does not define who you are!