I was going to blog about why I’ve been away for a couple of weeks, then I read about this today and figured it can wait a while. This is far more important.
I would like you please, please, please, to visit Sharon Donovan’s blog, read her story, and I hope, buy her book Echo of a Raven. Why am I asking you this? Because Sharon is Type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at the age of six, and began to lose her sight in her twenties because of one of the potential complications of this infuriating condition, diabetic retinopathy. Sharon is donating a part of all her proceeds from this book to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Those of you who know me will know that my young son is also Type 1 diabetic, and the shadows of potential complications later in his life hang over me and his father. No, we don’t want to think about it, but yes, we bloody well have to think about it. You can imagine how difficult it was for me to read Sharon’s story. You can imagine the tears. If you know me well, you’ll have seen or heard my anger and frustration many times. Sharon writes about her past anger too, but she also writes about the way she feels now, her light at the end of the tunnel. Please go and read what she has to say, and I do hope you'll think about buying her book.
I'll also brazenly remind you that all the profits from my own novel A Different Kind of Honesty go to JDRF. You can buy it at The Wild Rose Press, and it's all over the Amazons. Just follow the sidebar links. And, thank you.
Thursday, 9 July 2009
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2 comments:
Hello Jane! I was doing a search this morning on diabetic retinopathy and came across your blog about my book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yes, it was with great apprehension I wrote this book for fear of putting fear into those affected by this horrendous disease. But as you say, we cannot hide from it either, or put our heads in the sand. And the sooner we find a cure--the better. I can say with confidence, however, the risk of going blind from diabetes has gone down considerably since the 70s when I was initially diagnosed with retinopathy. I hope and pray your young son will be spared. I bought your book, A Different Kind of Honesty. And thanks to modern technology, I can read it due to my cyber space narrator who will read it to me. Thanks, Jane. I'm with you all the way on our quest to find a cure. Everyone out there, please join Jane and I on our mission to help JDRF find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
Sharon Donovan
Romantic Suspense with a Twist of Faith
www.sharonadonovan.com
sharonad@comcast.net
Oh my, Sharon, you are so very welcome. I can't not share this sort of thing, and it's a message I won't ever stop passing along. :) I understand your initial apprehension about your book, but I long ago came to the conclusion that it's better for people to have that information out there and accessible - knowledge is power and strength in so many things. You've done an amazing thing even just by writing your story down, and your decision to share it with others is incredibly positive. It's a powerful thing that you've done, and in doing so, you will empower so many other people.
Things are changing so quickly in the understanding and management of diabetes, and it's only a matter of time (and reseach funding!) until a cure is found.
I echo Sharon's call to everyone to please help! We all have our own special, personal charities and limited funds, I know, but sometimes even just mentioning that you heard a story or that you know a person with this condition, or that you read a blog somewhere and passing a link along will help someone with diabetes in ways you may never know. Support is so much more than just the bucks. :)
Sharon, thank you so much. :) More power to you, my dear!
Jane x
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