Sexual Assault Awareness Month Book Special for April

In April, we focus on sexual assault awareness for one month. It's not enough time, in my opinion. However, it still gives us an opportunity to speak out, to reach out and to educate. That is my goal for the month of April 2009.


So for the month of April, I have a personal offer. I have a few copies of Voices of Survivors (our anthology) as well as some of my other books. Here's the deal. The Voices anthology MUST be sold at cover cost. 50% goes towards covering the tremendous price of printing, the other 50% goes to help charities that will help other survivors. That's $14.95 cover price, but you know it's going to a good cause. I will also personally sign the book for you :) As well, I will sell the copies I have of my other books at 10% off! Again, I will sign those, and proceeds will go to help those who need it.



PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, check out www.rapehelp.org for more information, resources and a way to e-mail me if you need.


Thank you all so much.
Let's all make a difference during Sexual Assault Awareness month! Why? Because sexual assault is EVERYONE'S problem!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Starting today, we focus on sexual assault awareness for one month. It's not enough time, in my opinion. However, it still gives us an opportunity to speak out, to reach out and to educate. That is my goal for the month of April 2009.

You will see MANY blogs and bulletins from me during this time. PLEASE read and repost them as there might be someone out there who needs to see them. We are all here to help each other.

Please check out Vanilla Heart Publishing's awesome blog about SAA Month:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=237638673&blogId=480447314

Also, I have a personal offer. I have a few copies of Voices of Survivors (our anthology) as well as some of my other books. Here's the deal. The Voices anthology MUST be sold at cover cost. 50% goes towards covering the tremendous price of printing, the other 50% goes to help charities that will help other survivors. That's $14.95 cover price, but you know it's going to a good cause. I will also personally sign the book for you :) As well, I will sell the copies I have of my other books at 10% off! Again, I will sign those, and proceeds will go to help those who need it. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE SHIPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, check out www.rapehelp.org for more information, resources and a way to e-mail me if you prefer not to contact me here.

Thank you all so much. Let's all make a difference during Sexual Assault Awareness month! Why? Because sexual assault is EVERYONE'S problem!

Voices of Survivors...Silent No More Anthology Now Available!!

It is with great pride and honor that I announce that Voices of Survivors...Silent No More - the anthology of writings from survivors from around the world is now available!

This book is so incredibly powerful! It will absolutely change your life!!

I am honored that I was a part of this project, and I am so proud & thankful to all of our contributors. Please check out the links below, and help support fellow survivors. Spread the word: this book can & will help COUNTLESS people!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Anthology-Compiled-Vanilla-Publishing/dp/1935407090/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235162614&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Survivors-Silent-More-Survivors-Speak/dp/B001RTSUU0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235162614&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Survivors-Silent-More-Survivors-Speak/dp/193540735X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235162614&sr=1-4

Exciting News!!!

Hello internet world! It sure has been a while. I still have my daily battles, but I have some wonderful news that I MUST share with you!

The Voices of Survivors Anythology is complete, and we are awaiting the final print proof from the printer! The book will be out later this month. This book is AMAZING. It has very powerful stories, prose and poetry from survivors from all walks of life. I absolutely adore this book, and want to thank everyone who contributed to it.

This book will touch survivors, secondary survivors, and non-survivors alike! I will keep you all posted as to the actual release date as soon as I know. I also want to encourage all of our contributors and friends to help us promote this book. It's not just one or two stories that will inspire you. It's over 200 pages of strength, encouragement and inspiration! This book will blow you away! So, please tell your friends and family. In my introductory letter, I call this compilation a treasure, and I whole-heartedly believe it is something you will all treasure greatly!

Thank you all so very much! Have a bright, beautiful & blessed day!!! :)

MS?!

Well, this isn't the blog I expected to post, but here it is nonetheless.

It looks as though I have MS. They found lesions on my thoracic spine. It may be nothing, BUT they're all on the left side (which would explain my right-sided problems), and it makes sense with my other symptoms. Perhaps the Lyme just exacerbated it. I don't know.

I can't even begin to describe where my head is at. So many people and doctors to call; things to arrange; my life to figure out. It's all very surreal.

Regardless, I am a fighter. I'll fight this to the bitter end, just like I've fought everything else in my life. There is a greater purpose to this, of that I am sure.

I'll be MIA for a while...

To the few of you that follow this blog and don't already know, I'm leaving for LA today. I'm going in for extensive testing, treatment, and possible surgery. I'll do my best to keep everyone up-dated, but since I won't have internet access, I don't want to make any promises that I can't keep.

Thank you all for being so kind & caring during all of this.

I pray that you all have a beautiful, happy, healthy, and blessed new year!!! :)

The Life of a Lymie...

Thursday, December 11, 2008

If you saw me walk without my cane, you’d swear I’m drunk. I stumble, trip; my weight will randomly shift from underneath me; I mis-step; I fall. I’m totally sober, I’m just getting weaker.

I had some minor seizures the other morning. I had 3 or 4 uncontrolled head movements yesterday. My back pain is getting worse. I have almost no range of motion in my neck or back. I’m getting worse. I’m freaking getting worse.

And yet, I can’t get any results, answers, or information. None. Why? Because they don’t have the MS blood results yet. They won’t tell me if they see Lyme in my spinal fluid. Or Babesia, or anything else. They won’t explain the MRI results. Nothing. Not until they get those damn MS results back.

Why?! My brain CT’s and MRI’s were all clear: no plaque or lesions on my brain. So, why does everything seem so dependent on this bloodwork? Did they misinterpret my CT’s and MRI’s? I feel like something is being hidden from me. I think they found something, but don’t want to break the news until they have everything, or need this blood to confirm, or something. But, dammit, it’s been 2 weeks! I don’t have time to fuck around – especially if I need serious treatments or surgery! Apparently, my pain, my condition, my needs don’t mean shit. My life is now based on other peoples’ schedules.

I couldn’t sleep last night. It was my first night without Tylenol PM. I’m trying to wean my body off it, but I am failing.

It doesn’t help that I have to do everything for the insurance company all over again! Every time I make contact, it takes them at least 10 days to get back to me. At that time, they’ll reveal VERY important information that they conveniently forgot to tell me last time I submitted my paperwork. I wrote to the president of the brokerage a week before the MRI, spinal tap & blood patch. I gave her my new address, wanted a status up-date, explained that I was having all this done & so would be in recovery for a while, gave her all the doctors’ and hospitals’ info, etc. I never heard a damn word. Amazingly enough, today she calls me. What did she say? She told me I have start over. I have to COMPLETELY re-do all my submissions & have all of my doctors RESEND their paperwork for the umpteenth time. Why couldn’t she do it while I’ve been on bed rest for the past 2 weeks? Oh, because that violates HIPAA. And she couldn’t have written back or called me to tell me that BEFORE? No, let’s have me wait yet ANOTHER 3 weeks before I find THAT out & learn that everything I have done is null and void. These people are getting paid to do what again?!

Damn. I’m tired. I’m frustrated. I’m very painful. I’m confused. I’m stressed. I am sick of the bullshit that surrounds Lyme disease. This is beyond ridiculous.