Wanna Be Interviewed for My New Book?
Good news! I just signed a contract with Discovery House Publishers for a new book. This one is tentatively called Different Dream Parenting: Raising a Child with Special Needs. It will be a companion book to A Different Dream for My Child, providing guidance and resources for parents. The deadline for the manuscript to arrive at DHP is April 1, 2011 which is good. This book will require a great deal of research before the writing begins.
Some Things Will Be the Same
The information in Different Dream Parenting will be arranged within the same six categories as the previous book:
- Diagnosis
- Hospital Life
- Juggling Two Worlds
- Caring for Long-Term Health Needs
- Losing a Child
- Raising a Survivor
And once again, I’ll be interviewing families and sharing their wisdom about life with children who have special needs.
Some Things Will Be Different
In this book, the scope of special needs will go beyond conditions that require hospitalization. Families dealing with developmental delays, autism and Aspergers will be part of this book. The focus will be on providing parents with resources and tools they can use to better advocate for their children.
I Need Your Help
A sizable number of families have already volunteered to be interviewed, but I’m still looking for parents (and kids) with experience in the following:
- Strain on marriages and how to get counseling
- Strain on siblings and how to get counseling
- Creative ways to keep your job while dealing with a very sick child and examples of supportive employers
- How to keep a house running during a child’s prolonged hospital stay
- How to handle hospital bills, insurance companies, etc.
- How to access governmental programs and funding
- How to get kids involved in community sports
- How to deal with end of life issues with children
- Positive Hospice experiences
- Effective, compassionate grief counseling
- Creating a “healthy child” mindset in a survivor
If you can speak to any of those topics, please leave a comment below, and I will contact you as soon as possible.
Thanks for your help,
Jolene
I have twins that are 8 now and were born 3 1/2 months premature. Of the topics that you still need input, I could help with bills and accessing support. My daughter has nursing care in the home and that is a whole new can of worms. I would strongly suggest including some information about that in your book. It has taken us a 1 1/2 years to find the right nurses for our homes. Also many agencies outright lie to you about scheduling.
I just want you to know that your first book was very helpful for us. My daughter was very sickly when I received the book and I really felt God answering my prayers and urging me to get a second opinion after reading your devotion about that. We have since gotten a second opinion and she is pain free most days now.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Hi Jolene,
I have been getting your emails and checking out most of your blogs for some time now. I am sorry to say I never read your book because when I found you, I was past the “shock” of my new life and just living it. You can check out my son’s page and see that is has been a long and wonderful journey. I am always willing and wanting to share any and all information that might help someone else, as I feel God gave me Christian to help others. I would to help with your book.
Hi Jolene,
So glad I found you through Twitter. I’ve started posting things with #specialneeds tags because I have two daughters adopted from foster care, both have developmental delays, both emotional/mood disorders, and one has chronic medical issues. I’d love to talk with you and be a part of your new book project. I could speak to marriage and sibling issues (I have two biological kids too, so we have both the two adopted girls’ dynamics and them with each of the other girls…).
I’d love to be a resource in any way I can!
Thanks,
Laurie
http://livingpower.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mylivingpower
I can speak to how to access governmental programs and funding and creative ways to keep your job while dealing with a child who has intense special needs and examples of supportive employers.
I have two kids with special needs and would be happy to help.
I lost a child had to make the decision to withdraw care. I am also raising a child who lives with the same condition that took my son’s life. Please e-mail me if you wish to speak further. Thank you.
Nancy,
Thanks so much for leaving a comment. How wonderful to hear that Different Dream was a help for your family. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I will contact you via email about setting up a date for an interview.
Thanks,
Jolene
Hi Laine,
Thanks for the link to your caringbridge page and for offering to be interviewed for my new book. Your little guy is so sweet. I will contact you via email with more details.
Jolene
Dear Laurie,
A quick look at your blog was enough to convince me you could be a great resource for Different Dream Parenting. I’ll contact you via email to set up an interview.
Jolene
Dear Tiruba,
Thanks for volunteering to talk to me about several important areas. I’ll contact you via email about setting up an interview.
Jolene
Thanks Chelsea,
I’ll contact you with email about areas you might be interested in talking about.
Jolene
Dear TC,
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your son and the difficult choice you had to make. I will contact you by email about setting up an interview.
Jolene
I am a single mom raising 2 children alone my older son is 14 and has multiple disabilities. His primary is cerebral palsy and the secondary is Autism. His younger brother is 10 years old. I would love to talk to you about the topic for your book.
LeAndre,
Thank you for your interest. I’ll contact you via email with more details.
Jolene
Hi Jolene,
Interested in helping you out with your book. Let me know if you would like to interview us.
Janis
Here is the short story (My New DreaMS) I’ve written about having two kids with special needs and living myself with MS. If I can help let me know.
http://oserofamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-new-dreams.html
Jolene,
My sister told me about your first book and planned second book. I have a son with Aspergers. He is now 19 and just completed his first year of college. Although he does well in an academic setting, the social isolation he lives in is great. I also have 2 other children who have had to do their share of coping with a brother with a disability.
Dear Janis,
Thanks for volunteering for an interview. I’ll contact you with details via regular email.
Jolene
Dear Lori,
Thanks for offering to be interviewed. The angle of living with a debilitating illness while caring for special needs kids is one to be addressed. And since my dad had MS for 38 years, I’m all the more eager to hear your story. I will contact you with interview details through regular email.
Thanks again,
Jolene
Dear Alison,
Thanks for volunteering for an interview. I’ll contact you with more details via email.
Thanks,
Jolene
Dear Jolene,
I have been blessed to have found your website. You are an answer to prayer for me. I have an 8 year old daughter who was born with a form of spina bifia. She had a very long surgery at the age of 18 months which has prevented any physical impairments. The emotional effects of the traumatic hospital experience still affects her today. She suffers from PTSD, severe seperation anxiety, and mood disorder. We continue therapy and counseling for her today. As you know this has effected our family in many ways. I don’t know if I have any information that would help in your new book but I would love to share any of my experiences, pains and blessings if it would help someone else in any way. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and wisdom. You are impacting lives.
Dear Shelby,
Thank you for leaving your comment. Today I had a conversation with one of the therapists at the clinic where our son was treated for his medical-induced PTSD. We’re trying to figure out how to find adults who are still suffering from pre-verbal PTSD they experienced as very young children. So hearing that you are aware of and seeking treatment for your daughter’s trauma is heartening.
I would love to talk to you more about my book and will contact you via email soon.
Thanks,
Jolene
Jolene,
My wife and I have three kids our youngest who is 5, was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, 22Q deletion. We would love to speak with you regarding most of the listed items that you have bulleted. Please feel free to contact us with anything.
Hi Greg,
Thank you. I’ll contact you via your private email address.
Jolene