ZANDRA: My Daughter, Diabetes, and Lessons in Love by Janet Hatch – guest post and giveaway

September 8, 2021
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Zandra
by Janet Hatch
GENRE: Memoir

BLURB:

In this truly inspiring memoir, Janet Hatch shares her compelling story of raising her strong-willed daughter who, at age eleven, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. From the beginning of her life, Zandra experienced being different as a result of dietary restrictions, but nothing would prepare her for the tumultuous feelings that Zandra’s diagnosis would bring. Janet’s story chronicles the day-to-day life of raising a child through the teen years and into young adulthood, while reconciling her own insecurities.

After experiencing complications and additional illnesses from diabetes, Zandra’s life became uncertain and bleak. When she learned of the death of her friend from diabetes, she began to spiral downward. This is a love story between a mother and daughter and demonstrates that although the bond may be challenged, it was created to endure. From travelling to Iceland in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association to receiving her beloved diabetic alert dog, Cinnamon, this story is one that will encourage all those who love a child, to look beyond fear and see beauty in every challenge.

Guest Post:

Blind Trust
I recently read a social media post that read, “It’s funny that the older I get my vision begins to fail; yet I can see through people and situations more easily”. This post sums up succinctly my experience over the last years of my life, and I’m sure there are many of us who feel the same way.
What is it exactly that has our intuition guiding us to greater truths? Does this wisdom come from age or experience? I’ve often watched migratory birds take off for warmer territory as the Canadian summer comes to a close and wondered about the sensation that comes over these birds that leads them to other lands. Often these birds begin to leave prior to the changing temperatures and surprisingly they all leave within a very short time-span. This connection to mother earth and a higher power is something that comes through a little stronger for most of us as we get older; no doubt for people, because of lived experiences where we’ve learned to trust.
I’ve always been a sensitive person. This sensitivity has created anxiety and introversion in the past, yet I find it somehow comforting now. My solitude shaded me from outside sources and helped me to be introspective in making decisions. My blind trust guided me to write my book and share my story with the world, even when I had no intention to do so and the fears felt greater than the reward. It really tells of the journey of finding myself through the experiences of raising children. My greatest fears of having children, knew that should they become ill, I may not be able to make it better and the experience would be hard on my soul. I learned to quell my insecurities and live my life with the unspoken negotiation that if I follow the “rules”, I have the best chances of avoiding my greatest fears. These unspoken rules kept me on the straight and narrow by following moral, medical and societal guidelines. It wasn’t until ten years ago that I was really cracked open and tested, that I learned to trust my inner guidance.
Some people call this inner Guidance God – I do. But others know this as the “universe”, or by some other name. All roads lead to a higher power and I cast no judgement for whatever names someone uses. This guidance saw me through the real fears of losing my daughter to diabetes and saw me through allowing everyone, including her, to live their own life and trust their own guidance. I’ve been tested not by choice, but I’m a better person, mother, partner, friend and aunt because of it. Through this testing, I’ve had to lose my security to gain my clarity.
During these difficult times that we’re living in, I’ve been grateful for knowing how to recognize internal navigation system. It’s allowed me to see things with more clarity and to love everyone for living in their own truths. I have strong feelings, yet feel no need to impart them on the way others live their lives, as my way isn’t what’s right for everyone. I would love to say that my fears are completely vanquished from my mind, but if I did I wouldn’t be truthful. I have grave concerns that my daughter, Zandra, will be faced with insulin shortages in her life. I fear that she won’t have access to medical help should she need it. If I allowed it, my fears would keep me up all night and projecting my fears by day. But to what end? These days we’re in are where the rubber hits the road. All my trials and tribulations are now being tested and my ability to let go of what I can’t control is the line between joy and despair. I’m by far not finished being tested and I’m no moral authority. I too look to others to emulate how I want to live and navigate my own choices by those that resonate with my soul.
The purpose of my book is to help other parents lean on my life experiences and help them to let go of their own fears. We’re all connected in this world and when one person struggles, others feel the ripple. I wrote my book to encourage faith and live in the present moment, which is the only real place of joy. No matter where you are in your life, you are seen. You are needed and loved. Your sorrows and joys are shared and your purpose is connected to mine. My life has allowed me the grace to be led in faith, which often feels like blind trust. This trust allows me to see, love and accept everyone where they are. I hope that you allow yourself to experience the freedom of blind faith.

Excerpt:

It would take me many years to understand that an ordinary emotion such as empathy was indeed an extraordinary gift. I could feel the emotions of others so deeply and on the same level as my own. I realized that I was different in this way. When friends could laugh at the expense of another, I never could, even as a joke. If I did, I was torn up about it inside to the point I felt ill. I was able to look at a photo and feel the mood in myself. I could walk into a room and know what others were feeling, yet there was no language to understand or express myself. These feelings further isolated me from others. I wasn’t able to be as carefree as I saw others were. I lost myself in the confusion of emotions within my home, school and outside world. I couldn’t separate my own feelings of despair from those I felt around me. I found it impossible to feel happy when I felt that others were not, and as I grew I became a sort of chameleon. Without effort, I knew what was needed. I could fill the gaps and be fun and spontaneous or a quiet listener for whomever needed me. At the best of times I felt I had a purpose and was needed, and at the worst of times I felt disconnected and out of tune with my own feeling.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

JANET HATCH is a mother of four who lives in Camrose, Alberta. She is passionate about using her experience of raising her diabetic daughter to support parents and caregivers through the emotional twists and turns of what can be a difficult journey of having a child with a serious illness. She is a lover of animals and enjoys spending time in nature with her dog, Axel.

WEBSITE – Janet Hatch – Author https://janethatch.com/

INSTAGRAM – Janet Hatch (@janethatch)

GOODREADS – Janet Hatch (Author of Zandra) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20823094.Janet_Hatch

PURCHASE LINKS Zandra: My Daughter, Diabetes, and Lessons in Love

AMAZON.COM – https://amazon.com/dp/0228837022

AMAZON.CA – https://amazon.ca/dp/0228837022

AMAZON KINDLE – https://amazon.com/dp/B08L9RFCLN

BOOKSHOP – https://bookshop.org/books/zandra-my-daughter-diabetes-and-lessons-in-love/9780228837022

INDIGO CHAPTERS – https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/zandra-my-daughter-diabetes-and/9780228837022-item.html

BARNES & NOBLE – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zandra-janet-hatch/1137927622

BOOK DEPOSITORY – https://www.bookdepository.com/Zandra-Janet-Hatch/9780228837022

APPLE IBOOKS – https://books.apple.com/us/book/zandra-my-daughter-diabetes-and-lessons-in-love/id1536973152