Hannah: A Fictional Life Account of The Youngest Child Executed in U.S. History

by Sonya Dickerson

A year in the life of a woman dealing with a chronic illness. Diagnosed with Lupus March 3, 2011, my life totally went into a different direction than intended. Read along with my journey as I take you through the gut splitting highs and lows of what happens after being diagnosed. Chronic illness hit me in the face during a time in my life when I was not expecting. I was dating, working, taking care of my daughter, and trying to sell a television series I wrote about the afterlife. The answer came on the third largest blizzard in Chicago history. REVIEWS AROUND THE WEB... .....enjoyed every word of your book and selfishly did'nt want it to end...there is great comfort knowing someone else out there that has had the very same thoughts and struggles as yourself.... ...I didn't stop reading until I finished it. Your story could be mine. I loved your honesty and your frank way of telling it like it is. I enjoyed your book very much...thank you!! .... I have been glued to my pc, reading every page like i am reading my own story. Everything in there is just so unbelievably honest and accurate..... ~EXCERPT~ FEAR OF THE CHRONICALLY ILL For all the chronically ill out there, I salute you. What some of us go through in a week, most people don’t experience in a year, a decade, or even a lifetime. Surviving, remaining strong, and resolute is not an easy thing to do. Even when sometimes you just want to give up. I’ve experienced people giving up on me. It’s like I’m already six feet under. The ignored and unreturned phone calls. The sad pitiful looks. The downward glances. The yearning for yesterday when you were normal. “I don’t understand. There must be something that can be done!” They yell. They look at you as if there was something you ate, someplace you went, and something YOU did to make yourself THAT WAY. “I can’t see you like this. I can’t bear to see you in pain.” So they don’t. You’re “lucky” if you get a “Hey how-ya doin',’” message on Facebook and your answer better be a firm solid, “Fine.” They can’t tolerate anything else. What does all this mean? People look for life to make sense. Things have to be rationalized and analyzed. The mere thought that people can get sick all random and willy-nilly is just absolute nonsense. Which is why they comb through your diet and environment...looking for answers to why YOU got sick and they are not. It all boils down to FEAR. That’s right. Fear of the Chronically Ill. Because of this fear most sick people are blamed for their conditions. If only you stopped with red meat, took vitamins, drank more water, didn’t live in the Midwest, took even more vitamins and took better care of yourself. Because if you did all those things, you wouldn't be sick. They have to repeat those lies in their head because their minds cannot possibly contemplate that THIS could just as easily be THEM. They can’t imagine a life of getting infusions, injections, dialysis, medicine cocktails, unbearable pain, mobility aides, organ transplants, extreme fatigue, etc. because life doesn’t do this to people if they did the right thing. But alas my chronically ill friends you already know that life does not work this way. I’m sure some of you were even healthier than some of these people that I speak of before you got sick.

Genres: Historical Fiction

60 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

I am a disabled single mom living with lupus. I decided that now is more a time than ever to pursue my writing career.

I learned how to read and write at two and have been in love with the written word since then. Tea and a laptop with a fast internet connection is all I need in this world.

I am a voracious reader and am glad that I pursued writing instead of leaning on every excuse known to man why I didn't have the time.

If you love what you do, you'll make the time to do it, regardless of what's going on in your life.

Reviews

[Cindy Javens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many women

Not gay, don’t want to be. Enjoy reading. Lllllllmm gghghcseghh thb vfyjb gftun bc gik gukmghi hgdrym bgresf rh go

[Jill Hahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disturbing

[Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease almost one year ago. The thing that impressed me the most about this book is the author's honesty, particularly about pain & the need for pain medications. We are frequently under-treated for the pain we live with daily. I think the more people with chronic illnesses and chronic pain conditions come forward about our need to be treated for pain, the more openly we can address this topic. It's a wild experience, waking up one morning to find yourself in the world of the chronically ill. You are forced to pick an army of specialists, often armed with no more information than the names provided by your insurance company. If you are fortunate enough to have insurance. Will the doctor be compassionate? Understanding? A jerk? You don't know until he/she is your doctor.

Don't expect answers, this isn't a "How To Deal" kind of book. This is just what it says it is. One woman's diary of her first year with Lupus. It is an honest, open look at her daily life and struggles. I found this book to be applicable to many chronic illnesses, especially autoimmune diseases.

If you are chronically ill, or knows someone who is, I recommend reading reading it. One caveat: it's a very real look at one woman's Lupus, and some newly diagnosed may find it unsettling.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The medical system in this country has to change. I knew this already from listening to my friend talk about trying to convince doctors about chronic, complicated diseases. Here is testimony from another patient. When did doctors start only caring about numbers on tests and not listening to their patients? You are told that the system works best when the patient cares and is involved. But then we don't want to allow them the time to ask questions or even answer them. Sure standard things work for a large percentage of the population. But not for ALL the population.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative info about lupus from a real person living with & dealing with this chronic autoimmune disease. I rather hear it from a patient's point of view thAn a Dr or websites. She has a great way of looking at things and I love the way she renames pills to suit the true nature of them.I recommend this book to all new to lupus ,caregivers and family members . Thank you Sonya for sharing your story, I have already bought book 2 and starting it tonight:)

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Sonyas story , I can relate to her and many times thru out her book I saw phrases that I too have said many times , the part where she talks about her legs hurting so bad she wants to cut them off is one of many .. I actually took a pic of that whole paragraph ,sent it to my daughter saying remind you of anyone you know?? Yes you Mom lol.. Thank you Sonya for sharing your story.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad but true!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a novel based on true facts. Since there wasn't much information having happened in 1786, the author did a good job filling in the blanks of this tragic story.