The Decision to Write 

I remember one day sitting in Ted's hospital room, watching the ventilator mechanically pumping oxygen into his chest, forcing it to rise and fall. It was never easy to watch, but not one day passed that I wasn't grateful for the invention of this machine because Ted would've died weeks ago without it. Not everyone was as fortunate.  

There was something else different about this day, though. The ICU was often full during COVID-19 but was at capacity now. There was a cacophony of beeping, buzzing, and whooshing of multiple ventilators coming from all directions. It was about to drive me mad! I stood just inside Ted's room, watching the medical staff rush around, responding to one alarm after another, knowing more than one life was lost that day. 

The emotional weight these medical providers carried was enormous. They chose to go to work and risk their lives each day to care for others. It didn't matter what medicine or machine was used—it couldn't have happened without these people. These selfless individuals—each one of them mattered. After weeks of visiting Ted, I was familiar with many of them, and this overwhelming feeling of compassion and gratitude flooded me. 

That's when I knew I was writing this book. 

What's coming next…

• In the future, I'll spill the details of how I was dead set on finding a publisher and what ultimately changed my mind and set me on the path to self-publishing. 

  
  

• There are so many ways to write something, and I still get hung up on that sometimes, but I'll talk about how I found my voice. 

  
  

• I'm probably most excited to share my passion for self-care and how attempting "selflessness" and ignoring your needs can actually be bad for your health. 

  
  

• Writing is therapy. You don't need to write a book, but something as simple as journaling several times a week can meet your therapeutic needs. 

• I'll share some of my stress-relieving lettering techniques to add to your journaling page. 

• What I think may fascinate and interest everyone, but especially medical providers, is Ted's detailed description of his elaborate and often terrifying ICU delirium dreamworld where he was trapped for 42 days!

I invite you to join me on this incredible journey of self-publishing my first memoir. Sign up for updates to receive behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive content, and early access to my book.