Category: donate life

Strength in a Heartbeat, Diary of a Heart Transplant, why I created my book

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      My book Strength in a Heartbeat, Diary of a Heart Transplant was created from a
journal I would write in when Lauren and I were living in Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston Ma. waiting for her gift of life, a heart.
So many people encouraged me to turn my journal into a book.  After a long thought process, I decided to do it.  My goal for publishing our story is to help other’s that are living in the same situation we were in.  To help them feel they are not alone.  When we were living in the hospital, many miles away from family and friends, I felt very alone, scared and always wondering what the day would hold for us.  Is it going to be a good day or bad day?  Sitting there watching my daughter connected to so many machines, always feeling like I just want to take her and go home back to our life before this all happened. Asking God, “why” and to please help her, give her the strength to get through another day.  A mother should never have to watch her daughter live this type of life.
When I finally decided to write my book, it was very hard.  I was reliving every day over and over again.  It took me two years to complete the process.  I found a great editor to work with to help perfect the final product.
So now the manuscript is now in book form, time to find a publisher.  I self published from the company Createspace.  This company took me through the process of creating my book cover and formatting my book the way I envisioned it.
I highly recommend this company if someone wants to self publish a book.
I released my book for sale in August 2017, since then it is now selling on Amazon, (paperback and kindle versions), Shop on the Pike Gift Shop in Brigham and Women’s Hospital gift shop and also Odyssey Bookshop.
I am hoping this book will help people understand the organ transplant process and the importance of becoming an organ donor.
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TO SUM IT UP:
I have slept in a hospital chair, window sills and couches.  Skipped meals and cried from fear.  I have become an expert on Lauren’s condition.  I am a strong advocate that had to make life changing decisions.
​    I am a parent of a medically complex Warrior !!!​Lynne Robitaille

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Writing from the Heart

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I would like to thank the Chicopee Register for such a beautiful article they wrote on my book,
“Strength in a Heartbeat“, Diary of a Heart Transplant.  Thank you Chance Viles writer of the article.
Strength in a Heartbeat, is a journal I kept when my daughter Lauren Meizo was placed on the heart transplant list, living our lives in the hospital.  I am sharing our story in hopes of helping other families living in the same situation we were in.  Living in a hospital is hard, very hard, and lonely.  I want other families to know they are not alone.  I have created a Facebook page; Strength in a Heartbeat, a forum for families to  communicate with each other waiting and also to those who have lived it.  We all need a support system, I am hoping this will become one.
I know I am not the only one who could say this:
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I have slept in a hospital chair, window sills and couches.  Skipped meals and cried from fear.  I have become an expert on my child’s condition.  I am a strong advocate that had to make life-changing decisions.         Lynne

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Click on paper to read the article

Click on book to purchase 

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​To purchase your copy, please click on book, selling on amazon and createspace

Finished Writing My Book

Lynne13243 Comments

Yes, I finally finished writing my book.  Now to start a new venture…..

GET PUBLISHED

          It’s our story about Lauren’s heart transplant.  Finding out my daughter was very sick, to being listed on the transplant list and living in the hospital for almost one and a half years.  The highs and the lows we endured during that time.  It’s my  journal I kept.  Now I am ready to share with everyone.  So many people are living that life now, I hope my book will help them know they are not alone.

 This is the perfect month for me to get the publishing started.

April is National Donate Life Month

 

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  We have our flag proudly flying in the front of our house to help bring Organ Donation Awareness.

 

To become an organ donor, click on the link below, or to learn more on this subject.

                         donatelife.net

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Pass this on, let’s try to inform everyone

the importance of organ donation.

                                                       Love Lynne

Looking for some Advice

Lynne1324Leave a comment

For a long time, people have been telling me, Lauren’s story should be a book.  Well, for the past year I have been working on it.  The final manuscript should be done in about 2 months.  So exciting….

I have worn many hats in my life, so now I want to wear that hat that say’s Published Author.  Now how to achieve this??????????

I have been looking at different self publishing companies, just not sure which one would be the right fit.

If anyone has any advise you can pass on I would really appreciate it.

The one goal of this book is to maybe people other’s that are in the situation we were in.  Let them know they are not alone, like I felt.  When you find yourself in a world you have no idea what is going on, what is going to happen, you feel so lost.  I hope our story would give comfort, that their are other families out there, and you can get through it.

Thank you in advance for any idea’s

Lynne  1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

For all local viewers of Mass Appeal

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Tomorrow is going to be a big day for Lauren.  Her first TV interview.

Lauren is going to be on Mass Appeal TV Show.  She is nervous , it is  recored live.  April is National Donate Life Month, time to spread the word.  Set your DVR’s.

We would like to thank the city of Chicopee for flying the Donate Life flag in front of city hall.

Lauren’s radio spot on Rock 102 has been changed to next Monday, on the Bax & O’Brien Show.  Last time she was on, she knew how handle them lol.

Please consider becoming an organ donor.

Click on the link on the top of the home page to sign up

Love Lynne  donatelifelogo_400x400

April is Donate Life Month

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http://www.donatelife.net

Lauren and I went to present the City Of Chicopee Ma.USA at the mayor’s office with the official Donate Life flag to be proudly hung in the center for the month of April.  It is such an honor that our city will help in recognizing the importance of being awareness of Donate Life.

During the month of April, Lauren will be promoting and explaining why you should become an organ donor.  On April 5th, Lauren will be featured on Mass Appeal TV show,(set your DVR), and also she will be on the Bax & O’Brien radio show…date to come.

“Everyday I thank God for the person that decided to make that decision to become a donor, otherwise I am not sure if Lauren would be here with us today”.  

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Please click on the link  today to sign up, become a super hero

http://www.donatelife.net

National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was instituted by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Celebrated in April each year, NDLM features an entire month of local, regional and national activities to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to celebrate those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.

2016 National Donate Life Month
For the 2016 National Donate Life Month artwork, Donate Life America was inspired by the mighty sunflower. It’s difficult to overlook their stature and bright color. A sunflower’s orangey yellow hue evokes feelings of optimism, warmth and cheerfulness. Often found in fields, they stand confident, sheltering each other and following the light throughout their lives.

Look a little closer and you will notice that one sunflower’s face contains as many as 2,000 seeds. With these, it has the potential to create an entirely new field of flowers. We each have a similar potential to give life when we register our decision to become an organ, eye and tissue donor. One organ donor can save and heal the lives of up to eight people through organ donation and countless others through tissue donation. A chance at new life gives beyond the recipient. Just as a new field of sunflowers brings comfort and happiness to those that come into contact with it, so does a loved one’s gift of donation to his or her family and friends.

Through life and its struggles, the sunflower reminds us to lean on each other and embrace the life-giving aspects of our lives. It reminds us to live with joy, to focus on the light even during difficult times, and to give freely to save the lives of others when we are gone.

We wish you a Happy National Donation Life Month. Thank you for your efforts in educating and registering others as organ, eye and tissue donors!

http://www.donatelife.net

Lynne 1437940979_love_valentines_day_11