Messages on the Mirror - Lovenotes and Lyme.
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Messages on the Mirror - Lovenotes and Lyme A memoir by Donna Z. Falcone Author’s note: Living with the consequences of undiagnosed Lyme Disease can feel like starring in a science fiction thriller. Diagnostic challenges, insurance overreach, and oppositional factions in the medical community create barrier after barrier for patients desperately striving toward recovery. Every patient experiences Lyme differently. In my case, once a diagnosis was finally made, a pivotal moment in my recovery was rejecting the common refrain that says if you haven't got your health you haven't got anything. Physical health is only one part of the picture -- a much smaller part than I realized before entering the labyrinth of tick-borne diseases. This is my story. |
What people are saying about
Messages on the Mirror - Lovenotes and Lyme:
“In this important and very personal account, Donna offers a revealing window through which we experience Lyme disease as an ongoing journey. Certainly Lyme patients will see themselves in many of Donna’s struggles and draw hope and courage from her candid reflections.
As a therapist I have been searching for an accurate account of the impact of Lyme disease in its chronic stages. This memoir legitimizes the often devastating symptoms of Lyme, which are often misdiagnosed and worse, dismissed. I intend to share this valuable resource widely in my practice.”
As a therapist I have been searching for an accurate account of the impact of Lyme disease in its chronic stages. This memoir legitimizes the often devastating symptoms of Lyme, which are often misdiagnosed and worse, dismissed. I intend to share this valuable resource widely in my practice.”
Wendy Wege Mauro, Licensed Professional Counselor
“Messages on the Mirror: Lovenotes and Lyme, a memoir by newcomer Donna Z. Falcone, is compelling— scene after scene, section after section. The reader experiences conflicts along with many positive moments. I cried; I laughed. Another strength of the memoir is that it offers valuable information about Lyme; the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment.
A major accomplishment of Messages on the Mirror is that Donna manages to make this difficult journey bearable by including authentic scenes between herself and husband Joe: his humor, his loving support, her appreciation. The interactions with their adolescent boys also feel real, and there are those scenes of discord, showing how hard it is on all of them. Donna’s wry one-liners, such an important addition, help establish the casual yet intentional VOICE of the memoir.”
A major accomplishment of Messages on the Mirror is that Donna manages to make this difficult journey bearable by including authentic scenes between herself and husband Joe: his humor, his loving support, her appreciation. The interactions with their adolescent boys also feel real, and there are those scenes of discord, showing how hard it is on all of them. Donna’s wry one-liners, such an important addition, help establish the casual yet intentional VOICE of the memoir.”
Ginnah Howard
author of Night Navigation,
a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
author of Night Navigation,
a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
This book will be a blessing to so many. It was to me,because it's relatable to my condition as well.
Jackie Matthews in NC
Donna has shared her story on LymeDisease.org, Health Journeys, Tweetspeak and more!
Photo by Sonia Joie
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Lyme Disease Brings Both Unavoidable Losses and Unsung Heroes. November 21, 2018. LymeDisease.org. "Life with Lyme goes on and, with the help of treatment and a really good therapist, she begins to flip her perspective. She considers that while her life had been completely derailed, his life was also feeling quite over… quite disrupted… quite out of control."" |
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Tea Tastes Like Love. October 12, 2016 on Tweetspeak Poetry
"I’m sipping tea just now. And smiling.Memories of yellow bedroom walls on the second floor of our little 1200 square foot home and this warm fragrance of spice swirl together in my head. Chances are good you wouldn’t even recognize me as that person curled under the covers trying to curve away the lower back pain, curtains drawn, lights off, in silence. Too much light forced my eyes closed, and most sounds hurt my ears (even the deaf one, somehow)." |
Photo by Tim Lenz, Creative Commons via Flickr.
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Photo by Sonia Joie
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Guided Imagery Helped Her Tame Lyme Disease and Win. Healthy Journey's Blog
"We got this personal story on our Health Journeys Facebook page from Donna Falcone, who describes her challenging but successful battle with Lyme Disease. We’ll just let her speak for herself. Here she is:My first experience with Guided Imagery came as I moved deeper into treatment for Lyme Disease, Bartonella, Babesiosis, and Ehrlichia...." |
You Can't Un-Sing Your Song. June 2, 2015. LymeDisease.org
Infected/Inspired. Lyme Disease Art Anthology. Featured Artist. 2018
Teeth-gnashing Frustration Re: Lyme Disease on Health Journeys Blog "Ask Belleruth" under pseudonym Diana.
From a few drops of ink....
Believe it or not, those first few drops of alcohol ink
described in Messages on the Mirror led me to illustrating
a children's book written by L.L. Barkat.
A is for Azure: The Alphabet in Colors.
described in Messages on the Mirror led me to illustrating
a children's book written by L.L. Barkat.
A is for Azure: The Alphabet in Colors.
Donna with museum curator/exhibit designer, Polly Huff.