My Life As a Pancreas: Reflections On Raising a Child With Diabetes [Paperback]

Priscilla Call Essert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2006

An insightful and empathetic look at the challenges, both emotional and practical, which the parents of diabetic children face, My Life as a Pancreas offers a sympathetic perspective which communicates the supportive message to parents that "you are not alone", and your reactions, difficulties, and struggles are shared.

Editorial Reviews

Review

My Life as a Pancreas brings forward the real life issues of raising a child with diabetes in a way that is supportive, encouraging and - in the end - leaves you smiling. Mats Wallin, Executive Director, Diabetic Youth Foundation, USA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Written by a mother: the chronicles of the first few years of life with her diabetic child --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (July 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847281567
• ISBN-13: 978-1847281562
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,385,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A view from the trenches ..., October 14, 2006

By 

C. Mccomb (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Life As a Pancreas: Reflections On Raising a Child With Diabetes (Paperback)

"My Life As a Pancreas" is not about the medical intricacies of type 1 diabetes. Instead, it gives you an insider's look at the impact that diabetes can have on the day in and day out lives of you and your diabetic child.

If you or someone close to you has had a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, whether it be one month ago or one decade ago, I highly reoommend that you read this book. As the old movie review goes, it will make you laugh -- at the "crazy" thoughts that run through Priscilla's brain (possibly because they appeared in your thoughts as well) -- and it will make you cry - when you read about her love for her sons (because we all check on our children as they're sleeping, if only to kiss their cheeks or poke their fingers).

As a parent of a type 1 diabetic (diagnosed 4/04 at age 6), I thank Priscilla for writing this book and sharing her (and her son's) tales with us. I thank her for not just offering helpful tips (which are useful!) but also for reassuring us that we are perhaps not that strange just because we ask ourselves whether a nosebleed is a good blood check opportunity. And last but not least, I thank her for helping us all realize that we are not alone in our daily co-existence (dare I say "battle"?) with this chronic condition.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A universal story, January 21, 2007

By 

A. Halperin (CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Life As a Pancreas: Reflections On Raising a Child With Diabetes (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book. Although it is a collection of reflections on raising a child with diabetes, there is a universality to this story which will resonate with many parents. The challenges are daunting. As parents we are all custodians of our children's health, but not many of us have to manage it minute by minute. I appreciate the honesty and warmth of this book and admire the family's spirit.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A light read about a not-so-light disease, June 28, 2008

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: MY LIFE AS A PANCREAS: Reflections on Raising a Child With Diabetes (Paperback)

When diabetes hits your life as an adult it's not easy. But when it hits your life as a child, your whole life changes and that of your parents and your entire family. Priscilla Call Essert, author of this book, knows this full well as she has raised Byron, her son who got diagnosed type 1 diabetes nearly seven years ago (at the time of this writing).

Priscilla's approach is neither nor packed with technicality. Rather, she takes the approach of telling a story: sharing anecdotes in a very easy-to-digest way that makes "My Life as a Pancreas" a very light about a disease that is not so light. Her storytelling exposes the readers (ideally, the parents of a child who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes) to lots of accumulated wisdom about things that will likely cross their paths at some point or another. Yet she writes in a way that comes across as a pal giving you good advice not as a condescending know-it-all.

I have LADA (with a pancreas that stopped producing enough insulin at age 30) and found "My Life as a Pancreas" valuable: I would recommend this book to anyone touched by diabetes in any way. Plus its 60 pages will take you no time to read.