Title: To Climb a Distant Mountain: A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Diabetic Mother
Author: Laurisa White Reyes
Genre: Historical True Memoir
In 1974, at the age of twenty-six, Cynthia Ball White was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. Today, it is estimated that 1.25 million Americans suffer from what is now referred to as Type I diabetes, compared to 38 million who have Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes. It is a merciless disease that often leads to blindness, neuropathy, amputations, and a host of other ailments, including a shortened life span.
Despite battling diabetes for forty-five years, Cyndi beat the odds. Not only did she outlive the average Type I diabetic, but until her last week of life in 2021, she had all her “parts intact”. Her daughter often called her a walking miracle. But more impressive was Cyndi’s positive outlook on life, even in the midst of tremendous loss and suffering.
The author hopes that in sharing Cyndi’s story, others may be inspired to face their own struggles with the same faith, courage, and joy as her mother did.
Book Links
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rI7acq
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-climb-a-distant-mountain-laurisa-white-reyes/1147650336?ean=9781947394124
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/to-climb-a-distant-mountain-a-daughter-s-tribute-to-her-diabetic-mother-by-laurisa-reyes
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236628314-to-climb-a-distant-mountain
Author Interview Excerpts
Q: How important is family history to you now?
A: I’ve always loved researching my ancestors, but now that I’m older and all my children are grown, I see the value in leaving a legacy for them and their future children. Linking generations together through storytelling and photographs, when available, is essential to helping children and youth learn to respect and appreciate those who came before them, who sacrificed so much so they can enjoy the privileges and blessing they have today. My youngest son has been researching his father’s family and organizing a photo album of relatives and ancestors from Guatemala. My husband moved to the United States when he was 15, leaving everything behind. He and I made sure our kids understand their heritage, both his and mine.
Q: Reading your books makes telling these stories look so easy, but not everyone can write entire novels about their families.
A: You don’t have to be a professional writer to preserve family stories. Journals and diaries, letters, recorded interviews, newspaper clippings, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Last Summer in Algonac began with me asking my grandmother questions about her childhood and recording her answers. I transcribed that conversation in a spiral notebook, which I still have. A lot of what I learned about her father actually came from a newspaper obituary a relative found and gave to me. To Climb a Distant Mountain includes many of my father’s and my journal entries and excerpts from things my mother wrote down about her life.
Q: What do you recommend for someone interested in writing about their own family history?
A: Start with something simple. Buy a notebook, or open a new document on your computer, or just start asking a relative questions and record it on your phone. Record your own memories, one at a time, and upload them to Ancestry.com or Family Search, which allow you to share information with family members. My one caveat is don’t wait. Start today. If you wait until tomorrow, it might be too late.
Author Links
Website: https://www.laurisawhitereyes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035989722402
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laurisa-white-reyes
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laurisa-White-Reyes/author/B006IL8HUK
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5244611.Laurisa_White_Reyes
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