Author Advises Women: Empowerment is Key to Healing and Health
Ocean Publishing releases “Killing Earl” by award-winning writer Kay Day. The author interviewed top surgeons across the country in her investigation into her daughter’s mysterious illness.
Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) April 5, 2005 -- When Kay Day began to take her 12-year-old daughter
Rebecca to doctors in South Carolina for a mystery illness, both mother and
daughter became very frustrated.
Different doctors offered a variety of
diagnoses for the girl's recurrent abdominal pain. Some doctors suggested
radical treatment options. At least one doctor believed her daughter suffered
from depression and needed anti-depressants. Her pain was all "in her head."
The family was about to make an unexpected move to Jacksonville, Fla.,
and even some family members wondered if the middle-school student wasn't just
upset about the move. The result of what became a year of turmoil is Day's first
nonfiction book, “Killing Earl.”
After six months of unsuccessful
treatment, Rebecca was on home-bound instruction from her school and had lost 15
pounds. The family couldn't complete their move to Florida until Rebecca was
well. Complicating matters was the fact that Rebecca named her pain
“Earl.”
Fortunately, Day had edited an award-winning medical journal. She
decided to research the illness herself, using reputable sites on the Internet.
She also contacted a number of doctors in other states, none of whom had seen
her daughter.
"I wanted an objective opinion about my daughter's
symptoms in general," she explains. "I didn't ask doctors who hadn't treated her
for a diagnosis. I asked them for general information about symptoms like my
daughter's and where to find resources for research."
In addition, she
began to request her daughter's records after each visit, test, or treatment.
The results were astounding. "It was a revelation, sort of like a mental
tsunami," the author remarks. "Because it became evident that some doctors don't
communicate thoroughly with their patients.
"I learned that my daughter's
illness was caused by a physical condition, and that the only real treatment
option was surgery," says the author. Three years later, her daughter is
pain-free, enjoying excellent health, and is once again thriving.
Others
may not be so lucky.
"I believe one of the main reasons that Rebecca's
illness had a happy outcome involves empowerment," says Day. "Rebecca and I both
decided we had to be proactive, because we were getting nowhere. And we had no
idea, despite the best medical imaging and lab work, about what was causing her
pain. We had to become active participants in the treatment
process.
"Prior to her daughter's medical challenges, Day describes
herself as an award-winning author who wrote literary essays and poetry books.
"But Rebecca begged me to write a book about her experiences. She believes this
book may help other girls. And I've come to agree with her. In addition, it's
the only book where a non-medical person will find information on this specific
condition.
"The author interviewed top surgeons and investigated
developments in treatments. She learned that one of Rebecca's problems can lead
to an infection that causes 86,000 American children each year to be
hospitalized. Day and her daughter both felt that some of the doctors dismissed
the pain because they believed it was related to what is commonly called "female
trouble."
"But I also learned there are many fine, compassionate
physicians out there," says the author. "I learned enough to know that if I ever
experience anything like this again, I'll be sure that we depend on a doctor who
will listen to us and take our complaints seriously." Day believes this is
especially important for women.
"Our bodies are more complicated than
men's," she notes. "I also think some doctors have a mindset that women are
supposed to just endure pain and be stoic. And like one of the great doctors I
interviewed said, a doctor needs to listen to the patient." Day says the keys to
any successful medical outcome are empowerment and information.
"Be
informed and be determined," she advises. "It's rare that a patient has to just
learn to live with pain without finding some sort of relief."
The book's
introduction is written by Dr. John V. Campo, one of America's top doctors, who
is co-editor of The Handbook of Pediatric Psychology and Psychiatry.
“Killing Earl” is being released by Ocean Publishing, the publisher of
record for all Day's books. Founded by Frank Gromling, OP does no subsidy,
cooperative, or vanity publishing, and the press is known for old-school
attentiveness to its authors. OP maintains an in-depth site with news and
guidelines on the Internet at http://ocean-publishing.com.
Barnes and Noble has
scheduled a national launch for 5:30 p.m. April 22 in Jacksonville, Fla., at the
store located at 11112 San Jose Boulevard. Books-A-Million has scheduled the
Florida launch for 11 a.m. May 7 at the Orange Park store located at 25A, 1910
Wells Road.
The Georgia launch is scheduled to take place at an
independent bookstore, Hattie's Books, 1527 Newcastle Street, in Brunswick, Ga.,
starting at 2 p.m. April 30. Day plans to sign the book in ten cities and at a
number of festivals and book-related events. Information on events is posted
regularly at Day's Internet site, http://kayday.com.
"My publisher says there's an
incredible outpouring of interest in this book," says Day. "And I truly believe
women both young and old will find its message
inspiring."
Contact:
Frank Gromling
Ocean Publishing
Box
1080
Flagler Beach, FL 32136-1080
http://www.ocean-publishing.com
888-690-2455
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb225495.htm