Seeing Life Through a Different Lens, By Zaakirah Muhammad Demba

What would you do if you took a picture of your child and saw a bright white glow in her eye?
How would you feel if the eye doctor said: “Your child has eye cancer and will have emergency surgery to remove the tumor or one or both eyes?”
This book tells the story of a 27-year-old deafblind female retinoblastoma cancer survivor through the eyes of the survivor and her mother.

This book will inspire parents, guardians, and teenagers who are affected by childhood cancer or who are eye cancer survivors. Sometimes we have to look backward in order to move forward when going through tough times. It is not impossible to move forward with humor and resiliency. This book will show you how to do just that while stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Learn how Zaakirah and her mother Khaidah, thrived through life after the rare cancer diagnosis. In this book, they share experiences and what they learned from living with bilateral retinoblastoma and hearing impairment. This book helps you to gain a better understanding of this rare childhood eye cancer and its aftermath.

Zaakirah was six months old when her parents were told she has retinoblastoma. Here, they share real-life stories about a young girl and her mother making it to the other side of their rainbow. Read how they maintained their strength and dignity while continuing to maintain a happy, fulfilling, and healthy lifestyle. They share medical memories along with family and educational stories about surviving everyday life with retinoblastoma.

From the parental perspective learn how Khaidah raised a child who survives and thrives. This book will touch on holistic nutrition, the threat of cancer returning and the need for frequent specialist appointments and other secondary health issues that arise. You’ll be amazed at the way Zaakirah and her mother overcame adversity with resilience.

After reading this book you will realize your full potential and how resilient and truly special you are. It can feel like a long and lonely road in this journey called life. Zaakirah and her mother once felt like they were the only ones who dealt with these issues. With this book, you will remember that it takes a tribe.
In this book, you will learn how they learned to cope and laugh through:
❏ Experiences with bullying and other emotional trauma
❏ Standing out and being okay with it
❏ Conquering insecurities and fighting mental health
❏ Overcoming medical, mental and emotional related obstacles
❏ Real stories and examples providing advice that show that you are not alone


Read Excerpt Now. 

Today there are 9000 children diagnosed annually worldwide. Retinoblastoma makes up 2% of all cancers diagnosed in children before the age of 15. It is the most frequently diagnosed eye cancer in children. An estimated 200 to 300 children in the United States will be diagnosed annually with this disease. Most children who are diagnosed with retinoblastoma are younger than six years old. Te average age of diagnosis is two years old. Girls and boys are diagnosed at equal rates.

Generally, 3 out of 4 children have the disease in 1 eye, while 1 in 4 children have the disease in both eyes. The 5-year survival rate for children with retinoblastoma is 95%. Retinoblastoma is considered a rare eye cancer that often has an impact on vision and hearing in young children and adults. People with hearing and vision impairments are described as having dual-sensory impairments (disorders).

The kind of tests used to screen for a second cancer depends in part on the kind of cancer treatment the patient had in the past. When doctors provide regular follow up care for cancer survivors, it helps them to further study late or possible side effects of childhood cancer treatments to develop safer therapies for younger children.

Excerpt from my mom, Khai’dah’s, Blog, The Sun Daughter
Zaakirah is a beauty and grace in motion – a gazelle moving through this life lifting the spirits of others, tearing apart mindless, dark feelings and empty thoughts of people who do not know her story. Our Sun Daughter is an artist who gives an image of its own life. She is illuminous, joyous, buoyant. She is creative, delicate, and with a sparkling optimistic personality. Whenever I read about people who are deaf and/or blind, I already know that I’m learning about exceptional human beings.

I love hearing my daughter laugh. She has a beautiful smile that fills a room with joy and light. She is so precious, gentle and smart. She is usually quiet, sensitive and stubborn. She genuinely cares about others and has a great sense of humor. She loves learning, traveling and taking great photographs. She is physically strong and so determined. She is adventurous and is a force of nature. She is our youngest child.

When I think about our daughter, I smile. I just want to hold her and kiss her face! I’m in awe of her beauty, courage, strength, and style. When I look at her I remember her favorite sights and sounds: Florida sunrises and sunsets, road trips, the Caribbean Sea, laughing with her girls, her photos of people and their life stories, great movies, food, music and family time! Our Sun Daughter learned to write in a script and swim at Montessori Elementary School. This is also where she learned to be very independent. Her favorite elementary school activity was singing Broadway show tunes in the chorus and field trips.

When she was a baby, her oncologist told us that one day our child may be blind. When she was a teenager, her audiologist told us that one-day Zaakirah may become deaf. We promised to give her a chance to use her monocular vision to see her world and to teach her how to be persistent and triumphant. Our goal for our daughter was to give her every opportunity to thrive and help her reach her desired level of accomplishment, no matter what.

My name is Zaakirah (pronounced zaa-key-ra). It means The Hereafter in Arabic. My mother’s name, Khai’dah, means one with a strong foundation in Arabic. My mother is the most committed, driven, intelligent woman I know. I believe I have inherited her writing genes, researching abilities and intellect.

Just like the Tupac song, Dear Mama, I am forever indebted to her and I could never make it up to her. I have my story, my version, my memory, but my mother remembers better from the parental perspective.

I was nine months old when my parents were told I had non-hereditary bilateral retinoblastoma (Rb). it was not passed on to me from either parent. However, it does mean one of my children will carry the gene. I barely remember the surgery and my life after that until our first road trips.

For the longest time, I never put much emphasis on the word “survivor,” nor truly understood the meaning of it. I was a young adult when I began to connect the dots. Now I understand that survivor is a positive word. I met children who were diagnosed after five years of age and were completely blind. The fact that I am still here with monocular vision is a blessing.

I appreciate my mother for prioritizing my mental health and knowing when to be my friend and when to be my parent. I appreciate her allowing me to express my feelings through music lyrics. My favorite memories are the moments where we could just dance together. We are both Sagittarians and when I was a child, she told me that I am her birthday present. We enjoy going to new places and trying new food. We share a love of trains, which ended up being our most used method of transportation! As I was growing up, I worked really hard to make my parents proud of me and I felt they wanted me to be proud of them too.
In this book, there will be alternating storytelling between my mother and me. She shared her perspective and experiences on her blog. I share my memories and perspectives in the following chapters. My mom created the blog to share our retinoblastoma stories with the international community of childhood cancer survivors. The chapters will shine a light on a nontoxic mother-daughter relationship as we both overcame the emotional struggle behind being not only survivors but thrivers. My dad was present throughout it all even when he was away due to work. I am my dad’s daughter, according to my mother, as we have many similar personality traits which you will learn
in this book.

In 2014, my mother wrote a letter and received a personalized response from our 44th president, Barack Obama, telling us that he signed a proclamation that claimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. We received a copy of the proclamation. That same year, my mother got back to her graphic designer roots with the help of Pinterest and created a retinoblastoma awareness poster in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Happily retired, my parents now live in the rural community of East Tennessee. My mother has trained to be an official reader of the Library of Congress which allows her to continue her research with access to university
and government libraries.

CHAPTER 1
ZAAKIRAH’S BEGINNING
The following sections are excerpts from my mom’s blog, The Sun Daughter. DURING PREGNANCY My husband and I lived in Atlanta, Georgia. The first time we visited Miami, Florida we talked about moving there. Even though the cost of living was higher than in Georgia, we needed more sunshine and discovered the most beautiful beaches and parks so we decided to move. Since we were new to the city, we didn’t have a physician. My first thought about being pregnant was waking up early one April morning before work and feeling nauseous. I couldn’t drink coffee or eat lunch that day. Instead, I made an appointment to have a pregnancy test at the offices of Planned Parenthood nearby. The test confirmed my suspicion. I

 Bio

Zaakirah Muhammad Demba is a Brand Cultivating Strategist, professional photographer and digital marketer. She helps small businesses to make your social media pages look good and advise you on the best social media tactics for growing and being consistent with your brand on social media. At 6 months old, a Camera Saved Her Life. At 9 months old, she was taken into surgery to have her right eye removed due to a rare childhood eye cancer tumor that was detected by a photo her mom took. Her hearing slowly began to decline as she got older, but her other three senses kicked in and are functioning well.
At age five her mom gifted her with her first camera. She received her first digital camera in middle school. By the time she attended technical high school, she studied commercial photography. She never strayed too far from her purpose in life. Later on, she moved to Washington D.C. to expand her education in professional photography and videography. She currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband.
She has traveled to 10 countries so far. She took her professional camera on most of her out of country travels but Ghana, West Africa was the first time that others viewed her work as if they were on the trip and have traveled with her, due to the way she beautifully captures sceneries and personalities. She loves capturing the essence of humanity. As a people person and an empath, she wants her legacy to include the fact that she was able to see the good in you, help you live your best life, which inspired you to step outside of your comfort zone.

Get to Know the Author. 

Can you tell the viewers a little bit more about yourself and how you became interested in writing?

I began journaling at a young age. English was also my best yet most favorite subject in school. I began writing articles and summaries for school newsletters, yearbooks, and even a local teen newspaper. I continued writing once I began traveling out of the country to share about my experience. Those writing skills turned in to copywriting for various social media clients. Now, some of these blog entries about my life's experiences have become sections in my book, Seeing Life Through a Different Lens.

What inspired you to write a memoir at such a young age?

I, just like everyone else, have a story to tell. The typical survival age of my childhood eye cancer is the age of five. The fact that I am still here, I know there are not many people who look like me, let alone many people with a story similar to mine. The closest person there is to me is Haben Girma, a deafblind lawyer who also released a memoir.  it is important for my story to be told thus far because we never know when my last day is.

What do you hope for readers to feel after reading the book?

I want readers to be educated and empowered. I want them to be able to tap into their inner child and live their life to the fullest, without fear, and within reason. I also want them to see disabled people, people with cancer, and people with special needs under a different more positive and nonjudgemental light.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Due to imposter syndrome, it officially took me two years to write it. I would often start and stop and let life get in the way. My mom was running a blog for those two years. I finally buckled down and compiled my first draft give and take in about two months.

What do you suggest as a starting point for those who want to learn more about your type of cancer?

Google and Facebook Groups are your friends. There are plenty of groups for support of those who are significant others or immediate family members and friends of cancer survivors. I also encourage you to look up websites like the American Cancer Society, Stand Up to Cancer, and We C Hope, to learn more about childhood (eye) cancers.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

I have a podcast where I share extensive stories of the book currently called Living Legacy Podcast. I also interview women of purpose sharing stories of resilience there. I am also very interactive on just about every social media network @illuminousone. I do my best to do a few live videos as well to allow you to get to know and learn from me.

What was the longest trip you have ever taken?

The longest flight was to South Africa for the inaugural Durban Essence Festival. That was about a 15-hour flight including one layover.

BONUS QUESTION FOR FUN: Do you have a big family?

Yes. There are a few family members I have not met because they have passed away or live so far away. However, in my immediate family, I have two older sisters and an older brother. I am the youngest of my siblings. I have 3 blood aunts and 3 blood uncles and lots of first, second, and third-generation cousins.

Find the Book and Author. 

Email: zaakirah@zaakirahnayyar.com
Website: http://zaakirahnayyar.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/illuminousone/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/illuminousone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminousone/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaakirahdemba/

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I Will Not Be a Pawn, by Joseph Spicer, Sr.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan worked for twenty- nine years for the Michigan Department of Corrections and was named regional corrections officer of the year in 1995 and retired from the Michigan Department of Corrections in April of 2015. I attended Northwestern High School in Detroit, Michigan and received a full scholarship to college and played basketball at Lake Superior State University. A stand-out high school basketball player from Detroit, Michigan, who won an award at the legendary “Five Star Basketball Camp”. Where a host of known NBA ballplayers started their fundamental skills at a young age. Spicer was just twenty-two years old when he became a corrections officer, twenty-nine years later he hopes his memoirs will act as a teaching tool for parents, athletes, mentors, and others who face difficulties dealing with and discussing every day social issues that impact their lives for better or worse.

Prison is like chess. The prisoners and officers are simply pieces on the board, waiting to be manipulated. But one corrections officer refuses to be anyone's pawn.

Read the Excerpt Now. 

I Will Not Be a Pawn, a prison corrections officer provides a unique perspective on the complex relationships and hierarchies of the prison system and how life behind bars has both changed and stayed the same.

Joseph S. Spicer Sr. details his life both within the Department of Corrections and outside. His memoirs

Get to Know the Author:

What inspired you to write a book?

I was inspired to write this book after working 29 years in the Department of Corrections and seeing countless number of young men and women coming through the criminal justice system as if it was a rite of passage, not truly understanding the consequences that come with the bad decision made, due to not taking the time to stop and think.

How would you describe your book to the reader?

I would describe my book as a teaching tool for parents, educators, mentors, youth organizations, the judicial system and a host of community programs that are set out to reinforce the importance of” life’s journey’s that will take one through some ups and downs but it’s how you navigate through those struggles that will determine your overall success or downfall, simply put checks and balances.         

 Why did the word “pawn” become a focal point throughout your book?

The word “pawn” became  a focal point just because of the situations that individuals put themselves in, a lot of times unnecessarily and then becoming sacrificial property to the Counties, State’s and Federal judicial system, I strived to emphasize (importance), how a person must stop and think, am I making the right decision for myself and those who love me .                                             

  What made you use the analogy(comparison) of chess pieces for your storyline?   

 I went about using the game of chess, as a comparison to the game of checkers, as my storyline due to the connections with my journey through the Department of Corrections where I used administrative leaders within the dept. of Corrections as pieces of chess on a chessboard, I wanted the young reader to think about situations in their lives and make a comparison to my story. One example is where I state to the young me and women reader “stop playing checkers with your life and start playing chess” with checkers your bouncing around the board until you land up in jail and or other serious complications, whereas in chess your strategizing, thinking more of about consequences and goals you want to achieve.        

 What would be some lesson you would like to be learned and highlighted in the book?      

I would want the lesson of having integrity (honest principles) moral values do the right thing when no one is watching you, hold on to your true beliefs of right and wrong and to not let anyone family or friend cross those lines. To many individuals fall short an accept negative behavior as the norm it’s not.                                                                        

What challenges did you come across writing this complex book about the relationships and hierarchies within the prison system?

For one just opening up about the problems I encountered towards the end of my Corrections career working in the Dept. of Corrections was tough, I’m really not one to openly speak out about my time working within the prison system , but I was inspired and called upon by a higher power  to tell my life’s story takes the reader on a journey, in order to help those families, youth’s, Pastors/minister’s, educator’s, Juvenile justice system and others who are struggling with what directions to travel? and have healthy discussions amongst one another by using this book as a tool.

Why do you want to emphasize the messages within the body of the book, as opposed to the corruptions you encountered while working in the prison system?

And what did you find to be the value of writing a book of this very interesting subject (Hierarchies of the Prison System) by giving the reader an inside perspective of the complexities of the Prison system?                                                

I wanted to emphasize that after writing this book I have had the pleasure of young men and young women, fathers, mothers, and people of different ethnicities, letting me know how much they enjoyed this book, I’ve been told by these different nationalities that, ”they can relate to the problems and struggles within the family structure and how it has made them take a different look at how to deal with their own loved ones returning to the communities. When it comes to the corruption within the prison system itself and writer not emphasizing it more, I’ll let the reader decide and understand that within the prison system itself, everyone can become a pawn if you do not have any integrity and morale to do the right thing.

Find the Author and Book links:

Twitter link: Joseph Spicer Sr.@Jpicer497sr.                                            

LinkedIn , Instagram & Facebook links are all Joseph Spicer.

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Bold Self-Reflection Know Thyself, by Terri M. Bolds

Terri Bolds is a Licensed Therapist, Author, member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, Public Speaker and the Creator of Bold Visions Consulting; a business created to educate the community on mental health, emphasizing on self-esteem and self-empowerment.

Receiving a BA in Psychology and Masters in 2006 from Wright State University; she worked as a therapist for a short period of time before taking positions as an Associate Professor, Mental Health Specialist and substitute teacher over the years.

In 2015, Terri founded her business Bold Visions Consulting focusing on esteem, and empowerment as if she were addressing her younger self. With Bold Visions, Terri has been able to conduct and facilitate workshops, speak and educate on mental health in schools and churches with youth participants; and have been featured in printed publications.

Having a passion for writing, Terri released her first self-published booked “Bold Love-A Letter To My Young Sister in 2016, and Bold Choices-They Say I'm Bad to follow summer of 2017 and Bold Me I AM Worthy in 2018

In partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools, businesses, churches, etc, she is helping implement the importance of mental wellness and practices of anti-bullying, not only by teaching and literature but also using visuals, interactive activities, and experiences.

With more to come, Terri will continue to empower and encourage by traveling and speaking to the masses about the importance of mental health and wellness.

Bold Self-Reflection; Know Thyself will take the reader on a journey down a path of uncovering hard truths. The pages are filled with creative and realistic ways to help the reader uncover the deceptions they subconsciously and consciously live with and learn how they have affected their lives. Through the journey of self-exploration, the reader will also begin to lay down a foundation of truth-telling that will begin to shift their path on a direction of freedom from of unwanted baggage.







Read the Excerpt Now: 

Many times, people walk around, living their lives, not knowing why or how they ended up the way they are. Have you ever met someone whose complaining is endless, whose unhappiness for others is never-ending, who’s in constant failed relationships, or just can’t seem to get it right? There is a reason behind that person’s behaviors and attitudes. When we see a person, we see the physical shell, but don’t consider that we are also meeting their past, hurts, trauma, ups, downs, joys, and pains. As a therapist, I look beyond the shell. My focus is from a cognitive-behavioral approach. I want people to understand how their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and outcomes are all connected.


Get to Know the Author:

What inspires you?

Life. I am inspired by life and everything it encompasses.

 

Where did the idea come from for this book?

My life experiences and just over time I wanted to expand my brand and after releasing my children's books, and felt it was time to speak to a different audience.

 

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since I was a child.

 

How do you use your books with your business?

My books are an extension or bonus to what I speak about.

 

Do you plan on writing more books?

Yes, definitely.

 

What will be your next literary release?

My goal is to release a fiction book for middle school.

 

How do you want to be remembered?

A child of God living a life to serve and assist others.

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NEW TALENT: MEET TRE' L. BRYANT!

Tre' L. Bryant is a first time author whose forthcoming book "Where There's a Will, There's a Way" chronicles her experience as a domestic violence victim and survivor. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Tre' wants to use her voice and words in a powerful and positive way to speak on her experience for a passionate cause. She had a dream that was shattered and through her faith and family she overcame a life that was full of depression and meaningless. Now, Tre' is still here and standing tall while serving God's purpose with no intentions of stopping. To understand her struggle is to understand her journey.

Imani: Welcome to the Lounge. Let's start off with a simple icebreaker and begin with your story, just who is Tre' Bryant?

Tre: Thank you for having me it is truly an honor. Well Tre is a mom to two amazing kids (Kayla 19 and Larry 18) first and foremost and currently in pursuit of living out her dreams while helping people in the process , a business woman building her own brand and adjusting to life as a first time author.

Tell us more about your latest project. What's the inspiration behind this book?

Where there’s A Will There’s A Way was totally inspired by my personal real life events going as far back to the age for 4 years old. But mostly my experience being a Domestic Violence victim for 20 years which was half of my life and reliving some of those difficult moments. This book helped in my healing process and has allowed me to not be shameful of my past or blame myself for the things that I could not change. I always wanted to write a book but was discouraged so many times from doing so until I met my God sent angel that encouraged me to share my story and help others. It’s because of him I found the strength and courage to move forward and follow my dream and finally decide to share my story and not hide behind my pain any longer.

Briefly, explain what makes your book different from the vast choices in the same genre?

Because my story was my reality and I am here speaking to you as a survivor.

What were the challenges of writing this book?

Having to relive various moments in my life that I had emotionally detached myself from so many years ago. This book has helped me to finally deal with my pain while giving me the opportunity to help other’s in the process. Overcoming my fears and finally making peace with my past is really what this book is about and also letting people that have gone or are currently dealing with some of these same issues to assure them that they are not alone. I want people to be inspired by my story and say that it is because of me they didn’t give up.

What have you learned (or still learning) since being the business?

That it’s a lot of work and nothing like I imagined. Until you write a book you have no idea the hard work that goes into it and making it a success. I never knew it could be so demanding but at the same time I accept the challenge and I have been blessed with a great mentor.

What is your dream collaboration? With whom, and why?

I would be honored to work with Lakia Nichole on a project someday. She has been such an inspiration to me and has taken me under her wing and I am forever grateful and she has taught me so much already. She has become my hero professionally and personally she’s great.

Finally, share with us something you've never mentioned publicly since being an author; such as, a quirk or a hidden talent. I'm sure readers would like to know.

Cooking in the downtime is something that not too many people know about me. I also have very many business ventures in the works outside of my Domestic Violence organization Survivor Life’s Blessing which I have started to promote awareness and provide help to victims with the help of other survivors like myself as well.

Excerpt:

I still get vivid memories of being grabbed tightly around my neck and the tight grip of his hands preventing screams from escaping my lungs. Along with the continuous flow of tears, my breathing became shallow and I felt like I was slipping away. If I allowed him to think he could disrespect me in this fashion he was sadly mistaken. There was going to be some serious consequences and shit was about to get real ugly. Words started being exchanged and before long, shit started flying and breaking because I knew that this was one fight he was not going to win. I was ready to prove to him that I wasn’t having what the fuck he was dishing. We fought like two niggas in the street, and I remember he had me in an extremely tight head lock. I had full access to his arm and since that was the only part of his body I could reach, I locked down on it with my teeth like I was eating a steak and the end result was him in the emergency room having to get a rabies shot. My intention was to rip a plug out of his arm. Once the fight was over I realized that he still had not overcome his anger issues and felt he owned me. I was supposed to accept this kind of behavior whenever he felt the need to display it. I knew in my heart that I had love for him, but I started really asking myself if he was worth it. I developed thoughts of wanting to end my own life because of the stress, the drama, and him not choosing to acknowledge me. If there wasn’t verbal abuse, there were silent moments. I was the one who would end up hurt and feeling extremely alone, but then I would look at my babies and I would try to have a change of heart. As always and even to this day, I put them first. I continue to sacrifice for them what would ultimately be my entire life up to that moment and my much so desired happiness would be put on the back burner. During the first year of my son’s life there were many more fights, some permanent scars, endless heartaches, and feelings of being trapped with no outlet. I began to hate my life and went into a horrible depression. The recovery would not take place for a long time.

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