My new booklet, which is free in its e-book version, includes the short story of my daughter's death from congenital CMV related causes. It is meant as a story for all who have lost someone dear--no matter what the cause.
This full color
booklet is ideal for individuals who have experienced a loss and provides
professionals a useful method to assist the bereaved. It includes a
grandfather’s touching fairytale that has the ability to soothe the aching
hearts of children and adults as it reveals the process of healing after the
death of a loved one. The afterword, written by Julie Russell, LCSW, seeks to
help individuals understand the grieving process and to return to a life with
purpose and meaning.
Lisa Saunders, the author of Surviving Loss: The
Woodcutter’s tale, discusses the ways in which she is trying to move forward to
honor the memory of her deceased daughter--by raising awarness of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) and how to prevent it.
Surviving Loss: The
Woodcutter's Tale may be used by readers to begin to speak of their own losses,
whether by discussing the fairytale,identifying with the author’s experience
finding purpose, or in the portion on understanding and coping with the natural
process of grief.
This poignant combination provides a message of hope
and is a tool for healing.
FREE e-book available at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/283862Softcover
booklet available: http://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Loss-Woodcutters-Lisa-Saunders/dp/1482315505/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360589786&sr=1-1&keywords=surviving+loss%3A+the+woodcutter%27s+tale
INTRODUCTION
My
daughter, Elizabeth Ann Saunders, died unexpectedly during a seizure at the age
of 16 on February 9, 2006. Although her epilepsy had gotten out of control as
she aged, my husband Jim and I never thought it would be the end of her—though
she was beginning to suffer terribly from the effects of the constant seizures.
In the last two months of her life, I had begun privately praying that if God
wasn’t going to heal her, that He would take her home. I couldn’t confess that
to Jim because I thought he would be horrified I would pray for such a thing.
When
Elizabeth had a her last seizure on February 9th, she didn’t wake up. Although
a hospital team worked on her to bring her back, they eventually pronounced her
dead and let her go. As Jim and I took turns holding her body to say goodbye, I
felt guilty—was my prayer the reason she was taken from us? I couldn’t confess
that to Jim. It became my tormenting secret.
Two
weeks later, my father handed me a single sheet of paper. He said, “Read this.”
The fairytale he felt inspired to write, “The Woodcutter’s Tale,” spoke to my
“little secret” and I cried in relief. It was time to share my guilt with my
husband. After Jim read the fairytale, I found the courage to admit to him what
I had asked God to do for Elizabeth.
His
response? He said, “I had been praying that too.”
I have
reread “The Woodcutter’s Tale” many times because I find comfort in it and it
gives me hope for tomorrow. Elizabeth’s aunt illustrated it so I could have
something lovely to frame and hang on my wall.
“The
Woodcutter’s Tale” is included in my memoir about Elizabeth called
"Anything But a Dog!" It's about her life with her big tomboy sister
and an old dog who became her constant companion on our sofa for the last five
years of her life (Elizabeth was unable to walk, talk or feed herself because
she was born disabled by congenital CMV—a preventable virus that I will discuss
later in this booklet).
I have
been given permission by the publisher of my memoir, “Anything But a Dog!”, to
publish “The Woodcutter’s Tale.” I've included an afterword written by Julie Russell, LCSW, who seeks to help individuals understand the grieving process and to return to a life with purpose and meaning.
Surviving Loss: The Woodcutter's Tale may be used by readers to begin to speak of their own losses, whether by discussing the fairytale,identifying with my experience finding purpose, or in the portion on understanding and coping with the natural process of grief
The
Woodcutter’s Tale
by Richard W. Avazian
Once upon a time, long, long ago in a faraway land, lived Hans,
a woodcutter, and his wife Hilda. They had a 19-year-old daughter Matilda and a
ten-year-old son Stefan.
It
came to pass that the countryside was ravaged by sickness accompanied by high
fever that caused many to perish. Stefan was stricken and shortly became very
ill.
The
woodcutter summoned the old midwife, a gray-haired woman who also served as a
doctor.
“Hans,
Hilda, I am sorry to tell you that Stefan is beyond my help and must soon die.”
Struck
speechless by this pronouncement, they heard the neighing and hoof beats of
horses outside their cottage.
Hans
went out to discover that the Princess in her royal coach had stopped.
“I
was returning to my castle when I heard your son was sick. Bring me to him.”
Hans led the Princess inside and she beheld
the dying Stefan.
“Let
me take him home with me and I will heal him. However, I will keep him with me
as I have no sons after four years of marriage.”
Although
it broke their hearts, Hans and Hilda agreed for they knew it was best for
Stefan.
The
Princess herself picked Stefan up to carry him to the carriage. As soon as the
Princess lifted him, Stefan started to look better.
The
Princess placed him in the coach seat opposite her and the coach drove off,
leaving the couple waving goodbye with tear-stained faces.
Life
was not the same in the little cottage, although the family seemed closer
together then ever before. Their shared grief was an invisible weight pressing
upon their shoulders, made bearable only by the sharing.
Three
days after Stefan’s departure, a white dove appeared and made a nest in their
thatched roof.
Strangely,
the family felt comforted by the presence of the dove that never left their
roof.
Hans
always looked for it when he returned from his wood-cutting forays into the
forest.
Hilda
and Matilda often looked up when they were doing their outdoor chores to see if
the dove was still there, and to experience the sense of consolation and
protection, which seemed to emanate from the dove.
After a few years, Matilda married a cooper
and moved to a village about ten miles distant.
Though they missed their daughter greatly,
the couple now had the dove for company.
Finally,
stricken with years, the old couple became weaker and weaker and sensed that
they both were going to die.
Hans
said, “Let us go outside, bring our bench and sit on it, hold hands and look at
our dove.” Hilda agreed and they brought their bench outside.
They
settled themselves on the bench and faced their cottage, but were surprised to
see that the dove was no longer on the roof.
Finally
growing too feeble to move, they heard the sound of horses’ hooves. With their
last breaths, they beheld the royal coach approaching.
As
the coach drew near, they saw a smiling Stefan inside, dressed in shining white
garments and looking every inch a Prince.
“Come
home with me,” said Stefan. Overjoyed, and
amazed that they suddenly no longer felt feeble, the couple stepped into the
coach.
As
the coach started to pull away, Hans and Hilda looked back to see if their dove
had returned. But the dove, no longer needed, was gone.
This
disappointment was replaced by their boundless joy at seeing how happy Stefan
had been and by knowing they would be with Stefan forever in their new home.
THE END
Note from Lisa Saunders:
The Woodcutter’s Tale was originally published in “Anything
But a Dog!” (Unlimited Publishing LLC, 2008), used by permission. Please visit
Following the information about the author and illustrator of “The
Woodcutter’s Tale” are comments from a licensed
mental health professional about loss and grieving. More about Elizabeth, and
how to prevent the kind of disabilities she faced, later in this book.
AFTERWORD
by
Julie
Russell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The Woodcutter’s Tale demonstrates the stages of grief while highlighting the continued love
the couple has for their child. It is
important to understand the stages of grief to gain insight into the steps one
can take to assist in healing, or to know when one may need additional help by
a professional.
A traumatic event,
often a death of a loved one, causes those who are connected to the loss to
experience the multiple stage process known as grief. Understanding grief
empowers those who continue to love the individual who has passed.
Five stages of
grief, introduced by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross in 1969, are frequently cited.
Grief is unique to each individual and is characterized by the relationship
between the survivor and the loss.
DENIAL. Not believing the death is real is recognized as
the first stage. Often a person is emotionally shocked and may question whether
the person has died. This first stage allows emotions to be placed on hold and
critical decisions regarding burial, organ donation and other arrangements to
be made.
ANGER. The overwhelming feeling of anger is often the
second emotion experienced by the bereaved. At this time feelings are often
directed toward the person who died, healthcare professionals, and oneself.
During this stage one may wonder why God would allow death and suffering to
occur. When the care-giving process involves difficult decisions survivors
often feel increased burden. One may express the pain of anger as irritation or
frustration. Anger is never a bad emotion, but a necessary one for many to
reach a sense of peace.
BARGAINING. As individuals work through the anger and pain, an
intellectual aspect enters the grieving process. It is during this time that a
person wonders “What if I had…” or “If only the medical treatment had …”
Intellectual answers are inserted in the areas where survivors have emotional
questions. Often denial, anger and bargaining occur to some degree at once. A
Survivor will momentarily forget the death has occurred, usually in the process
of performing a formerly routine task such as picking up the phone to call the
individual or entering the room a loved one was cared for when ill. Upon
remembering one may face anger or begin the process of questioning what may
have been a series of difficult decisions.
SADNESS. The loss of a loved one leaves a hole in the
survivor’s life. The emptiness can often be described as sadness and
loneliness. This, like anger, is a normal response to the death of a loved one.
This hole may threaten to consume someone after a loss, but it is common to all
who have grief.
ACCEPTANCE. The final
stage of grief is acceptance. Life will
never be the same, and accepting the death of a loved one does not equate to
agreeing with it, or not wishing it had occurred. It only means that the survivors understand
that the death has occurred and it is permanent. Acceptance most often comes in
bits and pieces as one cycles through the stages of grief. A person has less
intense periods of denial, pain, bargaining and sadness as the moments of
acceptance become longer.
Several steps can assist a bereaved individual to
heal. A start is by understanding that
healing is a journey towards wholeness.
This journey will have difficult times, unexpected obstacles, and
periods when it seems to be easier. One
step is to incorporate a support network to help. This is an important step in
ensuring self-care.
The process of
identifying a support system can be formal for some and may be more natural for
others. Have one or two individuals with whom one can rely on to assist with
funeral arrangements and who can be truthful in regard to the emotional
process. These two types of support may
come from more than one person. It is
not necessary that the individual not be impacted by the death, but it is
necessary that the support group understand the bereaved person is in need of
their assistance.
When a loss occurs,
many people reach out and offer help, but it can be difficult for one to accept
the help. A person can call another who
extended an offer, and say, “I would appreciate it if you could help me go through
the remaining belongings and ensure they are donated to someone who can use
them,” or, “I am not sure if I am good company since I am very sad this week,
but it would be nice if you could keep me company for an hour or two.”
Bereaved individuals
often feel isolated and reaching toward a social support system is a step in
the healing process. If a scheduled event arises and a person experiencing
grief is emotionally not ready to attend, be honest: “I am missing the family
member who died too much to make a public appearance today.” Persons, who are
part of the support network, can provide a less intimidating option by
substituting a less demanding encounter such as coffee instead. This reduces the sense of failure associated
with not being able to return to formerly enjoyed activities. The goal is
returning to a place where life can be fully experienced, but it will not be
experienced in the same manner.
As a bereaved
individual adheres to a structured routine, some areas of self-care will be
ensured. Incorporating exercise or other
activities is essential in staying healthy.
Often eating patterns and sleep is disrupted following the death of a
loved one. Planning meals, activities
and even appointments at the hair dresser and/or barber shop allows one to
maintain physical needs while producing a sense of normalcy. As part of self-care, a person may want to
learn specific relaxation techniques or incorporate new ways to reduce stress.
Remembering the
positive is an important element in healing.
Each time one thinks, “I will never see the smile of the person I lost,”
a positive statement can be included.
List the positive statements. “I
love the way she laughed.” “I remember
all the smiles he gave to others with his kind manner and good humor.” Listing the statements in writing is often
necessary as one begins to move from what is gone toward positive memories that
warm one’s heart. First one works
through the pain of the loss, but part of the journey is to incorporate
positive thinking. This is one method to
honor and respect the memory of the loved one.
A bereaved
individual is often comforted when able to assist in forming a positive legacy—
donating clothes, medical supplies and other items may be a start. Follow-up
visits from religious communities can assist the bereaved in incorporating
sympathy cards and other memories into a treasured memory book—this will give
the individual a place to turn to when in need of the positive statements. By incorporating positive thinking, a support
system, and ensuring self-care, one is taking the steps needed to return to a
desired quality of life.
Grief is both a healthy and a normal response to
loss – it is the process that leads to peace. In this tale, a couple adjusted
to their loss of a child by finding a direction for their continued love--the
dove.
While grief is a
normal response to loss, individuals often find navigating its complexities
with a licensed therapist beneficial.
Many health insurance companies cover services related to grief and loss
and there are support groups in most communities. Lisa Saunders shares how she
experiences her grief and continues to live a complete life following the death
of her daughter in the following account. Grief is a path that many navigate to
allow them to continue to find meaning and purpose in life.
Julie
Russell, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker specializing in the treatment
of trauma and the scope of emotional and mental disorders that prevent one from
achieving a sense of wholeness. She can be contacted at 860-415-9573 or
julie.lcsw@yahoo.com. Her website: www.julierusselllcsw.com
Lisa Saunders, Elizabeth’s
mother, here again. Every year, I update my blog with the following message:
The Empty Christmas Chair—
holidays without my daughter
My daughter
Elizabeth would have turned 23 today, December 18, 2012.
Expecting
Elizabeth, due to be born on Christmas Eve of 1989, had been an exciting
experience. But the moment she arrived on the 18th, I felt a stab of fear. My
immediate thought was, “Her head looks so small—so deformed.”
The
neonatologist said, "Your daughter's brain is very small with calcium
deposits throughout. If she lives, she will never roll over, sit up, or feed
herself." He concluded that Elizabeth's birth defects were caused by
congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Women who care for young children are at a
higher risk for catching it because preschoolers are the majority of carriers.
Pregnant women need to be careful not to kiss young children on or around the
mouth or share food or towels with them.
Why hadn’t my
OB/GYN warned me about this?
While I was
pregnant with Elizabeth, I not only had a toddler of my own, but I also ran a
licensed daycare center in my home. I felt sick at what my lack of knowledge
had done to my little girl. In milder cases, children with congenital CMV may
lose hearing or struggle with learning disabilities later in life. But
Elizabeth's case was not a mild one.
When my husband
Jim heard Elizabeth's grim prognosis, he stared at her and said, “She needs
me”—just like Charlie Brown with that pathetic Christmas tree.
It took me about
a year, but I eventually stopped praying that a nuclear bomb would drop on my
house so I could escape my overwhelming anguish over Elizabeth's condition.
Life did become good again—but it took a lot of help from family, friends, and
the Book of Psalms. We were eventually able to move forward as a happy,
"normal" family.
Sixteen years
later, I awoke feeling so proud of Elizabeth. It was her 16th birthday and just
one week before her 17th Christmas. When the song “I’ll be home for Christmas”
played on the radio, I cried thinking how hard Elizabeth fought to be home with
us, overcoming several battles with pneumonia, major surgeries, and most
recently, seizures. Weighing only 50 pounds, she looked funny to strangers as a
result of her small head and adult teeth, but she was lovely to us with her
long, brown hair, large blue eyes and soul-capturing smile. Although still in
diapers and unable to speak or hold up her head, Elizabeth was very happy and
loved going for long car rides. She especially enjoyed going to school and
being surrounded by people, paying no mind to the stares of “normal” children
who thought she belonged on the "Island of Misfit Toys."
Less than two
months after she turned 16, I dropped Elizabeth off at school. Strapping her
into her wheelchair, I held her face in my hands, kissed her cheek, and said,
“Now be a good girl today.” She smiled as she heard her teacher say what she
said every time, “Elizabeth is always a good girl!” With that, I left.
At the end of
the day, I got the call I had always feared. “Mrs. Saunders, Elizabeth had a
seizure and she’s not breathing." The medical team did all they could, but
she was gone.
While holding
Elizabeth’s body on his lap, my husband looked down into her partially open,
lifeless eyes and cried, “No one is ever going to look at me again the way she
did.”
Now, as I
prepare to celebrate my seventh Christmas without her, it is with some
heartache that I bring down the holiday decorations from the attic. Elizabeth used
to love to sit on the couch with her big, formerly homeless old dog Riley, and
watch us decorate.
Now, I perform a
new Christmas tradition. I carefully unfold the black and red checked shirt
Elizabeth wore on her last day and hang it over an empty chair beside our
fireplace. Although she can't be home for Christmas, I feel that she is my
“Tiny Tim” who would say if she could, “God bless us, everyone!”
Although I miss
Elizabeth, I’m glad she is free from suffering, glad she is safe in her new, Heavenly
home. When my time comes, I will see her
again.
The
Only Thing I Can Do for Elizabeth Now
Since Elizabeth no longer needs my care, the only
thing I can do for her now is to care for those not yet born—to prevent them
from suffering as Elizabeth did. I do that by speaking and writing about
congenital CMV prevention.
After presenting her life at the international
Congenital CMV conference held at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in
Atlanta, GA, in 2008, scientists from all over the world approached to thank me
for inspiring them to continue their work.
Mothers, on the other hand, pushed their children
towards me in wheelchairs and asked, “Why didn’t my OB/GYN tell me how to
prevent this?” One mother even asked, "Learning what you did, why didn't
you do all you could to shout it from the rooftops?"
Until OB/GYNs make CMV prevention a standard
practice of care, I try to "shout it from the rooftops" through my
memoir, Anything But a Dog! The
perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV. I hope to reach a general
audience by sharing the unusual account of how a big, old homeless dog found
his way to Elizabeth's side. At the end of the book, I include CMV prevention
and treatment tips from the country’s leading CMV experts.
As Jim and I wait to be reunited with Elizabeth,
we too, were given a “dove” to keep us
company—a beagle/basset hound we named Bailey. Although he was given away by
his former owners—at least twice—his pesky antics and abundant affection were
just what we needed to laugh again. He is my side-kick in my latest
light-hearted adventure book, Mystic Seafarer’s Trail, where I tried to
follow in the footsteps of Amelia Earhart. I figured if I became thin and
famous like her, the media would listen to my CMV prevention message.
Bailey
resting after a long trek along the Mystic Seafarer’s Trail
PREVENTING
CONGENITAL CMV
Few women have heard of congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus) and more than half of
OB/GYNs surveyed admitted they don't warn their patients about it.
According to the CDC:
·
Every hour, congenital CMV causes one child to become disabled
·
Each year, about 30,000 children are born with
congenital CMV infection
·
About 1 in 750 children is born with or develops permanent
disabilities due to CMV
·
About 8,000 children each year suffer permanent
disabilities caused by CMV
The CDC makes the following recommendations on
simple steps you can take to avoid exposure to saliva and urine that might
contain CMV:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after
·
Changing diapers
·
Feeding a young child
·
Wiping a young child’s nose or drool
·
Handling children’s toys
In addition:
·
Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils used
by young children
·
Do not put a child’s pacifier in your mouth
·
Do not share a toothbrush with a young child
·
Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child
·
Clean toys, countertops, and other surfaces that
come into contact with children’s urine or saliva
Congenital CMV prevention brochure:
http://congenitalcmv.org/CDCbrochure.pdf
Prevent several disease related birth defects by
reviewing:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/infections.html
Note: If you are interested in
seeing pictures of Elizabeth beside her big, old canine and reading an excerpt
of Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV,
visit my website at: www.authorlisasaunders.com or blog at:
congenitalcmv.blogspot.com. If the soft cover version of Anything But a Dog!
is purchased through the publisher’s link at
www.unlimitedpublishing.com/cmv, a portion of the proceeds will go toward
congenital CMV research and parent support at The National Congenital CMV
Disease Registry and Research Program. Located in Houston, Texas, the
Program conducts clinical and laboratory research studies on congenital CMV disease. Visit them at: bcm.edu/pedi/infect/cmv
Other Congenital CMV
Resources:
Congenital Cytomegalovirus Foundation--Their mission is to prevent birth defects resulting from congenital
CMV infection. To contact the country’s leading congenital CMV experts, visit:
congenitalcmv.org/foundation
Stop CMV - The CMV Action Network--Their mission is to prevent and eliminate congenital CMV and to
improve the lives of all people affected by congenital CMV. The non-profit
organization is comprised of families, friends and medical professionals
personally affected by CMV and committed to public education efforts to prevent
future cases of the virus. Visit: StopCMV.org.
Brendan B. McGinnis Congenital CMV Foundation—The non-profit organization is dedicated to raising awareness of CMV,
to supporting CMV vaccine research, and to supporting families affected by CMV
around the world. Visit: cmvfoundation.org
BOOKS BY LISA SAUNDERS
The true story of a big, homeless canine and a
little girl who needed him.
"Sheds light on a disorder that is
preventable and not talked about enough. If you're an animal lover, you'll love
the critter tales as much as the special-needs storyline...really lifted my
spirits." Terri Mauro, About.com
Excerpt from Chapter One:
“Mom, can I have a
dog?” my six-year-old daughter Jackie asked, standing next to me while I washed
the breakfast dishes.
I cringed. The
dreaded day was here—all kids inevitably ask for one. And why wouldn’t they?
Movie dogs like Lassie drag you from burning buildings and keep you warm when
you’re lost in a blizzard. But by the time we're adults, we've learned the
truth about them: they urinate on your new wall-to-wall carpets, dig holes in
your leather recliners to hide their rawhide bones, and bite your neighbor's
kid.
“No, you can't have
a dog,” I said, bracing myself for the age-old argument.
“Why not?” she
demanded.
My mind raced for
good excuses. Might as well start with the standard one: “A dog is too much
work. And I know I'll end up being the one who walks it in the pouring rain.”
“I promise I'll take
care of it. I will, I really will!" Jackie exclaimed.
“Sure,” I thought,
“that’s what they all say.” Avoiding her pleading eyes, I picked up a plate
sticky with leftover syrup. “The truth is,” I said, “we just can't risk a dog
around your sister.” I hated admitting that. I didn't want her to blame her
little sister, three years younger, for being so fragile. But taking care of
Elizabeth, who was quadriplegic from cerebral palsy, was already enough work
without adding a dog that might playfully nip at her.
I know! I’ll give
Jackie the “lip-severing story.” That’ll convince her we can’t have a dog
around her sister.
“When I was 13,” I
began, “I talked Grandma and Grandpa into letting me have a Weimaraner. His
name was Bogie—short for Humphrey Bogart—and he was a nipper. One day, my
two-year-old cousin Suzannah was playing on the floor underneath the table with
a Popsicle stick in her mouth. Bogie snapped at the stick and bit her lip off!
My grandmother got the lip off the carpet and wrapped it in a paper napkin to
take to the hospital. But it couldn’t be sewn back on. A surgeon fixed
Suzannah’s face, but when we got home, my mother loaded Bogie into the back
seat of the car and took him to the vet’s. I never saw him again. He took the
‘long walk’ as they say in the Lady and the Tramp movie.”
I paused so Jackie
could let the horror of the incident sink in.
But all she wanted
to know was, “Where’s Suzannah’s lip now?”
“Gosh, I don't know!
The last time I saw her lip it was stuck to the napkin, all shriveled and
mummy-like on my grandmother’s bookshelf. But that’s beside the point; can't
you see how dangerous a dog could be for your sister? She can’t speak—how would
she call out to us if she was in another room and the dog was bothering
her?”...
This
excerpt was originally published in “Anything But a Dog!” (Unlimited Publishing
LLC, 2008), used by permission. Please
visit
Includes secrets behind Amelia Earhart's
Wedding
While searching for
the Seven Wonders of Mystic with her beagle/basset hound, author Lisa Saunders
uncovers the secrets behind Titanic's shoes and Amelia Earhart's
wedding. But will she ever find an adventure of her own—one that will make her
thin and famous (she plans to use her fame, if she ever gets any, to raise awareness of congenital CMV)? When walking the Mystic Seafarer's Trail (which Lisa designed
for those who don't like to go uphill), she meets a blind sailor who invites
her on a long, winter voyage. Can this plump writer defy squalls, scurvy, and
her fear of scraping barnacles to survive this epic journey?
Excerpt of Mystic Seafarer’s
Trail from Chapter One:
Moments after I
stepped out of my new home with my hound for our first stroll through the
historic seacoast village of Mystic, Connecticut, a woman pulled over in her
van and yelled, "Excuse me."
Assuming she was
a tourist wanting directions to Mystic Pizza or some other
attraction, I wasn't prepared for what she really wanted to know.
"Do you
realize the back of your skirt is tucked into your underwear?"
More info: www.authorlisasaunders.com
About Lisa
Saunders
Lisa Saunders is a
speaker and award-winning writer living in Mystic, Connecticut, with her
husband and beagle/basset hound. A graduate of Cornell University, she is the
Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative and the author of several books.
She works part-time at Mystic Seaport as a history interpreter and is a winner
of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations Gold Medallion.
More info: www.authorlisasaunders.com,
saundersbooks@aol.com
Need a speaker for your group? Lisa is available to
speak on:
1. A
Time to Weep, A Time to Laugh—Moving forward after a loss
2. Stop
CMV (Lisa is the Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative)
3. Civil
War: Union Private & His Wife (available as a talk or one-act play)
4. Finding
Humor on Life’s Adventures—and Misadventures!
5. Seven
Wonders of Mystic
6. How
to Get Published
7. How
to Get a Job (Lisa is a former employment recruiter)
8. How
to Get Free Publicity
9. Children’s
Writing Workshop (Cornell University included Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator in its “Horse Book in a Bucket”
program)
10. The
Hanging of Henry Gale—from patriot to traitor in Shays’ Rebellion
11. Graveyard
Adventures—you never know who you will meet!
Lisa
has appeared: USA 9 News… Cornell
University… West Point Museum… Washington Independent Writers Association…
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)… Seward House… Lincoln Depot Museum…
Johns Hopkins University… Siemens Healthcare
Diagnostics… Civil War Round Tables...
ABOUT JULIE
RUSSELL, MSW, LCSW
Julie Russell, MSW, LCSW, is a clinical social worker specializing in the
treatment of trauma and the scope of emotional and mental disorders that
prevent one from achieving a sense of wholeness. Her skill in treating clients
who have been victimized by others, as well as those who have experienced other
traumatic events, is evident in her passion for her work.
She has provided psycho-educational lectures for the public as well as
other professionals and infuses humor with facts and insights in her speaking
engagements.
Julie Russell has worked with diverse populations in outpatient and
residential settings to assist youth, adults and families achieve change in
behaviors and mental health. In addition, she has worked extensively with the
justice system, educational system, and the military to ensure her clients’
goals are supported by involved third parties.
After completing graduate school at Tulane University in 1998, she worked
at the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, MD, providing
therapy to youth with complex emotional and behavior disorders. During this
time, she responded to the tragedies of September 11.
After returning to New Orleans, she treated individuals who experienced
trauma resulting from Hurricane Katrina.
Julie Russell has been a supervisor and mentor for other professionals
and she is a resource for individuals who are blind. While in her final year of
undergraduate studies at Tulane University: Newcomb College, she became blind
unexpectedly. She returned to her studies, earning her bachelor’s degree in
1996. She remains a strong advocate for women and individuals with
disabilities. In addition to her work as a therapist and a professional
speaker, she enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, camping, sailing and
attending music and theater productions.
Julie Russell now resides in Mystic, CT, where she continues to work with
individuals experiencing emotional difficulties. She can be contacted at
860-415-9573 or julie.lcsw@yahoo.com. Her website: www.julierusselllcsw.com
