Title: Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance
Author: Natashia E. Stafford-Cotton, PhD
Publicist: Title Pitch Media
ISBN: 979-8887387802
Pages: 132
Genre: Memoir
Reviewed by: Margie Przybylski

Read author Interview

Today, Pacific Book reviewer Margie Przybylski is talking with, author Natashia E. Stafford-Cotton, PhD of Keep Your Kleenex: From Diagnosis to Deliverance.

PBR:  Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb? I lost my beloved father to cancer (different diagnosis) 1 month after he turned 52 years old, which profoundly affected/changed me, and the primary reason I deferred marriage.

PBR:  What was the inspiration for the story?In 2012, my husband was diagnosed with a terminal condition I started a journal of sorts jotting down mostly pertinent details/directives from all his clinicians or tracking results, levels, etc. with a few prayers and thoughts sprinkled in. However, it was not until 2017, when I revealed it to coworkers or various friends or church family, etc. their varied reactions of disbelief to amazement of how I was possibly not only navigating but seemingly living blissfully while facing such detriment, did I realize there was a bigger story that needed to be shared.

PBR:  What is the key theme and/or message in the book?  In brief (as stated so concisely by Rozalynd Divinity, Professor of Clinical Psychology, who I was fortunate to have had contribute the foreword) when belief rewards the believer. Also, learning to identify the incremental miracles vs the billboard front page news type miracles in our lives which are often overlooked because we are expecting overnight magic.

PBR:  more specifically: How I intentionally and adamantly refused to allow the diagnosis to rule any aspect of my (our) existence.  It takes a real raw look inside the past 10 years since that bomb imploded our lives and details several pivotal and critical points in time where deliberateness and total surrender to my faith was the only thing and everything I needed.  In this book, I provide an up-close and personal view of being a wife, mother and full-time provider for the family turned caretaker looks like from the lens of an unwavering believer and nearly every human emotion and element(s) of reality that I either dictated, delegated, or deflected along the way in order to realize my miracle!

PBR:  What do you hope your readers take away from this book?The book is extremely helpful from multiple vantage points whether you’re the person primarily impacted by a devastating life blow, or you are connected to/supporting a person who is facing catastrophic life circumstances. It details how to allow what looks like a tragedy to become the trajectory for a greater purpose. Also, not to ever settle for solely existing in trauma or survival mode but full throttle thriving mode.   Lastly, what it looks and feels like (and means) to believe in God as a higher power in the 21st century.

PBR:  What is the significance of the title?  Whenever a person is crying, going through a difficult time, or expected to become emotional, the universal response is to offer a Kleenex, to quickly wipe away the external response indicative of an internal experience, and stifle or quell that emotion. I refer to tears as liquid prayers. I’ve learned to let them fall, not be embarrassed, and I don’t allow them to be suppressed by someone handing me a tissue. Notably and contrary to popular belief, tears are not necessarily a sign of weakness; they are proof our hearts are alive, passionate, and able to be touched!  Also, God treasures each teardrop. Therefore, if you see me (or someone) crying, keep your Kleenex!

PBR:  Tell us about the process for coming up with the cover.  I wanted the cover to visually represent the tossing up – in intentional fashion- as a person would if they deliberately retrieved each sheet of tissue (representative of a problem or issue in their life) straight from the box with carefree but intentional motion, threw it up above to float effortlessly to heaven like prayers because essentially that is how freeing letting your tears fall feels and how easy it is to give God your concerns, fears, pain, etc., in my opinion after my D-Day experience to date.

PBR:  Do you write listening to music? No If so, what music inspired or accompanied this current – book? N/A

PBR:  What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book? Knowing how much to share and finding a comfort level with being so transparent about extremely sensitive and emotionally charged circumstances while discovering where my boundaries lie within that honesty and openness.  Also reliving and feeling the grief, pains, angst, etc. and while cathartic, it was also psychologically draining some days.

PBR:  What was the highlight of writing this book?  Being able to publicly acknowledge my faith, miracle, and blessings. The ability to leave a documented legacy of triumph over tragedy for generations to come. I heard somewhere that to be immortal you can do three things: Have a child, write a book, or plant a tree, I have now done two of three! My name, my story and my positive impact will carry on in some way because of this endeavor.