As Christmas draws closer, I am reminded of all those years where I would start to worry about whether I would be unwell, and have a four hour vertigo attack on Christmas day, ruining everyone’s plans, or whether something I ate would set off a cluster of vertigo attacks, debilitating me for nine days out of fourteen.
Thankfully, gentamicin injected into my middle ear in 2004, destroying my balance cells, stopped my Meniere’s vertigo attacks – an answered prayer. But sometimes, in the back of my mind is always the thought, “What if the vertigo returns?”
I have to consciously choose not to focus on that thought, instead, focussing on the positives. So here’s something I’d like to gift to you.
I’d like to gift you a FREE eBook copy of my bestselling novel that has been raising awareness about Meniere’s disease, which shares similar vestibular symptoms that COVID patients have experienced – vertigo, hearing loss, brain fog, tinnitus …
I pleased to say that ‘The Colour of Broken’ was longlisted earlier this year (2021) to be made into a movie or tv series.
And it has been an Amazon #1 in its category, three times.
Grab a copy and see what all the fuss is about. It’s FREE on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of December, 2021.
If you read the novel, I hope the story touches you where you need to be touched.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas filled with joy and thankfulness.
XX Julieann
Julieann Wallace is a multi-published author and artist. When she is not disappearing into her imaginary worlds as Julieann Wallace – children’s author, or as Amelia Grace – fiction novelist, she is working as a secondary teacher. Julieann’s 7th novel with a main character with Meniere’s disease—‘The Colour of Broken’—written under her pen name of Amelia Grace, was #1 on Amazon in its category a number of times, and was longlisted to be made into a movie or TV series by Screen Queensland, Australia. She donates profits from her books to Macquarie University, where they are researching Meniere’s disease to find a cure. Julieann is a self-confessed tea ninja and Cadbury chocoholic, has a passion for music and art, and tries not to scare her cat, Claude Monet, with her terrible cello playing.
Meniere’s disease – a manic, violent, debilitating, depressing, disgusting, deplorable, despicable, devastating, damaging, distressing, diabolical monster of a disease that makes you vulnerable and defenseless. It takes, and never gives back.
It’s now 26 years of living with my shadow, Meniere’s. But once, Meniere’s was not just a shadow, it was a monster, as it wreaked havoc in my life, sucking out every ounce of happiness I had, throwing me into the deepest, darkest pit, searching on my knees for the missing pieces of me.
In 2002, after a particularly violent and long vertigo attack, I cried under the running water of the shower. There, my gut wrenching sobs would be muffled, and my tears would become invisible as I tried to hide my deep sorrow, and absolute exhaustion of faking being well. I didn’t want my three children to hear me falling apart. I didn’t want my husband to know how broken I was. And it was then and there that I made a vow. I wanted to help find a cure for Meniere’s disease in whatever way I could.
In 2004, I had one shot of gentamicin (the full dosage, not the low dose given now to preserve hearing). It stopped my vertigo, and I was able to reclaim my life.
Since 2013, I have volunteered twice as a Meniere’s research subject at the University of Queensland (Australia) Brain and Mind Centre, released two Meniere’s picture books (Vanilla Swirl for mothers and Blueberry Swirl for Fathers, both gorgeously illustrated by the talented Shez Kennington), and 2 novels – The Colour of Broken with a main character with Meniere’s disease, and the sequel, All the Colours Above, with Meniere’s disease in it again, to raise awareness about Meniere’s disease. I donate 100% profits to research of the University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre, where they have a dedicated Meniere’s disease research team.
In January 2020, I released a Yearly Meniere’s Journal in response to the emotional pain I absorb, witnessing people struggle in the many Meniere’s support groups I am in. While I was reading comments, I thought back to before I had a gentamicin injection to stop the vertigo, and what I used to take with me to my ENT – it was a daily journal of my symptoms. And so I created one for Meniere’s Disease for people to use.
Roll-on to November 2021, and there seems to be more and more people being diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease, struggling to understand it and how they can take control of their lives. So I revisited my January 2020 Journal, added more details, and shortened the book to just 3 months so it would be more affordable. It’s a valuable tool, and perfect for looking for patterns and tracking triggers, and for taking to your doctor or ENT to show them exactly what you are suffering daily.
A gift for Christmas
The new journal is hot off the press, and I want to gift you the FREE PDF to download and print out.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas, and looking forward to us finding a cure in the very near future, or even something that will successfully control all of our symptoms, one that works for everyone, not just for some.
The spark of hope can never be extinguished!
Julieann Wallace is a multi-published author and artist. When she is not disappearing into her imaginary worlds as Julieann Wallace – children’s author, or as Amelia Grace – fiction novelist, she is working as a secondary teacher. Julieann’s 7th novel with a main character with Meniere’s disease—‘The Colour of Broken’—written under her pen name of Amelia Grace, was #1 on Amazon in its category twice, and was longlisted to be made into a movie or TV series by Screen Queensland, Australia. Julieann is a self-confessed tea ninja and Cadbury chocoholic, has a passion for music and art, and tries not to scare her cat, Claude Monet, with her terrible cello playing.
To welcome in the new year for my Meniere’s family and friends, here’s a free PDF of the Daily Meniere’s Journal I created in 2020. It’s for those who haven’t seen it before, are new to Meniere’s (i.m so sorry), or just need something like this to keep track of their day to day Meniere’s.
It’s a valuable tool to take to your doctor to show them your symptoms and how you are feeling everyday. I know there are people who bought the journal in 2020, and have already purchased another one for 2021.
Print the PDF out day by day, or month by month – however you want to use it. And you have permission to share it with others. I hope it helps you to find patterns or triggers so you can manage the horrendous Meniere’s disease a little better.
Julieann is a multi-published author and artist. When she is not disappearing into her imaginary worlds as Julieann Wallace – children’s author, or as Amelia Grace – fiction novelist, she is working as a secondary teacher, editor, book designer, and book magician for other authors. Julieann’s 7th novel with a main character with Meniere’s disease—‘The Colour of Broken’—written under her pen name of Amelia Grace, hit #1 on Amazon in its category twice. Julieann is a self-confessed tea ninja and Cadbury chocoholic, has a passion for music and art, and tries not to scare her cat, Claude Monet, with her terrible cello playing.
My Shadow - Meniere's 