About Janet
Hello, my name is Janet Mary Sinke. I am also known as Grandma Janet Mary.
7 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson;s Disease. I was 50 years old at the time working as a hospice nurse in a 15 bed in-patient unit. the doctors tell me that my disease probably started to manifest itself in my early to mid-40s. By the time I had reached 50 the symptoms were quite noticeable but I still denied the severity of what was happening. Then I began losing my balance. The tremors were getting worse, my voice was weak and I could barely write. I was also suffering from extreme fatigue. My family was very worried. It got to the point where I needed to step down from my nursing position because I could no longer physically do the job. It was a tough time. It took me about a year to get my medications regulated so that I could function. I wasn't sure what the future held for me but I knew I had to do something.
Then came the night of my epiphany, as I call it. It was January 15, 2003. I woke very early that AM which was not unusual. Parkinson's had caused fragmented sleep patterns before but this night was different. I remember sitting in the dark thinking about the future and what it would now hold. I was entering a new phase of life. I had just become a new grandmother to a beautiful baby girl, who in a very real way saved me. And as I sat there thinking about her on that cold night, the memory of two other very special people entered my mind, my own grandmothers. Memories came flooding back. I remembered the simple joys and the important part my grandmothers had played in my own growth and development and as I thought of them I picked up the pen and I started to write. I submitted my first story, "I Wanna Go to Grandma's House" to 54 publishing companies. I was rejected 54 times. Surprisingly I wasn't dejected. I pushed on. I developed my own publishing company and the rest, as they say, is history. It has been an amazing journey.
I have written a number of books now. The first four published belong to the Grandma Janet Mary Series and are all written in rhyme. You can find them under my pen name of Grandma Janet Mary. Three out of the four have taken national awards.
Last October I came out with a new book unrelated to the Grandma Janet Series. It is titled Priscilla McDoodleNutDoodleMcMae Asks "Why?" It is a fantasy story with a great message that promotes understanding and respect for all people. We have great hopes that this book will do great things.
To date we have sold approximately 48,000 books combined.
As I have traveled down this new path I have learned that there is blessing to be found in all things, even in the darkest of times. For me, in a strange but wonderful way, my Parkinson's is my greatest blessing for it has led me down a road I would have otherwise never traveled.
We shall see where the Spirit leads.
Hello, my name is Janet Mary Sinke. I am also known as Grandma Janet Mary.
7 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson;s Disease. I was 50 years old at the time working as a hospice nurse in a 15 bed in-patient unit. the doctors tell me that my disease probably started to manifest itself in my early to mid-40s. By the time I had reached 50 the symptoms were quite noticeable but I still denied...
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