Diann Shaddox's Story
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My mission is a world without Essential Tremor
My passion is to tell my stories through my books |
Diann Shaddox is a mother, wife, award-winning author, and a Native American member of the Wyandotte Nation. Diann was diagnosed with Essential Tremor in her twenties and is an activist for Essential Tremor. In 2014, she founded the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
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I was born on December 18th in a small southern town of Nashville, Arkansas, the youngest and only daughter of William and Mary Ann. Tragically, fate intervened when my father, a crop duster diend at the age of 25 in a plane crash on November 20th, a month before I was born; therefore, I never met my father. Following my father's death, my mother, who grew up in Miami, Oklahoma (a member of the Wyandotte Nation), moved back to Miami, her hometown. I lived in Miami until my mother died when I was 3 years old.
After my mother's death, my brother and I returned to Nashville, Arkansas to live with my grandparents. When I was 9, my granddaddy suffered a stroke and passed away, leaving Mamow alone to see to us. |
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I learned early in life about the reality of death and how life shouldn't be wasted. Mamow, who lost her right hand in a factory accident in Nashville, Arkansas, ingrained in me that you should never give up and never let anything stop you. She taught herself to write, cook, and even sew and make quilts using only her left hand, with no prosthetics. She never used the word 'handicapped.'
Growing up in a small town with Mamow was wonderful: learning to fish, growing a garden, and, most importantly, experiencing the patience of a grandmother. Stories my family shared from the past helped bring many of my stories to life. Swimming in creeks shaded by tree branches hanging over the water, playing late into the night on cool summer evenings, catching lightning bugs, swinging on an old swing, and staring up at the stars helped my vivid imagination grow. |
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Like most people, life moved quickly for me—graduating from Nashville High School, a real Scrapper, then college, marrying my sweetheart Randy, having children, and keeping my dreams of many characters in my mind.
After I married, I moved to Louisville, KY; then to Princeton, NJ; Burke, Virginia; back to Louisville, KY; Bonita Springs, FL; Leander, TX; and finally to Aiken, SC. My life remained very busy, and years seemed to fly by. However, since I was very young, stories kept flowing in my mind, but I pushed them aside, hoping they would disappear. They didn’t. |
Louisville, Ky
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Leander, TX
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So I gave in.
It was 2005, and I settled into my office in Leander, TX, and began to write. I didn’t overthink or plan what to write about. Night after night, I simply let the story start, then moved on to the next story, and then the next. Love stories, sci-fi, and children’s stories were born one after the other. But, (there’s always a but). Years later, on December 18th, my birthday, I was now living in Aiken, SC. Late that night, sleep eluded me, so I went into my office, which I had named my cubby. I sat at my computer. I stared down at my hands. They were shaking uncontrollably, making it difficult to type. As I call it, like fluttering birds’ wings. The tremors grew, as did my anger. I stared at the computer screen, and in a burst of defiance, my hands typed, “Happy Birthday, dumb-ass!” Those words brought A Faded Cottage to life. |
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I'll take you back to when my hand tremors first appeared. In my early twenties, I was standing at the post office window in Louisville, KY, and I couldn’t fill out a simple form with my name and address because my hand was uncontrollably shaking. How could such a simple task be so difficult? It was embarrassing because my hand wouldn’t write. I could hear whispers and comments from people standing in line behind me. The confused expression on the post office clerk's face said it all.
Even though I had been taught to hide my feelings in public, I couldn't hold back the tears as I hurried out of the building, clutching my package tightly. That day fueled my anger and determination—I was resolved to find an answer. After consulting three doctors who dismissed my concerns, claiming I was just nervous, I finally saw a neurologist and received a diagnosis of Essential Tremor. While I felt a sense of relief in finally understanding my condition, I was initially confused about what Essential Tremor truly meant. I believed I was the only person in the world dealing with this disease. I felt like a freak, constantly trying to hide my shaky hand, pouring more energy into concealing my tremors than into simply enjoying life. As time went on, so did my tremors, and I could no longer hide them. People began to question me and stare, wondering why I was nervous, or thinking maybe I was on drugs or just plain weird. Being in public is tough; the stares can be too much. Even going to a doctor's office feels like a challenge. The nurses often question and criticize me when they try to take my blood pressure, and my arm shakes. Activities that should be normal have become major obstacles for me. |
Louisville, KY age 27
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Through my writing, I found out I wasn’t alone. At my book signings, people living with ET began to share their stories, just like mine, in person, through emails, and even on phone calls, begging for help. I no longer felt alone and became empowered to inform people about Essential Tremor.
When I learned that there are over 160 million people worldwide and so many children living in silence, desperate for help, I knew something had to be done. I wasn’t going to live in silence or hide my tremors anymore. Inspired by stories from others with ET, I recognized the need for more research and was determined to make a difference. With my husband, Randy Miles' support, we founded the Diann Shaddox Foundation, a National non-profit 501(c)(3) in 2014. My ultimate goal is to find the cause and cure for ET |
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My ultimate goal is to find the cause and cure for ET.
I hope my joy of bringing new books to life continues for many years. I know my own book of life has new pages being added each day, and it’s up to each of us what our Lifebooks will contain. The zest for meeting and getting to know people is very important to me. I am a believer in herbs, natural and organic foods, and I strongly support bio-identical hormones and keeping our planet green. Escaping to worlds unknown in a book is exhilarating, and I hope my ideas and dreams are endless, with many years of writing ahead. Despite the challenges of my tremors—affecting my hands, head, legs, voice, and balance—I refuse to let pain define me. The stares will be constant, but I am not backing down. I invite you to join me on this journey as we work together to find a cure for Essential Tremor. A portion of the proceeds from my book sales directly supports the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. 
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A journal of a famous artist not of his life, but of only two weeks.
The story begins when Essential Tremors takes over a famous artist’s body, a simple feat of holding a paintbrush turns Quaid Witherspoon’s life upside down, becoming a bitter man. Quaid had everything money could buy, except the two things he loved the most, his love of painting great masterpieces, and the only woman he had ever loved. The calming waters off the coast of South Carolina call Quaid back to Hathaway Cove, to a small, faded cottage, one with a leaning front porch, worn paint so similar to him, flawed. The same beach where he began painting as a young boy, the place where he met his one true love, and the place where he let her go. This is his journal of only two weeks, a story of endless love, his tale of living with ET, and the strength and power of love |
A Faded Cottage,
A Christmas love story. A Story blending fact and fiction. Quaid had everything money could buy, except two things he loved most, his love of painting great masterpieces, and the only woman he had ever loved. 
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One of the millions of Faces
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A tribute to my son Rick, who died of a cancerous stage-four brain tumor, Glioblastoma, May 20, 2014.
My son’s life was ended way too quickly, and the question of why will never be answered. I learned when I was very young that trying to find the answer to why a tragedy happens is a waste of precious time. I taught my son to live his life to the fullest and he lived more in his short life than many people live in a lifetime. I believe we all have a purpose in life.
My son touched so many lives, giving them smiles from his laughter, a strong shoulder to lean on, and he left them with joy and a drive to continue and never give up, no matter what life throws at you. My son will never be gone, since his memory will live in my heart forever. Being a writer, I will keep his stories alive to tell his children and anyone who will listen. Stories that will make you laugh, and cry, and bring out the love deep inside of you.
There is a simple message I want to leave with everyone: smile more often, let the little things in life that bother you disappear, live each day to the fullest, and tell your loved ones how much you love them. I don’t have the magic button to take the sorrow and pain away, but my life will continue, whether it is for one more day, month, or many, many years, and I will never forget my sweet baby boy.
My son’s life was ended way too quickly, and the question of why will never be answered. I learned when I was very young that trying to find the answer to why a tragedy happens is a waste of precious time. I taught my son to live his life to the fullest and he lived more in his short life than many people live in a lifetime. I believe we all have a purpose in life.
My son touched so many lives, giving them smiles from his laughter, a strong shoulder to lean on, and he left them with joy and a drive to continue and never give up, no matter what life throws at you. My son will never be gone, since his memory will live in my heart forever. Being a writer, I will keep his stories alive to tell his children and anyone who will listen. Stories that will make you laugh, and cry, and bring out the love deep inside of you.
There is a simple message I want to leave with everyone: smile more often, let the little things in life that bother you disappear, live each day to the fullest, and tell your loved ones how much you love them. I don’t have the magic button to take the sorrow and pain away, but my life will continue, whether it is for one more day, month, or many, many years, and I will never forget my sweet baby boy.
