Author incorporates life with diabetes into children’s story about a princess
Diabetes can be a difficult disease, especially for children, but Hatter Melanie Bayer hopes to show there can be a happily ever after with her children’s book “Princess Lisette and the Lifesaving Cupcake.”
“I’ve always had a love for fairy tales, that’s what inspires me,” said Bayer, who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 12 years old.
This love of fairy tales extends to having a part-time business where Bayer attends children’s birthday parties dressed up as Disney princesses. Once, she forgot to remove her insulin pod that attaches to her upper arm and helps keep her diabetes under control. A parent suggested she keep it on and just go as a princess with diabetes.
This in turn inspired Bayer to create and write a children’s book about a new princess, one who lives in an enchanted forest, has a duck for a sidekick, finds a prince, and — like her — has diabetes, so has to deal with the ups and downs of the disease.
“It can be very hard some days,” Bayer said, adding that she is lucky to have so much support from friends and family. “It’s a fight every day for your life, but as long as you’re fighting, that’s what matters.”
Bayer said she hopes a book like this would have made a difference to her younger self, who had low self-esteem.
“I remember being embarrassed or thinking I don’t want my friends to know. Now I’m open about it, and don’t mind sharing.”
And she hopes the book will help people have a better understanding of diabetes, and show children with any type of health issue that they can still have fun, be a princess, and follow their dreams.
The book is illustrated by local artist Jude Braid.
The public is invited to the official book launch, scheduled for Aug. 20, from 2-5 p.m. at Today Is Inc., located at 423 N. Railway St., with “Princess Lisette” making an appearance.
For more information about the book, including purchasing it, people can visit facebook.com/lifesavingcupcake or Amazon.com.