"Finding Us, A Mother's Memoir of Braving Mental Illness with Her Young Daughter" (Authored by Kristin Rohman Rehkamp)
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Kristin was terrified she was going to lose her daughter. Her daughter could not breathe, her chest hurt, and she was experiencing loss of sensation in limbs, dizziness, and disorientation…all rolling up to a state of terror she had never before witnessed. It was September 16, 2020 and her life changed, suddenly and without warning, with her daughter’s onset of a panic disorder.
Living with a mental illness is a journey that is messy, complicated and often misunderstood. Despite our best efforts, an experience we cannot control, but instead bravely learn to live with, learn from, and feasibly teach others.
In Finding Us, Kristin Rohman Rehkamp shares her story to educate and bring visibility to what living with a child braving a mental illness looks like and feels like. Her hope is that her memoir normalizes the mental health conversation, while providing others comfort and support in knowing their unique challenges and journey are understood.
Kristin gives a memoir that is personal and passionate; it is contemporaneous, insightful and wise. Finding Us is unerringly truthful to the experience for those who have never had mental illness in the family, and those who HAVE will recognize their own stories within it. Dan Parnell, NAMI Affiliate Leader
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristin Rohman Rehkamp lives with her husband and three children in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. She currently owns and operates La Vie Est Belle, LLC (lavieestbelle.live); a brand/gift store that inspires giving and beautiful living by donating 20% of their net profits to youth mental health initiatives. Given her personal experience with her oldest daughter, she is passionate about serving communities, organizations, and individuals working to break down barriers, raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of those braving mental illness.
Kristin proudly serves as a PrairieCare Fund Board Member and in various St. Croix Valley, Minnesota community leadership roles and programs. As Kristin advocates for her daughter through writing and speaking engagements, she looks forward to evolving mental health/well-being thinking and care models for those that journey with her family.
PROFESSIONAL EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"Finding Us by Kristin Rohman Rehkamp is an inspiring, empowering, and eye-opening memoir. This book is a must-read for everyone as you never know who is braving a mental illness. Kristin's story is one that many parents and caregivers face and often feel alone. Sharing their story lets others know they are not alone and there is still hope." - Literary Titan
"A mother, a daughter, a family - all deeply affected by the daughter's sudden mental illness - encompass a moving and enlightening memoir for readers within the pages of Finding Us. It is a deeply personal read that will take readers through a full spectrum of emotions as they come to better understand what it means to live with a family member diagnosed with a mental illness." - Holly Connors, Feathered Quill
"Finding Us: A Mother's Memoir of Braving Mental Illness with her Young Daughter is a memoir that intersects mental illness struggles and parenting issues. It neatly dovetails the two concerns in a chronicle of options and anguish that will enfold any parent who also struggles with their child's health and changing perceptions about it. Its multifaceted approach moves it beyond singular experience, making Finding Us highly recommended for a wide audience." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
AWARDS
11.08.2022: Literary Titan (an org. of professional editors, writers and professors) just released their picks for their November 2022 book awards. “Finding Us” is a Five Star Gold Award Winner!
A note from Literary Titan about their awards:
Our literary awards are given to books and authors that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing skill of talented authors.
The Gold Award is bestowed on books that we found to be perfect in their delivery of original content, meticulous development of unique characters in an organic and striking setting, innovative plot that supports a fresh theme, and elegant prose that transforms words into beautifully written books.