A young woman living with cystic fibrosis is turning a page in her life by writing a children’s book to inspire others battling the condition.
Hollie Simpson, 23, from Forres, took just one month to write the book titled ‘Rose and Deon’, basing the fantasy tale on her own life experiences living with the illness.
It came after Miss Simpson was rushed to intensive care with bleeding lungs, leading her to undergo three operations and suffering a debilitating stroke.
During a book launch at the Highland Hospice’s Netley Day Therapy Centre in Inverness on Thursday, her mum Julie, 53, spoke of the family’s pride for her remarkable daughter.
She said: “She has Cystic Fibrosis and two year ago her lungs were bleeding. She had three operations and on the first one she suffered a stroke. She was in ICU for a few days and the only thing she could say was better. We didn’t know what would happen to her. We thought we were going to lose her.
“She has fought through everything and she’s had great support – we are so proud. It’s remarkable what she has done and the whole family are so proud of her.”
The fantasy novel is about the story of Rose, a little girl with cystic fibrosis, who meets fellow sufferer Deon the Dragon, and together they embark on adventures they never thought would be possible.
The book is £6, with all the money generated from sales being donated to the Hospice.
The keen writer said she wants the characters in the book to be relatable to young readers and show them you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
She said: “I’m so delighted that my patience and perseverance has paid off and am really grateful to the staff of the Hospice’s Netley Day Therapy Centre for all their support and for organising my book launch.
“I once met a girl who had cystic fibrosis and I also have cystic fibrosis. I wanted to write a book that had children in it with cystic fibrosis to help readers with the condition understand and deal with it better and relate to it as I never had that.”
“I want people to know that just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you are not capable of great things.”
Copies of the book can be purchased from Amazon or from the Hospice’s ‘By the River’ café.
