Have You Borrowed Trouble When You Dwelt on What Did Not Happen?

Jan 2, 2025

Jennifer Cramer-Miller, an award-winning author and speaker, shares her inspiring journey navigating autoimmune kidney disease. She discusses the emotional complexities of four kidney transplants and the vital role of gratitude and connection. Jennifer emphasizes avoiding the trap of 'borrowing trouble' while managing anxiety and advocates living in the present. Her insights into the art of memoir writing, including the benefits of journaling, encourage listeners to reflect on their experiences and cultivate hope, even through life's toughest moments.

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ANECDOTE

Jennifer's Diagnosis and First Transplant

At 22, Jennifer Cramer-Miller's life took a turn with a sudden autoimmune diagnosis leading to kidney failure.
Despite the initial shock and uncertainty, she received a kidney transplant, giving her hope for a normal life.

ANECDOTE

Life After the First Transplant

Jennifer's first transplant lasted five years, during which she got married, pursued an MBA, and maximized her time.
A year after marrying, she returned to dialysis but received a second transplant, enabling her to have a child.

ADVICE

Accepting Love and Support

Jennifer advises letting people love and support you through difficult times.
She emphasizes the importance of accepting love, especially when facing hardship.

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At twenty-two, Jennifer Cramer-Miller was thrilled with her new job, charming boyfriend, and Seattle apartment. After she received a devastating autoimmune diagnosis, she soaked a hospital pillow with tears and grappled with words like “progressive” and “incurable.”

Unwillingly, she crossed over from thriving to kidney failure. Her chances of survival hinged upon the expertise of doctors, the generosity of strangers, and the benevolence of loved ones.

But what kind of life would that be?

Jennifer Cramer-Miller is an author and speaker who focuses on stories of hope. Her new memoir, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, received an International Impact Book Award, a Book of Excellence Award, and a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She serves as the Board Chair for the Minnesota National Kidney Foundation (NKF), an NKF PEER Mentor, and a Donate Life ambassador. As a patient advocate, she helps others manage uncertainty, move forward with hope, and find some joy.

Everybody has something to deal with and uncertainty does not discriminate. Usually, Jennifer is the only person in the room who has had four kidney transplants but not the only one who has suffered trauma.

Jennifer's interview will equip you with skills to deal with trauma on any level.

SSSSSSINTERVIEW

Spanning two-plus decades, this family love story explores loss and acceptance, moving forward with uncertainty, and forging a path to joy. Four kidney transplants later, Cramer-Miller is here to shine a bright light on people helping people in difficult times with a story that will make you want to hug the humans you love. Because sometimes it’s the sorrows that threaten to pull us apart that ultimately unite us in hope.

2024 International Impact Book Awards Winner: Family and Medical Book of Excellence Award Winner: Family Publishers Weekly, starred review, PW Book of the Week, August 2023

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Incurable Optimist

Many of you shared that reading Incurable Optimist made you feel more optimistic, and you wanted a way to keep it going. One Lovely Thing is a journal to help you find beauty amidst bummers.

Fill these pages with your joys, sorrows, snippets, songs, the trivial, the tremendous, anything, and everything. Sure, we all have bummers, but I believe (even on lousy days) we can find one lovely thing. And seeking loveliness helps lift us as we muddle through.

Click Here to Purchase One Lovely Thing Journal!