#MemoriesofMum

PRESS RELEASE
Heart, Broken: My journey to self-healing is one mother's life story dedicated to her best friend, her own mother, who passed away in her arms

Mothers Day is a time to celebrate the incredible, strong and loving women in our lives - March 6^th2016

‘Heart, Broken: My journey to self-healing' is Jackie Mannell's life story, dedicated to her mother, who passed away in her arms 20 years ago after an epileptic fit brought on by a long battle with diabetes. As a fitting tribute to her mother, ‘Heart, Broken' will be published internationally on March 6^th2016, Mothering Sunday, by Red Letter Books.

This is the awesome story of one woman's journey to accept her past and acknowledge previous struggles, enabling her to overcome ill health and adjust to life after the passing of her mother.

Jackie Mannell, 51, is also a mother. She lives in St. Leonard's on Sea in Sussex with her two sons. Jackie is a passionate, inspiring lady who has a story she needs to share with the world.

Jackie Mannell's powerful memoir ‘Heart, Broken: My Journey to Self-Healing' details her extraordinary life, eventually leading her to embrace self healing and end a condition doctors said would require daily pharmaceutical intervention for the rest of her life.

Jackie's story is inspirational and beautiful despite being motivated by a sombre back-story, which includes the emotional passing of her mother, who died in Jackie's arms following an epileptic fit.

This is an extract from ‘Heart, Broken' detailing the events leading up to her mother's death:

"Can you get to hospital, Jackie?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Well, your Mum's breathing is slowing down."

I just jumped in the car with my pyjamas still on and I flew there at 60mph. As I came into the ward Mum was still alive but, as the nurse explained while drawing the curtains around the bed, her body was closing down, starting with the lungs. That was why her breathing was laboured. I sat beside her on the bed and cuddled her. It was a very peaceful experience. I talked to her and was holding her.

"You're so brave, Mum. And I love you so much." I repeatedly told her that, knowing that she could hear me. It was so hard, though. I wasn't ready for this. I really was on my own now.

Life immediately after death

A few days after the funeral I got a tattoo on my hip and then I sort of slumped. I didn't go to pieces, but all the emotions that I'd been holding back for years suddenly came to the surface. The adrenalin, the caring, putting my feelings aside, arranging the house move and funeral; it was my turn now to grieve and release my feelings. I hadn't known at the time but all the stress in my body - all day, every day for at least the past five years - had taken its toll.

I vowed at that point never to let anything, or anyone, get that close to me again as I couldn't bear the emotional exhaustion involved. I'd just lost my best friend and I was spent.Nobody's ever going to hurt me again. I'm on my own now and I'm not going to ever feel that pain in my life. I want to be happy; I want to get rid of all that turmoil.

It was my response to seeing Mum suffer: it was so painful for me because I was helpless. I couldn't prevent her hurting and I'd held that for years, triggered by Dad leaving (I didn't blame him at all, though). I just thought that nothing can ever hurt me again.

The passing of Jackie's mum and her mother's many years of ill health had a huge impact on Jackie's life and led her into a series of decisions that became more and more destructive. From a marriage that lasted months to an abusive, addict boyfriend, her decisions seemed to lead back to her loss and desperation to fix the world for others.

Closure

I said that I never grieved for Mum. However, I finally received some closure about six weeks after her funeral; she told me she would never leave me and she proved it.

I've always believed there is no real separation between living and passing over; spirits are still here, but on a different wavelength or vibration, like electricity. My parents passed their beliefs on to me from a very early age. I went with them to meetings where people received messages and I remember it as being beautiful and incredibly real.This is awesome,I thought.Even when you die, you still come back and speak to people. There's no death.

I was hooked on the uplifting energy in the room and the fact that dying didn't mean actual death. I was six at the time. And that was my belief, spirits spoke to you with love and help but only if they wanted to talk.

Jackie goes on to disclose how she was drawn to a psychic fair in Crystal Palace one Sunday and was immediately met by a lady who connected her to her Mum with unmistakable evidence that it was most definitely her. This was not the last time Jackie was to hear from her Mum: in the last 20 years she's come through 15 times.

Dedication

Her book begins with a touching dedication to her mother:

"This book is dedicated to my beautiful Mum, who left this earth way too young. She was not only my mum, but my best friend, my advisor and my world. The kindest person I have ever known. I miss you every day, Mum, but I know you're only a whisper away..."

Notestoeditors
For more information about Jackie, her relationship with her mother, her journey to self-healing and her new book, please contact Helen or Sam atinfo@literallypr.com. Jackie is available for interviews and copies of Heart, Broken can be provided for the press to review and read more about Jackie's story, and we are open to discussing competitions and promotions around Mother's Day.

#MemoriesOfMum

In memory of all those who will be remembering their Mum who has passed on this Mothering Sunday, ahead of and during March 6th we are inviting people to share their memories and photos on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #MemoriesOfMum. A collection of these #MemoriesOfMum will be published on Jackie's website:www.jackiemannell.wordpress.comand a collage of photos will be created. @mannell_jackie @literallypr @redletterbooks.