Diann Shaddox is a Native American Indian and a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. Her Native American name is Atendutqnyq. She’s an award winning author, book-lover, wife, mother, grandmother, and has Essential Tremor. She loves to cook, grow organic vegetables, travel, and drink great wines. Diann is Founder of Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Diann was born on December 18th in a small southern town of Nashville, Arkansas, the youngest and only daughter of William and Mary Ann. But, fate had stepped in and William, a crop-duster, at the age of 25 died in a plane crash on November 20th, the month before she was born, therefore, Diann was never able to meet her father. Mary Ann, who grew up in Miami, Oklahoma, (a member of the Wyandotte Nation) moved back to Miami after William’s death, where Diann lived until her mother died, when she was only 3 years old.
Diann and her brother moved back to Nashville, Arkansas to live with her grandparents. At the age of 10, Diann’s Granddad died of a stroke, leaving her Mamow alone to see to her and her brother.
Diann learned from an early age about death, and how life should not be squandered. Her Mamow, who had lost her right hand in an accident at a factory in Nashville, Arkansas, taught her you never give up and never let anything stand in her way. She taught herself to write, cook, and even how to sew and make quilts with only using her left hand, without any prosthetics. Being handicapped was a word she never used.
Growing up with Mamow in a small town was wonderful, learning to fish, growing a garden and the most important thing, patience of a grandmother. Stories from the past evolved of family bringing many stories to life. Sitting out late at night on cool summer evenings, swinging on an old swing staring up at the stars helped Diann’s vivid imagination grow.
As for most people, life moved on quickly for her, graduating from Nashville High School, a real Scrapper, college, marrying her sweetheart Randy, having children, letting her dreams of so many characters stay in her head.
After she married Diann moved to Louisville, KY where she lived for a few years and then to Princeton, NJ; Burke, Virginia; back to Louisville, KY; Bonita Springs, FL; Leander, TX and then to Aiken, SC.
Diann Shaddox, (born December 18)
Known as Diann Shaddox was born in Nashville, Arkansas and is an author, speaker, and Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Diann Shaddox is best known for her released books, A Faded Cottage, (2013) a SC love story about an artist with Essential Tremors; Whispering Fog, (2014) a time travel romance; Miranda,(2015) a historical fiction, a journal of a young girl living in the late 1800’s; Spirits of Sacred Mountain, (2016) about a young Native American Indian boy’s life spinning out of control and a magical mountain with deep hidden secrets; and The Gatekeeper of Crystal Pond, (2017) mystery/sci-fi Not What Lies Above, but Below; Hidden Dreams (2021); Diary of Olivia Bellamead (2022).
Shaddox was diagnosed with Essential tremor in 1982. She has since become an advocate for awareness and research toward finding a cure for ET and she created the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, April, 2014.
Diann Shaddox is a Native American Indian and a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma.
Diann was born on December 18th in a small southern town of Nashville, Arkansas, the youngest and only daughter of William and Mary Ann. But, fate had stepped in and William, a crop-duster, at the age of 25 died in a plane crash on November 20th, the month before she was born, therefore, Diann was never able to meet her father. Mary Ann, who grew up in Miami, Oklahoma, (a member of the Wyandotte Nation) moved back to Miami after William’s death, where Diann lived until her mother died, when she was only 3 years old.
Diann and her brother moved back to Nashville, Arkansas to live with her grandparents. At the age of 10, Diann’s Granddad died of a stroke, leaving her Mamow alone to see to her and her brother.
Diann learned from an early age about death, and how life should not be squandered. Her Mamow, who had lost her right hand in an accident at a factory in Nashville, Arkansas, taught her you never give up and never let anything stand in her way. She taught herself to write, cook, and even how to sew and make quilts with only using her left hand, without any prosthetics. Being handicapped was a word she never used.
Growing up with Mamow in a small town was wonderful, learning to fish, growing a garden and the most important thing, patience of a grandmother. Stories from the past evolved of family bringing many stories to life. Sitting out late at night on cool summer evenings, swinging on an old swing staring up at the stars helped Diann’s vivid imagination grow.
As for most people, life moved on quickly for her, graduating from Nashville High School, a real Scrapper, college, marrying her sweetheart Randy, having children, letting her dreams of so many characters stay in her head.
After she married Diann moved to Louisville, KY where she lived for a few years and then to Princeton, NJ; Burke, Virginia; back to Louisville, KY; Bonita Springs, FL; Leander, TX and then to Aiken, SC.
Diann Shaddox, (born December 18)
Known as Diann Shaddox was born in Nashville, Arkansas and is an author, speaker, and Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Diann Shaddox is best known for her released books, A Faded Cottage, (2013) a SC love story about an artist with Essential Tremors; Whispering Fog, (2014) a time travel romance; Miranda,(2015) a historical fiction, a journal of a young girl living in the late 1800’s; Spirits of Sacred Mountain, (2016) about a young Native American Indian boy’s life spinning out of control and a magical mountain with deep hidden secrets; and The Gatekeeper of Crystal Pond, (2017) mystery/sci-fi Not What Lies Above, but Below; Hidden Dreams (2021); Diary of Olivia Bellamead (2022).
Shaddox was diagnosed with Essential tremor in 1982. She has since become an advocate for awareness and research toward finding a cure for ET and she created the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, April, 2014.
Diann Shaddox is a Native American Indian and a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma.
Living with Essential Tremor
My name is Diann Shaddox and I’m the Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
One question I get all the time is “Why did you start the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor?”
My story began over 35 years ago, since I have lived with Essential Tremor (ET) for 35 years. Now, my hands, head, legs, and voice tremor. I also lose my balance.
I was in my early twenties when life changed for me. My hands began to shake when I’d do tedious work. No one, not even my doctor could figure out what was happening and believed I was nervous and needed to calm down.
One day changed my world. I was standing at the post office window in Louisville, Kentucky. You see I wasn’t able to fill out a simple form containing my name and address.
I could hear the whispers and comment from people standing in the line behind me. The confused look of the post office clerk told the entire story.
I had been taught not to show my feelings in public, but tears flowed down my face as I raced out of the building clutching my package in my arms. That one day made me angry and I had to find my answer.
I went out on my own to figure out what was happening to me. Without my GP or insurance permission, I found a Neurologist and made an appointment. I finally made the discovery that I had Essential Tremor.
I was relieved to know what I had, but didn’t really understand what Essential Tremor was. I thought I was the only person in the world with this disorder.
Even after I was diagnosed, I did all I could to hide my shaky hands from family and friends.
I was on Inderal for over 20 years and it helped with the tremors.
Inderal is a Beta-Blocker and treats high blood pressure, chest pain, and uneven heartbeat, which I didn’t have.
My blood pressure continued to drop over the years and I would become dizzy.
During this time, I thought I was some kind of freak. I learned to hold my drink with both hands and hide my hands as much as possible. I used more energy hiding my tremoring hands than just living my life.
Hiding my tremors seemed to be working for many years, but on my birthday, December 18th, 2010 my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
2010 had been a year when I couldn’t hide my tremors anymore. People began to question and stare at me wondering why I was nervous or thinking maybe I was on drugs or just plain weird.
Being out in public was difficult, the stares were tough, and once more the simple feat of filling out forms was devastating. Even being in a doctor’s office was difficult. The nurses question why I was so nervous and even chastised me when they tried to take my blood pressure and my arm would shake.
That night of December 18th, I sat in my office and anger grew as I watched my hands quiver as they hovered over the keyboard. Again I felt sorry for myself.
The question of why, a question without an answer played in my mind.
Being a writer the words began to flow and Quaid Witherspoon, a famous artist, was born. A man who had everything or so he thought, but now his hands had deserted him and his life of painting had ceased becoming a bitter man. The story of Quaid Witherspoon, the novel A Faded Cottage, became an incredible love story one about strength of mind to fight fate and never accept what life throws at you.
I found out that I wasn’t alone and millions of people worldwide have Essential Tremor.
I began to do book signings. I would ask if anyone knew what Essential Tremor was. Yet again, I was shocked that no one knew about ET even though it is the largest and most common movement disorder in the world. Many doctors, police, and EMT don’t understand ET.
Through the process of bringing A Faded Cottage to life I have learned so much. I began to talk and listen to everyone’s stories of living with ET, stories that are so similar to mine.
I knew something had to be done. We have to tell the world about ET, so people who live with it aren’t sitting home alone wondering why this is happening to them.
Even though the stares will forever be, I won’t give up. Now, I’m even more determined that the word will spread about Essential Tremor and I’m going to Make it Happen.
Proceeds from the sale of my books go to the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Go to A Faded Cottage to learn more.
www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org
Living with Essential Tremor
My name is Diann Shaddox and I’m the Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
One question I get all the time is “Why did you start the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor?”
My story began over 35 years ago, since I have lived with Essential Tremor (ET) for 35 years. Now, my hands, head, legs, and voice tremor. I also lose my balance.
I was in my early twenties when life changed for me. My hands began to shake when I’d do tedious work. No one, not even my doctor could figure out what was happening and believed I was nervous and needed to calm down.
One day changed my world. I was standing at the post office window in Louisville, Kentucky. You see I wasn’t able to fill out a simple form containing my name and address.
I could hear the whispers and comment from people standing in the line behind me. The confused look of the post office clerk told the entire story.
I had been taught not to show my feelings in public, but tears flowed down my face as I raced out of the building clutching my package in my arms. That one day made me angry and I had to find my answer.
I went out on my own to figure out what was happening to me. Without my GP or insurance permission, I found a Neurologist and made an appointment. I finally made the discovery that I had Essential Tremor.
I was relieved to know what I had, but didn’t really understand what Essential Tremor was. I thought I was the only person in the world with this disorder.
Even after I was diagnosed, I did all I could to hide my shaky hands from family and friends.
I was on Inderal for over 20 years and it helped with the tremors.
Inderal is a Beta-Blocker and treats high blood pressure, chest pain, and uneven heartbeat, which I didn’t have.
My blood pressure continued to drop over the years and I would become dizzy.
During this time, I thought I was some kind of freak. I learned to hold my drink with both hands and hide my hands as much as possible. I used more energy hiding my tremoring hands than just living my life.
Hiding my tremors seemed to be working for many years, but on my birthday, December 18th, 2010 my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
2010 had been a year when I couldn’t hide my tremors anymore. People began to question and stare at me wondering why I was nervous or thinking maybe I was on drugs or just plain weird.
Being out in public was difficult, the stares were tough, and once more the simple feat of filling out forms was devastating. Even being in a doctor’s office was difficult. The nurses question why I was so nervous and even chastised me when they tried to take my blood pressure and my arm would shake.
That night of December 18th, I sat in my office and anger grew as I watched my hands quiver as they hovered over the keyboard. Again I felt sorry for myself.
The question of why, a question without an answer played in my mind.
Being a writer the words began to flow and Quaid Witherspoon, a famous artist, was born. A man who had everything or so he thought, but now his hands had deserted him and his life of painting had ceased becoming a bitter man. The story of Quaid Witherspoon, the novel A Faded Cottage, became an incredible love story one about strength of mind to fight fate and never accept what life throws at you.
I found out that I wasn’t alone and millions of people worldwide have Essential Tremor.
I began to do book signings. I would ask if anyone knew what Essential Tremor was. Yet again, I was shocked that no one knew about ET even though it is the largest and most common movement disorder in the world. Many doctors, police, and EMT don’t understand ET.
Through the process of bringing A Faded Cottage to life I have learned so much. I began to talk and listen to everyone’s stories of living with ET, stories that are so similar to mine.
I knew something had to be done. We have to tell the world about ET, so people who live with it aren’t sitting home alone wondering why this is happening to them.
Even though the stares will forever be, I won’t give up. Now, I’m even more determined that the word will spread about Essential Tremor and I’m going to Make it Happen.
Proceeds from the sale of my books go to the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Go to A Faded Cottage to learn more.
www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org
Now, Diann hopes the word will spread about ET and even though the stares will forever be, she won’t give up. May the power of many voices bring peace to all.
Bringing new books to life, she hopes will continue for years to come. Diann knows her own book of life has new pages being added each day and it’s up to each of us of what our Lifebooks will contain.
She has an enthusiasm for travel and living life to its fullest. You have only one life and shouldn’t waste it.
The zest for meeting and getting to know people is a very important component in her life. She is a believer of herbs, natural and organic foods, and a big supporter of Bio-identical Hormones and keeping our planet green.
Diann has lived in eight great states, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. South Carolina is now her home with her husband, Randy, her greatest supporter.
Escaping to worlds unknown in a book is exhilarating and she hopes her ideas and dreams are inexhaustible with many years of writing. Diann XO
www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org
Bringing new books to life, she hopes will continue for years to come. Diann knows her own book of life has new pages being added each day and it’s up to each of us of what our Lifebooks will contain.
She has an enthusiasm for travel and living life to its fullest. You have only one life and shouldn’t waste it.
The zest for meeting and getting to know people is a very important component in her life. She is a believer of herbs, natural and organic foods, and a big supporter of Bio-identical Hormones and keeping our planet green.
Diann has lived in eight great states, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. South Carolina is now her home with her husband, Randy, her greatest supporter.
Escaping to worlds unknown in a book is exhilarating and she hopes her ideas and dreams are inexhaustible with many years of writing. Diann XO
www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org
A tribute to my son Rick who died of a cancerous stage-four brain tumor May 20, 2014.
I want to say an immense thank you to all my family and friends. The outpouring of support, prayers and love my family has received during this difficult time has been a blessing. My son’s life was ended way to quick and the question of why will never be answered. I learned when I was very young that trying to find the answer of why a tragedy happens is a waste of precious time. I taught my son to live his life to the fullest and he lived more in his short life than many people live in a lifetime. I believe we all have a purpose in life.
My son touched so many people lives giving them smiles from his laughter, a strong shoulder to lean on, and he left them with joy and a drive to continue and never give up no matter what life throws at you. My son won’t ever be gone since his memory will live in my heart forever. Being a writer I will keep his stories alive to tell his children and anyone who will listen. Stories that will make you laugh, cry, and bring out the love deep inside of you.
There is a simple message I want to leave with everyone, smile more often, let the little things in life that bother you disappear, live each day of your life to the fullest, and tell your loved ones how much you love them. I don’t have the magic button to take the sorrow and pain away, but my life will continue on, whether it is for one more day, month, or many, many years, and I will always remember my sweet baby boy.
I want to say an immense thank you to all my family and friends. The outpouring of support, prayers and love my family has received during this difficult time has been a blessing. My son’s life was ended way to quick and the question of why will never be answered. I learned when I was very young that trying to find the answer of why a tragedy happens is a waste of precious time. I taught my son to live his life to the fullest and he lived more in his short life than many people live in a lifetime. I believe we all have a purpose in life.
My son touched so many people lives giving them smiles from his laughter, a strong shoulder to lean on, and he left them with joy and a drive to continue and never give up no matter what life throws at you. My son won’t ever be gone since his memory will live in my heart forever. Being a writer I will keep his stories alive to tell his children and anyone who will listen. Stories that will make you laugh, cry, and bring out the love deep inside of you.
There is a simple message I want to leave with everyone, smile more often, let the little things in life that bother you disappear, live each day of your life to the fullest, and tell your loved ones how much you love them. I don’t have the magic button to take the sorrow and pain away, but my life will continue on, whether it is for one more day, month, or many, many years, and I will always remember my sweet baby boy.
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