Suck it and see

By CASEY NEILL
LIFE sucks – but you can turn it around.
That’s the title of Maree Hamilton’s new book and her message to anyone facing adversity.
And she should know. The Olinda mum has overcome seven miscarriages and a stillbirth, lost a parent, watched loved ones battle cancer, and escaped an abusive partner.
Mrs Hamilton said finding someone who’d walked in her shoes would have made a world of difference when enduring these challenges.
“Every situation that’s been bad that’s happened to me, all I’ve wanted to do was talk to someone that has been in that position,” she said.
“To me, that was the one thing I could never, ever find. That would have absolutely saved me years of heartache.”
So Mrs Hamilton launched her book at the Eastern Women on the Go business forum and expo in Yering earlier this month.
It features honest, positive stories about bouncing back from adversity.
Practical advice from the subjects and psychologists accompany the inspiring tales.
The stories cover autism, alzheimers, cancer, depression, domestic violence, IVF, miscarriage, road trauma, suicide and more.
Mrs Hamilton said the launch was “really exciting and emotional”.
“To actually have it in your hand and actually know that it’s going to do something good for people,” she said.
“I think it’s a good way to bring out a lot of information and lots of resources, but more than that – it’s telling people how they’re going to feel.”
Mrs Hamilton, a motivational speaker, will donate 10 per cent of the book’s annual profits to the support organisations profiled.
“Each year it will go to the people who need it the most,” she said.
The next book she’ll tackle is The Ripple Effect of Spinal Chord injury, expanding on a story Life Sucks.
She’ll speak with paramedics, road trauma investigators, nurses, psychologists, and more.
“And then the families that suffer,” she said.
“How it doesn’t affect just that one person, it affects the lives of everyone around them.
“This is also good for parents who’s kids are about to start driving or learn to start driving because a lot of road injuries are spinal.”
Mrs Hamilton said the book would also give people hope.
She’ll speak with spinal injury victims told they’d never walk again who got back on their feet.
She’s not sure how far away it is from hitting the shelves.
“I need to breathe for a little while,” she laughed.
Visit www.lifesucks.com.au for more information.