Lisa Astalos Chism (DNP, APRN, BC, MSCP, CSC, CBCN, FAANP, FAAN) has dedicated her career to providing outstanding care to her patients. She is also a two-time AJN Book of the Year recipient for her textbook, The Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree: A Guidebook for Role Development and Professional Issues.
Dr. Chism specializes in breast, menopause, and sexual health. A fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing, she received the Compassionate Caregiver of the Year Award, Certified Menopause Practitioner of the Year, and a Distinguished Alumni Nightingale Award.
Now, in a memoir that’s been nearly a year in the making, she’s sharing the story that shaped who she is today – and provides hope for other adoptees, parents, and those on a journey to heal from the hurt in their pasts.
Book Title: The Adopted Nurse: A Memoir of Courage, Compassion, And Hope
Genre: Memoir, Self-Discovery
Website: The Adopted Nurse
What’s The Adopted Nurse about?
My book follows my journey as a nurse and adoptee as I navigate trauma, love, rejection, self-discovery, and healing.
My parents were wonderful, caring people who inspired me early on to care for others. I became a nurse and, later, a nurse practitioner. Currently, I am a doctoral-prepared nurse practitioner caring for breast, menopause, and sexual health patients, all while incorporating trauma-informed care.
Unfortunately, I lost my mom at age 32. Then, in my 30s, I found my birth mother’s family.
I was devastated to learn my birth mom died at age 26. She wrote poems for me that are now published in my memoir.
My dad later passed away, and in my 50s, my birth father found me through AncestoryDNA. At first, it seemed a fairy tale. But later, I experienced rejection and abuse that I continue to heal from.
This memoir offer others inspiration and practical, evidence-based tools to heal and believe in yourself against all odds, despite what you may go through in your life. My journey is inspired by courage and compassion for others – even those who hurt me – as a path toward healing.
Why did you decide to share such vulnerable parts of your life?
I decided to share my story as a way to inspire others – in the same way others have inspired me.
I care for patients each day who deal with very traumatic, difficult news. I knew my trauma informed me and impacted how I care for others. I also feel for adopted patients who may not know their family history and how much uncertainty this creates.
I felt that this was the right time to share my story to empower others who face trauma, difficult news, or feelings of loss.
Who did you write this memoir for?
Anyone in the adoption triad – and anyone who loves anyone in this triad:
- Adoptees
- Birth parents
- Adoptive parents
But it’s not exclusively a story about adoption.
There are elements in my memoir that could touch anyone who has experienced trauma, loss, abandonment, or difficult news/circumstances and needs to know they are not alone. I want to validate their complex emotions and experiences. And I want them to know that, through courage and compassion, there is healing.
Can you share some takeaways you hope readers will get?
I hope people will learn how to:
- Explore the complex emotions of gratitude and grief as an adoptee
- Understand healing through self-love, acceptance, and resilience in the face of trauma.
- Discover the power of compassion – for yourself and others – as a tool for healing
- Learn about practical techniques for processing trauma and rejection
- Be inspired to find courage and confidence despite facing abandonment and loss
Can you share what it was like to write and self-publish your own book?
I began writing last January and I wrote constantly wherever I was. I wrote in airports, on planes, on vacations, and on weekends.
I am in clinic during the week so I was a “weekend warrior”.
The hardest part was turning the major book themes (related to my specific circumstances and experiences) into chronological order. After doing that, I found an amazing editor via the selfpublishing.com Author Advantage Accelerator Elite program. She was so great and gave me incredible feedback during the process. Together, we transformed it all into a book that beautifully highlighted – in chronological order – specific life changing events throughout my life.
It was complex and painful at times but the process was so worth it!
Related: How to Write a Memoir
What was your favorite part about the experience?
My favorite part was watching as the stories seem to take on a life of their own.
It was magical when I would find myself writing about something I experienced and then before I knew it, I was able to transition to a new lesson or experience and use it as a way to convey how our life experiences can impact us.
It was so rewarding to shape my life into stories and practical advice that I hope will inspire and help others heal.
Now that you’ve successfully published your memoir, what’s next?
My plans are to become more involved in trauma-informed care as a way to care for each other and ourselves.
I hope to continue to educate others and connect to people who would be inspired through my life experiences and my journey toward healing! If you want to follow my journey and experiences, you can connect on Instagram at @DrMommyPoppins and @TheAdoptedNurse or on Facebook at The Adopted Nurse.
Want to learn more about the book writing support, editing services, book coaching, and more Dr. Chism received as a part of the Author Advantage Accelerator Elite Program? Schedule a consultation today or take the quiz below to find the right program for you and your book!
Other related selfpublishing.com articles: