About The Book

This book is about a 27-year-old female cancer survivor who is deafblind as a result of retinoblastoma. The story is narrated from both the survivor’s and her mother’s perspectives. The survivor has vision in one eye and uses hearing aids in both ears.

The book aims to inspire and motivate those who have been affected by cancer or who are survivors of eye cancer. It highlights the importance of resilience and the ability to move forward during difficult times. The book shares the survivor’s experiences of pursuing her passions for music, travel, and photography, and how humor and resiliency helped her to step out of her comfort zone.

The survivor was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at the age of six months. The book shares real-life stories about how the survivor and her mother managed to maintain their strength and dignity while coping with the challenges of the disease. It covers their medical experiences, family stories, and educational journey while surviving everyday life with retinoblastoma.

The book also sheds light on how the survivor and her mother thrived despite the diagnosis of bilateral retinoblastoma and hearing impairment. It provides a better understanding of this rare childhood eye cancer and its aftermath.

The book also covers the challenges faced by the mother in raising a child with the disease, including the need for frequent specialist appointments, the risk of the cancer returning, and other secondary health issues that may arise. It also provides insights into holistic nutrition.

After reading this book, readers will realize their full potential and understand how resilient and special they truly are.

Listen to Excerpt

In this book, you will learn how they learned to cope and laugh through:

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Experiences with bullying and other emotional trauma

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Standing out and being okay with it.

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Conquering insecurities and fighting mental health

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Overcoming medical, mental and emotional related obstacles

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Real stories and examples providing advice that show that you are not alone

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The greatest moment in a parent's life is when we look back and realize our child actually listened to us and is now giving us all the feedback we need to let us know...she really gets it! Zaakirah’s perception of us and the adults in her life is greater than most adult children know in their lifetime. We are so grateful to be able to read this memoir that our SUN Daughter has written. Her young deep voice is truly one of Allah (God's) masterpieces, we were only the instruments used to bring her into this world, and help her survive it.”

Mom

"This book is titled very appropriately: it truly allowed me to see through a different lens! Zaakirah has a powerful narrative that is masterfully told through multi-generational storytelling collaboration between her and her mother. I admire her mother's strength, resilience, and adaptability. She reveals the depths of the bond between them through the tenderness in her tone and the love that shines through her words. This book truly helped me to better understand the struggles that disabled people overcome while also affirming their agency Zaakirah deftly navigates her life experiences through the perspective of her intersectional identities as a disabled African American Muslim woman. Her story is strong, fearless and inspiring."

Christina Harris

“This book made me cry, laugh and wonder "is this my child all grown up?" Zaakirah's writing is honest and sensitive. We are totally amazed at how she helped us understand how retinoblastoma has changed all of our lives.”

-Mom

I really enjoyed your book! As a reader, I liked that you took the time to explain some of the medical terminologies that were used. I learned a lot of things that I didn’t know.

Laporshia Graves

“Your first thought might be how can a 20 + year old have much to share in a memoir... well Zaakirah and her incredible mother Kha'aidah have packed a lot of living, loving, sacrifice, hope and resilience into this very open book treasure. I have had the very huge blessing of having these 2 incredible women in my life for years and am just blown away by their uplifting honesty. Zaakirah IS a survivor and rewrites her story through every turn... positive or negative and she is still standing ready to take on the world! Thank you for sharing your journey thus far... I look forward to what the next decade will bring. I encourage people to read this book. You will find the gifts of encouragement to pursue your own dreams, to reflect to appreciate what you learn from successes and setbacks and the tenacity to change directions to move toward your next opportunities. Well written and much appreciated!”

Emily Taylor Snell

“I'm a big "how to" book reader, nonfiction isn't my thing. But after being challenged to read something different, this was suggested. This was a beautifully paced, detailed account of the power of positive thinking and resilient emotional support. I found an amazing element of gratitude in each story, each step of the arduous, tedious and sometimes painful process of being a cancer survivor. It is so easy to fall in the quicksand of complaint; asking why, wondering what if, becoming bitter over circumstances. This book inspired me to increase my level of gratitude on a daily basis for the things I have that make me happy. I didn't think I'd want to read it, but sometimes you realize that some books find you. I'm grateful it found me.”

Nathan Wilson

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About the author.

Zaakirah Muhammad is a cancer survivor, Sagittarius, world traveler, podcaster, and small business owner. Her hearing and vision slowly began to decline as she got older, but her other three senses are functioning well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tell the viewers a little bit more about yourself and how you became interested in writing?

I began journaling at a young age. English was also my best yet most favorite subject in school. I began writing articles and summaries for school newsletters, yearbooks, and even a local teen newspaper. I continued writing once I began traveling out of the country to share about my experience. Those writing skills turned in to copywriting for various social media clients. Now, some of these blog entries about my life’s experiences have become sections in my book, Seeing Life Through a Different Lens.

How long have you been writing?

I have technically been writing since I first learned how to write my name. English and writing were my favorite and best subjects in elementary, middle and high school. I got into journaling as a pre-teen.

What inspired you to write a memoir at such a young age?

I, just like everyone else, have a story to tell. The typical survival age of my childhood eye cancer is the age of five. The fact that I am still here, I know there are not many people who look like me, let alone many people with a story similar to mine. The closest person there is to me is Haben Girma, a deafblind lawyer who also released a memoir. it is important for my story to be told thus far because we never know when my last day is.

Where can we find out more about you and your work?

I have a podcast where I share extensive stories of the book currently called Living Legacy Podcast. I also interview women of purpose sharing stories of resilience there. I am also very interactive on just about every social media network @illuminousone. I do my best to do a few live videos as well to allow you to get to know and learn from me.

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers or authors looking to self-publish?

I’ve learned that self-publishing is truly not a solo thing, it’s just that you, yourself, are in control. Make sure you know what you want to write about first. Get your definition of a first draft done first before choosing someone you trust to help you self publish. It’s the biggest investment you can make for your book.

What do you suggest as a starting point for those who want to learn more about your type of cancer?

Google and Facebook Groups are your friends. There are plenty of groups for support of those who are significant others or immediate family members and friends of cancer survivors. I also encourage you to look up websites like the American Cancer Society, Stand Up to Cancer, and We C Hope, to learn more about childhood (eye) cancers.

Get In Touch

Let’s Work Together!

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Email

zaakirah@zaakirahnayyar.com

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Address

Dallas, Texas

Seeing Life through a different lens