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    Jackie on Prairie Public's Main St.
    • Jul 20
    • 1 min

    Jackie on Prairie Public's Main St.

    With the familiar voice and music, Jackie felt like she was sitting down to chat with an old friend when she joined North Dakota Prairie Public's Ashley Thornberg on Main Street. Ashley asked all the tough questions about AE, Unwillable, why the title, the writing process, and what's up with the Elton lyrics (have I ever mentioned just how much I love Elton ...)?! To listen to the podcast, find it where you subscribe or click HERE. #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDay
    NEWS and VIEWS
    • Jul 15
    • 1 min

    NEWS and VIEWS

    What fun it was to hold a book signing in my hometown of Bowman! And how humbled I was to see this very nice story on the front page of the Bowman County Pioneer. Thanks for welcoming me back with open arms, my beloved Bowman forever family. Read it HERE! My dear new friend who feels just like an old friend, Amanda Godfread, wrote about Unwillable in her "Speaking Out" Opinion piece in the Bismarck Tribune: "'Unwillable' offers glimpse of rare illness." Amanda's beautiful and
    Purchase UNWILLABLE Here!
    • Jul 11
    • 2 min

    Purchase UNWILLABLE Here!

    UNWILLABLE sightings are popping up everywhere! I've seen UNWILLABLE out in the deep blue seas of Alaska, on a boat on the Missouri River in Bismarck, at the swimming pool, the kitchen counter in North Carolina, the tattered remains after a puppy got into it in Kansas, at the Bowman Museum (shout out to my hometown), in a coffee shop in Arizona, and more! The news about autoimmune encephalitis, its complicated and horrific onset, the terror that ensues, the heartache of recov
    Jackie joins the McFeely Mess podcast
    • Jun 9
    • 1 min

    Jackie joins the McFeely Mess podcast

    On June 8, 2022, Jackie joined host, Mike McFeely, of the McFeely Mess podcast for a discussion of all things AE: the onset, the terror, the recovery, and the process of writing Unwillable. And what an episode it was! Mike asked a lot of tough questions and Jackie tried hard to have the answers. You can listen HERE! #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDaysAhead #UNWILLABLE
    UNWILLABLE launch on Studio 701
    • Jun 9
    • 1 min

    UNWILLABLE launch on Studio 701

    On June 1, 2022, Jackie joined her dear friends, Jeff and Amber, on Studio 701, at the local CBS station to celebrate the launch of Unwillable: A Journey to Reclaim my Brain. As always, there were lots of laughs, Jackie busted out some 90s dance moves in the green room, and Jeff was celebrating National Barefoot Day. You can check it out HERE! #StebbinsStrong #JustKeepSwimming #BetterDaysAhead #UNWILLABLE
    Cover Reveal
    • May 17
    • 1 min

    Cover Reveal

    JM Stebbins friends, please give it up for Lacie J. Van Orman of Loupine Design. Not only is Lacie a super-duper talented graphic designer, ad and marketing lady, she has a Master's degree in Gerontology and works for Humanities North Dakota. She can now add Book Cover Designer to her long list of awesomeness. And on top of all that, she just happens to be a bestie who goes all the way back to me standing by her locker to talk to her in 7th grade. She's truly my forever frien
    I'm Alive
    • Mar 29
    • 4 min

    I'm Alive

    It’s hard to know where to begin in my relationship with her, but I think this story is best. She doesn’t live too far from me, and during my million miles of solitary walking in my neighborhood during recovery, I frequently passed her house. Usually the thick-furred golden retriever was lying outside and busy kids were coming and going. That day, I decided I’d stop. I hadn’t yet personally shared the news of my (unbelievable and past my wildest dreams) unexpected, post-AE pr
    2022 Bismarck Brain Walk
    • Mar 13
    • 1 min

    2022 Bismarck Brain Walk

    Another Bismarck Brain Walk is in the books. We put out the call for 2022 #JMStebbins, #StebbinsStrong, #BrainWalkers, and boy did y'all show up! 132 people logged brain building miles in seven states across the United States! We had a Bismarck, North Dakota, pharmacy, middle school gym classes in Texas, a beach walker in Florida, a background of ice in Alaska, and a "Just Keep Swim[mer]" in Ohio. In 2020, we had the largest event in North American history. Last year, we had
    Hold On
    • Feb 17
    • 4 min

    Hold On

    Q: What do you do for a living? A: I’m a professional patient. Truly. That’s why I do with a lot of my days. I go to the doctor. Q: Do you like what you do for a living? A: No, I don’t like going to the doctor. Actually, it wouldn’t so bad if they always had good news. But being the Wonder that I am, God’s own creation, my appointments don’t always bring good news. Not all of them bring super bad news either, I’m very lucky. But they do bring a lot of uncertainty. It’s draini
    A publisher you say ...
    • Feb 16
    • 1 min

    A publisher you say ...

    For years now, I've promised an autoimmune encephalitis book to my JM Stebbins family. I am so proud to say that 982 days after I began penning my memoir, Calumet Editions acquired it for publication! CLICK HERE to watch the video announcement Thank you, friends! It's because of your love and support that I was able to take this massive step towards my book being placed in your hands. And thank you Calumet Editions for bringing my dream to life. An extra big thank you to my c
    Hear Hear: About the Brain Fever podcast
    • Feb 6
    • 1 min

    Hear Hear: About the Brain Fever podcast

    ICYMI: Jackie and her lovely husband, Sean, presented about the Brain Fever podcast at 1 Million Cups Bismarck/ Mandan, on February 2, 2022. If you couldn't make it, but are dying to hear Jackie's stories and bad jokes and Sean's wisdom about how to actually produce and publish a podcast, CLICK HERE. Or copy and paste the link: https://fb.watch/aXYfujvaez/ The Brain Fever podcast has been downloaded over 3,000 times on 6 Continents; in 33 Countries and 514 Cities around the g
    One Headlight
    • Dec 29, 2021
    • 6 min

    One Headlight

    “That’s a big deal and you’re incredibly stupid for standing in the middle of a dark road,” she said as she laughed hard and flashed me a pretty smile. “Who is the lovely lady who called you stupid, Jackie?” you may ask. A: My health coach, Meg Poe. (*Meg is absolutely amazing and awesome, as I’ll explain if you keep reading. We have a great relationship and she knew I would laugh along, because I had already noted that it wasn’t super bright of me to be standing in the middl
    I Want to Break Free
    • Nov 5, 2021
    • 3 min

    I Want to Break Free

    I found this NYT’s video opinion piece to be very thought provoking. I encourage you to watch it to think about what “quitting” means to you. https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000008027932/quitting-jobs-resignation-employment.html?smid=tw-share I’m a big fan of Simone Biles. And while I know as much about gymnastics as I do about hatchet throwing, I don’t think it’s possible to dispute she’s the GOAT. And her GOATness transcends athletics. She overcame sexual abuse by
    Jackie's Piece in the American Bar Association Journal's "Your Voice"
    • Sep 23, 2021
    • 3 min

    Jackie's Piece in the American Bar Association Journal's "Your Voice"

    I am really proud of this piece. Not only is it my first published piece in a national publication, I spoke from the heart about my autoimmune encephalitis story, and my own mental health story while a practicing trial lawyer. My story is not easy to tell (especially in 1200 or so words) because while I was led to believe I was having a mental breakdown, it actually wasn't that, it was AE. HOWEVER, the fact that a few of my closest friends and my family were so convinced of m
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