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A percentage of the profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
International award-winning, residential designer, John Robert Wiltgen, takes the reader on a roller coaster ride from his traumatic beginning as an 8-year-old, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, through his numerous–sometimes death-defying–situations in the years to follow. This book is about more than living your best life possible while dealing with the countless challenges of a debilitating illness; it is a testimony to the power of the human spirit to take risks and challenge yourself to doing more than you thought possible.
His diagnosis, back in 1967, meant his life would certainly be much shorter than normally expected. Wiltgen has survived many of the most life-changing health issues that as a result of living with a disease that ravages every human body system resulting in blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, Charcot foot, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, amputation, pulmonary fibrosis, and a weakened immune system leading to various pneumonias and ultimately Covid 19 in early 2020 when the pandemic was at its most frightening.
While still in high school, Wiltgen worked in a professional theater with the likes of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Imogene Coca, and Sid Caesar. Encouragement from mentors such as these gave him the confidence to pursue dreams that would normally have been out of the reach for someone with his health situation.
After being kicked out of the Ray Vogue School of Design, he struggled as his business partners had him arrested. Engaging in a hostile take-over of Byron, Wiltgen and Associates one would think his design career was over at 19. Twelve years later he was named the youngest expert to receive the Chicago Merchandise Mart’s Outstanding Achievement in the Design Profession award and continued to collect 44 other accolades during his 40-year career.
Wiltgen has designed homes for celebrities, world leaders and other luminaries, one; vastly different from what was expected after going completely blind in his early twenties then, regaining limited vision in one eye after countless surgeries. His awards and design installations are featured in over two hundred shelter magazines, many hardcover books and appeared on HGTV, NBC, FOX TV and WTTW.
This book is Wiltgen’s tribute to people from all backgrounds who struggle with remaining positive when life undermines their confidence. It is also a way for him to share his insight and raise awareness about the countless complications of a disease which takes the life of more than 4.2 million people worldwide each year.
If you live with a chronic, debilitating disease, you will find inspiration from John’s successes and his struggles.
