Lysundra Alawiye, Madison College alumnus with a degree in Administrative Assistance and Legal Stenography, recently wrote a children’s book that was published. She’s built a successful career with the state government over 24 years, she has a full family, and she is a recently self-published author.

Recently, Alawiye lost her daughter to kidney failure, and her grandson to a rare heart disease that caused him to go into cardiac arrest at the age of six.

In an effort to honor her grandson’s name, she began working on a children’s book that would document his love of basketball, in effect giving him a life he never had. In “Tommy’s True Love For Basketball,” Alawiye’s grandson lives a long and healthy life, accomplishing many of the dreams he had as a young boy.

“It’s semi-fictional,” she said. “He grows up to be a famous basketball star. He has lots of friends, and he succeeds because he believes in himself.”

Alawiye published the book through Xlibris publishing company about two months ago. There were many different factors motivating her leap into the publishing world. Alawiye is now struggling with cancer herself, and wanted to commemorate the life of her grandson before it was too late.

She says the experience made her aware of the amount of people out there who need support.

“I’m interested in helping others,” Alawiye said. “I never knew about this condition until after my grandson passed away. It made me aware that there are other people out there struggling with the same condition.”

Alawiye published the book independently.

“I’m looking for sponsors because I published this book on a shoestring budget, but it is online so I’m doing everything I can to market and promote,” Alawiye said. “I anticipate that the book will be at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon soon.”

Lysundra Alawiye says she wants to get the message out that these things happen in life.

“I just want to make others more aware that this kind of thing can happen. Also I’m interested in helping,” she said.

For 24 years, Alawiye worked in state government. She also volunteers at Meriter and the North Eastside Senior Coalition. She says she is looking to contribute to medical research.

“I’d like to make some donations to heart and cancer research,” she said.