A percentage of the profits from the sale of this book will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The Candy in My Pocket, a memoir by John Robert Wiltgen, invites readers to embark on an extraordinary expedition, where he shares the profound lessons he learned navigating the tumultuous waters of life. Be prepared to embark on a journey that will take you across continents, introducing colorful characters and unveiling humbling circumstances.

Imagine becoming legally blind while working at becoming a renowned architectural designer. You have a mortgage on a building you've just started renovating, rent is due for your office, and employees must be paid. What would you do? Or picture yourself with kidney disease which ultimately requires a transplant. Then at the age of 30, you are diagnosed with heart disease requiring two medicated stents. How would you cope? And, what if you fought cellulitis and osteomyelitis with IV antibiotics for 20 years but finally had to have your leg amputated?

These are just a few of the amazing questions resolved in John Robert Wiltgen's compelling memoir. He battled many debilitating complications of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) while creating a highly sought after design firm with projects across America, Canada, Mexico-even Africa.

With unwavering honesty, Wiltgen chronicles the immense challenges he faced in his relentless struggle against this silent killer. But The Candy in My Pocket is not solely about conquering diabetes, it is also about the author's determination to preserve his identity and keep close those he held dear. This captivating narrative reveals Wiltgen's relentless pursuit of a life of purpose while remaining optimistic amidst overwhelming adversity.

As an award-winning international designer commissioned by celebrities, world leaders, and other luminaries his memoir includes larger-than life tales that are extremely entertaining. It includes exciting celebrity cameos with stars such as Jane Seymour, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie, Sean and Robyn Wright Penn, Steve Harvey, John Cusack, the former Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria (who is now President of that country) and Jesus.

John's heartfelt purpose in writing this memoir extends beyond personal triumph. With compassion, wisdom and his irreverent sense of humor he inspires individuals of all beliefs and backgrounds to embrace optimism even in the darkest of times.

By sharing the lesser-known symptoms and consequences of diabetes, Wiltgen also endeavors to raise awareness about this deadly disease. Through his memoir, he discloses the profound realities of living with diabetes, urging readers to recognize the importance of early detection and informed decision-making.

John Robert Wiltgen's narrative intertwines moments of adventure, laughter, and even fear, whisking readers away from their own lives and immersing them in a world brimming with hope and possibility.

Wiltgen, John Robert

John Robert Wiltgen started writing as soon as his mother bought him a used Underwood typewriter at a garage sale. During middle school he was editor of the school newspaper. He graduated high school in 3 years studying art, literature, creative writing and theater. When he was 17, he was the manager of the Midwest region's model store for the Glidden Paint company while he studied interior design in the evenings despite his mother's pleas he should be an accountant. "You can always get a job as an accountant," she argued. To no one's surprise he didn't take her advice. He's a Leo. Instead, he quit his lucrative job at the paint store to attend design school full-time. After a brief stint at Ray Vogue School of Design, the headmaster asked him to clean out his locker, stop paying his monthly tuition installments and never return. He was 18 years old when he embarked on his career as a residential designer and never looked back.

It's nearly impossible to build a luxury design firm while living in the moldy basement of your parent's modest suburban home. The challenge grew significantly when he lost his sight a short time later. After all, who wants to hire a blind decorator? At 22 John was diagnosed with retinopathy-damage to the retina caused by abnormal blood flow-a complication of diabetes. And though diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-aged people it did not stop John from building his brand as a luxury home design professional.

Despite a four-year period of blindness, followed by a kidney transplant, followed by three heart attacks, and finally, his battle against cellulitis and osteomyelitis resulting in a below the knee amputation John continued to grow his residential design firm. He obsessed over making his client's worlds beautiful taking him across North America and halfway around the world-from Chicago's Gold Coast to Africa's Ivory Coast. His firm's name is synonymous with its reputation for excellence and superior quality in design, styling, and craftsmanship.