Diane Nienas
BIO:
Diane Nienas is a mother, author, inspirational speaker, grief coach, and woman of unwavering faith whose greatest education has come through a lifetime of love, loss, and resilience. She believes the most profound lessons are often learned in life's hardest seasons, and that even in grief, God faithfully leaves traces of light for those willing to look.
Raised on a farm in southeastern Wisconsin as one of fifteen children, Diane learned early the values of hard work, family, and perseverance. Her journey has been marked by both extraordinary joy and unimaginable sorrow. Diane has discovered that healing is rarely found in escaping pain, but in allowing it to transform the heart.
Diane married her high school sweetheart, Tony, and together they raised their four sons. Her third son, Leo, became one of her greatest teachers, revealing that life's deepest wisdom is often found in the quietest moments and the purest hearts.
For more than twenty years, Diane devoted herself to caring for terminally ill children and advocating for individuals with special needs. She also served her community through her church, schools, and countless acts of quiet compassion. Whether ministering to the lonely, encouraging the weary, or walking beside those navigating grief, Diane has spent her life helping others discover hope beyond heartbreak.
Diane is also the author of her memoir, I See Jesus and the Living Life with Leo children's book series, celebrating inclusion, kindness, and the unique gifts found in every child. Diane’s first poetry book, The Light That Leads Me Home, published September 2026, is a collection of poetry that poured from her heart while caring for her terminally ill sons.
PUBLICATIONS:
The Light that Leads (Poetry, 2026)
I see Jesus and Living Life (Leo Children’s Book Series)
Poetry
Fragile
Fragile.
A boy once free, now restrained.
Trapped in his mind, his body still.
As he lies upon his bed,
Only his dreams can move.
Fear grips him tightly.
His eyes search for the light.
I can’t help but weep and remember,
Those last hours we shared together,
Before everything went wrong,
Before the sky turned gray.
Now I stand beside him,
Helpless.
With nothing left to offer.
But the soft embrace of a mothers hug,
In the cold, dark night.
While this son of mine suffers,
Each night he drifts toward death,
And they say there is no hope of recovery.
“Prepare to let go,
Trample your dreams into the ground.”
Yet, my son’s soul sleeps to the sound,
Of an unseen, whirling wind-
A Friend,
Who quietly plants a new dream.
Though the sky has turned gray,
And all hope seemed to fade,
This boy lives more fully than many,
He gives love amid the chaos.
Discovers joy beyond the circumstances,
Finds peace in what is to come,
And leads others along an unknown path.
Dreams are fulfilled.
Just not as expected.
So I will stand beside him,
And guide him as he guides me.
For I love my little boy—
Fragility and all.
Black
Shadows creep in, blocking light from my sight,
While sorrow’s black ink bleeds through my soul each night.
Silence moves in like an eclipse in the sky,
Tears stain my pillow from the ache of my cry.
The beat of my heart throbs heavy with cause,
Swelling of secret pain brings moments of pause.
Soft whispers plead for the light to break through,
While loneliness clings like the cold morning dew.
Faint sighs escape, holding screams deep within,
Followed by hollow surrender abiding beneath my skin.