Featuring: "I Was Born This Way"

For more information, please visit my website.
www.AllisonWetherbee.com

January 14th: I wrote a blog post for the Camp ASCCA Easter Seals website announcing the release of my book. In the post I tell how the book began and when it was completed. To read this post, click HERE.

January 18th: The Montgomery Advertiser newspaper: an article featuring my book, and an admendment to that article with contact information the following day. Unfortunately, the archived version of those features are no longer available on their website for non-subscribers.

On January 29th: The Dadeville Record newspaper: Click HERE to read the article.

Quadrilateral tetra-amelia

Last Sunday, January 18th, I had the pleasure of being featured in an article for The Montgomery Advertiser. The article nicely blends the stories of myself, my book, and Easter Seals Camp ASCCA. If you would like to read the article, click HERE for the link to the feature as well as an amendment to the feature.

There was also a statement in the article that has been questioned, and I felt a strong need to address it. The statement was that my disability, know as quadrilateral tetra-amelia, is a genetic disorder that leads to death of the infant in many cases. In describing my particular disability, this statement is false because my disability was NOT caused by a genetic disorder. The term, "tetra-amelia," simply means, "missing limbs." The term, "quadrilateral," simply refers to the number four. I was born with four missing limbs and that is why the only official term that can be used to describe my disability is Qudrilateral tetra-amelia.

As I stated in my book, "I Was Born This Way," my disability was caused by a medication that was given to my mother early in the pregnancy for nausea. That medication, Bendectin, caused many children to be born with missing limbs and has since been taken off the market. As explained in the book, my family did not seek legal recourse from the drug company. I feel certain that the medication is what caused my disability as well as the other individuals' because we all share the same physical features.

The reason it is so important for this information to be accurately understood is because people don't need to be needlessly frightened! While of course they are genetic disorders that can cause these types of disabilities, they are extremely rare. The good news is that what happened to me and my family cannot happen to you or yours. I just wanted to make certain everyone knew that!

www.AllisonWetherbee.com is HERE!!!!!!!!!

AllisonWetherbee.com has everything you need to know about the book, "I Was Born This Way." You can see excerpts from the book as well as comments from readers. It also has the full color versions of the photographs seen in the book!

Here is a comment about the website by Teresa:

Allison,
I love your website!
It is beautifully done!
I reread some parts of your
book last night and was inspired again!

The website was fully designed by me! Even the icons for this Blog and my Email are scenes from Camp ASCCA that I photographed by myself using my phone camera! Pretty cool, huh?

So, check it out. Visit: www.allisonwetherbee.com

Or click HERE

I Was Born This Way is now AVAILABLE!!!!!!!!!

Great news everyone! My book, I Was Born This Way, is now published!

Check out the back cover text:

Born with no arms or legs in December, 1970, Allison Wetherbee has faced challenges few could ever imagine. In the book, I Was Born This Way, her faith, courage and humor are shown as she tells the story of her life. The first part of this book describes her life defining moments including graduating from college with a master’s degree, and working as a mental health therapist. The second part of this book is full of devotions and stories of inspiration.

Allison currently enjoys her position as Public Relations Director at Easter Seals Camp ASCCA, and residing at the camp. She leads an active life with her friends and family. Allison also keeps a busy schedule with public speaking engagements. She has spoken for churches, college classes, businesses and civic clubs. She is available to give presentations for any interested group.


For contact information, please visit www.campascca.org.

The book is available through several outlets.

Amazon.com

Click HERE for the direct link.



Authorhouse.com

Click HERE for the direct link.

(Tip: Amazon costs $1.50 more due to distribution charges)

Also, for those who don't shop online, the book is available through many bookstores including Barnes and Noble. Contact your local store, request a copy, and they will order the book for you.

For those who have been checking in on a regular basis, thank you so much for your patience and continued interest! I truly appreciate it!

I sincerely hope you enjoy this book and receive a blessing from it as well.

Thank you so much,

Allison

Done

An interviewer asked recently, "Which was most difficult, starting to college or starting your job?" First of all, this is a very good question and one that I had never been asked before. Thinking about my answer, I quickly took into account how often I held my breath with each of those situations and pressed forward through my fears. Like watching a scary movie when I was a kid, there were times when it felt like all I could do was close my eyes tight, take a deep breath, hold it, and wonder to myself, "Is it over yet?"



All that needs to be written has been written and all that needs telling has been told. It’s done. Fortunately for me, a burst of creativity hit this month! I wrote more than I needed or planned to, but that’s okay. It just leaves more to choose from and include. The book may also be a little longer than I expected. But that’s okay too! There are no rules, right?

Also, I’ve decided to change my once a month blogging rule. Since I have no idea how long it will take to get a publisher interested, there’s no need to give such frequent updates. When anything significant comes about, I will let you know.

Until then, keep your hands folded and your fingers crossed! I’ll need all of the well wishes I can get!

As always, thank you and take care.


*Italicized paragraphs indicate that the story is included in the book.

I Was Born This Way

Target at Christmastime. Shoppers trying desperately to find that right gift for loved ones. Elderly men people-watching on the benches out front. Children's faces glowing at what must seem like never ending walls of toys. Lots of people complain about this time of year. The crowds and traffic appear overwhelming to them, I guess. Personally, I love it! Every year I can't wait for the opportunity to see the stores and houses lit up. I can't wait to see children brimming with anticipation and excitement. I can't wait to hear the music that celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Today at Target, I experienced something else I love about Christmas. When stores are overflowing with people, communication tends to take place between shoppers more than usual. You can't help but talk to your neighbor when you have been standing in line with them for ten minutes. My neighbor today was a little dark haired girl with big brown eyes. She was in her mother's shopping cart when she noticed me behind her. Much to her mother's dismay, she just could not stop staring. Given that I've now had thirty five years of handling this kind of situation, I felt perfectly comfortable striking up a conversation. She told me her name was Haley. After giving me her Santa's wish list, she asked quickly before running out of time at the register, "What happened to you?"
I answered, "I was born this way."
As with most children Haley's age, she looked puzzled. I'm sure her mother did her best to explain it to Haley on the way home.
On December 8 thirty five years ago, my parents were expecting to bring home the best Christmas gift ever to my older sister. They were expecting a healthy baby girl or boy. Back then, doctors didn't do the tests that seem so standard today. So, not only did my parents not know that I was going to be a girl, they also did not know that I was going to be born physically disabled. I was born with what is officially known as quadrilateral tetra-amelia. However, it's easier just to say I was born with no arms or legs. I can't use prosthetic limbs because I have no partial limbs to which they could attach. So, I use a power wheelchair for mobility that I steer with my shoulder. I write with a pen in my mouth and type with a stick.
Out of necessity and confusion, I began communicating with God at five years old. I accepted His Son as my Savior at thirteen. I have often said that if I ever write an autobiography, I will title it after the sentence I have spoken more than any other in my life, "I was born this way." Recently that sentence has come to take on a new meaning for me. I have come to realize that the Lord has blessed me with a resilience that is truly remarkable. I used to think that it was wrong, if not outright arrogant, to acknowledge my inner strength. I saw glimpses of it when healing from a broken heart or bouncing back from a disappointment. But I had never before allowed myself to affirm it. That is, not until I came to truly understand it's source.
Our ability to live our lives to the fullest no matter what our circumstances are is our gift from God. It doesn't come from us. The ability to find the joy in being in a crowd at Christmastime, the strength to make peace with past mistakes, and the love it takes to forgive ourselves and others all comes from our Lord. It is not ours to boast about, but it is ours to use. My Christmas wish is for everyone to see this for themselves as well. I believe that if we claim to know the Lord as our Savior, it is our responsibility to use and share every bit of joy, love and strength we can muster up each day. God knew I would need these attributes within myself to navigate this life that He has given me.
So, I am strong. I am resilient. I was born this way. And so were you.


WRITTEN CHRISTMAS 2005


Photos: Top - Taken 1971 & 1972
Bottom - Taken 2006

Progress

I remember riding a large quarter horse that was deep reddish brown in color. His face was covered with a straight solid white blaze for which he was named. In reality, Blaze belonged to my Uncle Ed and Aunt Denise. He lived on forty acres of land that my family affectionately called The Place. My Dad or uncle would perch me in the saddle between their arms as Blaze took slow strides on lazy Sunday afternoons. But in my five-year-old imagination, Blaze was my wild stallion who was forever devoted to his Indian Princess owner. I whispered commands to take me places I had never seen and he obeyed. I my dreams, Blaze magically understood my need to feel free from the confines of my reality and he granted that wish every chance he got.

(A segment of a story called, "Magic")



At the beginning of this month, I told myself that I was going to complete this book by June. I gave myself one month! I decided that if I worked on it everyday, I might have a chance at accomplishing this goal. After all, it's just a matter of putting the stories of my life together.

So, every day I proceeded to fit the pieces of my life together. And like a puzzle, bit by bit, it fell into place. All things serious and funny were included along with every obstacle and milestone. For three weeks, every free moment I had was spent until one day, the story part of the book was finally finished.

So, as of right now, the first half of this book is complete. The second half, the devotionals and inspirational stories, is well underway. For those of you who are checking in regularly, I don't think you will be disappointed with the final product! You will see changes and additions to each story here, plus many new ones!

It's almost time to begin looking at publishers. Should I give myself one month or two to accomplish that goal? :)