Marly Cornell

“Celebrating Inspiring People” at the United States Embassy in New Delhi on September 22 (on Skype)–Marly Cornell talking about The Able Life of Cody Jane: Still Celebrating and the parallels between inspiring people like Cody and the inspiring people who founded, created, and work within Sehgal Foundation in Gurgaon, India, and joined by a few of those inspiring people including CEO Ajay Pandey and Communications Director Pooja Murada.

Spina Bifida Association Conference in Twin Cities

Each attendee at the 2016 National Spina Bifida Association Conference, held in Bloomington, Minnesota, in June was given a copy of The Able Life of Cody Jane: Still Celebrating.

A nurse who read The Able Life of Cody Jane: Still Celebrating told me that before reading this book, she thought of herself as a nurse who takes care of little disabled kids. After reading the book, she realized that she is a nurse who takes care of little kids.

If you know a teacher or healthcare professional who might be willing to read this book, please contact me (see CONTACT in menu). Special rates available on print copies.

The talk “The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” was presented by Marly Cornell on September 8, 2013 at the Lake Harriet Spiritual Center. The talk is now posted on YouTube. Click here. There are a few dozen photos shown as well. This talk is about how sometimes the hardest “assignments in life” are the most rewarding–and provides some examples of what it takes to have an “able life” as inspired by the life of Cody Jane Ahlburg.

I just learned today (from Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac June 16, 2013) that Father’s day became a national holiday only in 1972–the same year Cody was born. Cody would have absolutely LOVED knowing that–and she would be the first to claim that holiday as ALL IMPORTANT. Happy Father’s Day to Cody’s three awesome dads! XXXXX

Shortly after the November 15, 2012 Reading at Subtext, A Book Store in St. Paul, MN, recording sessions began with Marshall Davis of Davis Sound LLC to create an audio version of The Able Life of Cody Jane: Still Celebrating.

The Able Life of Cody Jane and an author spotlight on Marly Cornell, and a book signing.
October 12, 2012, in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Minnesota Educational Media Organization Conference
Educators are enormously important people to advance the understanding of children with disabilities. It’s a privilege to be there!!

The Spina Bifida Association national conference was a wonderful experience. The most powerful aspect of the entire 5-day event had to be the amazing opportunity to spend time with such a great group of people–see old friends, meet new ones. The talk I gave on Sunday morning, July 1, was fun–the people who came were fantastic folks.

The main reason I wrote The Able Life of Cody Jane: Still Celebrating was to make a book that Cody would have wanted to read, about an ordinary person in some extraordinary circumstances–something that might be helpful to other people like Cody, as well as their parents. As a result, I have had the added pleasure of meeting and enjoying the friendships of a growing number of spectacular “ordinary” people.

An extra benefit has been to hear from clinicians and educators who found the book helpful and inspiring in their work with children and adults with disabilities. A nurse I met at the conference who works with small children in a spina bifida clinic told me, “Your book changed my life and my work. I used to see kids with spina bifida–now, I just see kids.” (That felt pretty good.)

My thanks to every person who attended the conference. Happy Independence Day!!

Last night at the 22nd Midwest Book Awards celebration, The Able Life of Cody Jane was a winner! The sponsor of the awards, Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA), provided the judges comment sheets to the publishers and authors.
Here are comments made about The Able Life of Cody Jane by this year’s judges:

“This is a fabulous book about a uniquely abled child growing to a young woman. She dealt with many medical challenges and lived with gusto. Inspiring and never maudlin.”

“A rewarding read. A heartwarming story of courage, humor, and strength on the part of both mother and daughter. The topic is one that humanity longs to see–overcoming adversity and living to the fullest. She was a young heroine and the writer conveyed that with humor.”

“Excellent writing! It was hard to put this book down–it kept me up really late one night–excellent!”

“Very descriptive without being boring–events were presented in an interesting and compelling way.”

“Always optimistic, never victim oriented. This is a marvelous book that touched my heart! Thanks to the author for writing it. It inspires me to look past my difficulties and live fully.”

“A well-written and inspiring story!”

A TERRIFIC NEW BLOG FOR PARENTS called Marg’s Memos: Inspirations, Affirmations, and Reflections on Special Needs Parenting was launched by Margaret Meder, author of Uncommon Beauty: Crisis Parenting from Day One, to be published summer 2012.
Her April 24, 2012 entry refers to the theme of independence and she talks about what she realized while reading The Able Life of Cody Jane.
Visit her wonderful blog at http://www.uncommonbeauty-crisisparenting.com/.

Marly Cornell will speak at the 39th Annual Spina Bifida Association National Conference, to be held this year in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 28-July 1, 2012. The conference theme is “Gearing Up for the Future” and Marly’s presentation is called “Independence: Start Now to Develop Transition Skills” for an audience of parents and young people with spina bifida.