Thanks to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for reviewing The Able Life of Cody Jane (January 18, 2012) and including the book in their PRC Library.
MISSION STATEMENT: The foundation is dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families living with paralysis.
Cody and Marly on Halloween 1977
Halloween 1977
Cody and John
Cody’s partner for life, John Kline, was named Starbucks Customer of the Week at the Starbucks on Grand Way in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, in October 2011. A photo of Cody and John was framed and placed on the counter along with a copy of The Able Life of Cody Jane. John enjoyed free coffee all week!
The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) held its 38th National Conference at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in June with more than 850 attendees, the largest attendance figure in more than a decade. The SBA summary of the event noted that, “In addition to a wide array of educational sessions, Adult Day attendees were inspired by the positive insights that keynote speaker Marly Cornell offered through her experiences with raising a daughter with Spina Bifida. Her book The Able Life of Cody Jane served as a guide to teaching the audience self-determination and independence, inspiring qualities learned from her daughter who refused to let the challenges of her Spina Bifida stand in the way of achieving her dreams.”
As one result of the talk, SBA chose The Able Life of Cody Jane as their inaugural read for the new SBA staff book club.
The event marked the start of some terrific friendships and I want to write more about the amazing people I met. I had a fantastic time!
Feedback from attendees indicated that people appreciated the talk “You’re in Charge: Independence and Self-determination.”
Comments from attendees included:
She was great, she needs to do this with the parents next year please.
Great, I can’t wait to read the book.
I don’t have SB but I do have a disability and I thought this was amazing for anyone. Thank you I really enjoyed it.
She’s great. I like non-medical sessions like this that focus more on attitude/confidence issues
Great presentation!
Thank you so much for speaking. I needed to hear your encouraging words
Biggest obstacle is distance and accessability. We need to be able to access that level of care in our own area
Thank you so much for being who you are. This segment touched me and meant a lot.
Loved hearing about an experience of a parent pushing their child to do things for themselves.
Thank you for your insight. I loved the things you said about empowerment!
Please being her back!
I could relate to what was said.
She was absolutely fantastic!
I was touched by her story. She has an amazing daughter. It’s so nice to hear a perspective based on independence and a good quality of life.
Thought the session was inspiring.
Great! Very motivating.
Email received 6.29.11 Subject: Fellow Mom Thanks You
Hi Marly,
I just finished your inspiring book about Cody. I couldn’t put it down! My friend from MN sent it to me by mail a few weeks ago and I finally found some time late last week to pick it up. Our 4-year-old daughter has Spina Bifida (Myelo) and I was fascinated not only by Cody’s resilience and joy of life, but also by your natural instincts as her mother at a time when there wasn’t as much information and acceptance as we now enjoy. Thanks to pioneers like Cody and you, I am now able to research and connect with others to figure out how to wind our way through this ever-changing maze. I’ve felt like we have been “on the job” training since we found out at my 20-week ultrasound and you reminded me once again to slow down and enjoy the special moments in every day. Your stories about Cody truly resonated with me because I could see some of [my daughter’s] characteristics in your descriptions of her personality and emotions. And I’m so hopeful about our future together because you allowed me a precious glimpse into your lives as Cody grew up. This was perhaps the most touching part for me as the mom of a young child. Just reading how you both faced and overcame those many challenges gives me added courage. I sometimes feel acutely aware of time marching on when my instincts are telling me something just isn’t right. A small part of me wants to slow it down so I can enjoy just a little more time before the next crisis occurs. But inevitably, the crisis does arrive and we somehow pick our way through and try to get back to “normal” as soon as possible.
On behalf of my family, thank you a thousand times over! I plan to read this book again and again when I need a good example to follow. I plan to purchase several copies to pass along to others!
God Bless You, Marly. I’m SURE Cody is smiling and dancing in Heaven!
With kind regards,
Joanne [last name deleted per request]
Chesterfield MI
See the Sun Sailor article (May 9, 2011) about the book: “St. Louis Park writer releases book on daughter’s struggles with spina bifida”
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You are invited to the Hopkins Center for the Arts to help celebrate the release of The Able Life of Cody Jane.
There will be live music, nibbles, and a few words about the book–a reading, too.
Please come!! May 22 Sunday 2-4p.m.
1111 Mainstreet, Downtown Hopkins.
The proceeds from any books sold will benefit fantastic organizations that advocate for people with disabilities.
Freedom in Wheelchairs and Wilderness Inquiry.
Two weeks later the other celebration will be held in St. Paul
June 5, Sunday 2-4 p.m.
Metropolitan Center for Independent Living (MCIL)
1600 University Ave. Suite 16
Proceeds from any books sold will benefit MCIL and their many terrific programs that advocate for people with disabilities.
In honor of Mother’s Day, a short piece, “Let’s Hide” by Marly Cornell, was included in the Maris Ehlers Photography blog
Books will be available on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the Bloomington Writers Festival.
Author Shares Story of Daughter with Disability
Posted on March 14, 2011 by Connie
Author and manuscript editor, Marly Cornell, will have copies of her new book, The Able Life of Cody Jane . . . Still Celebrating (LightaLight Publications, 2011)
Marly Cornell tells the story of her daughter Cody, a person of joyful spirit and infectious humor who travels, falls in love more than once, commits to a life partner, advocates for others, and achieves a life of independence—in spite of plentiful and confining physical disabilities. Cody was born with a severe form of spina bifida, the most common permanently disabling birth defect; but whether dealing with school, relationships, sex, work, Internet romance, multiple surgeries, bias, barriers, or fear, her story proves that disability does not equal neediness or pity. Cody’s charming combination of innocence, wisdom, and sense of fun have a profound effect on everyone she encounters.
This lively and often funny memoir offers strategies for survival and success for anyone facing serious health challenges (10% of Americans lives with chronic illness or severe disability) and serves as a reminder that each day of life is best engaged with a sense of achievement and celebration.
The Able Life of Cody Jane is published with the support from the Spina Bifida Association, Washington, D.C. Find out more about her book at www.theablelife.com
I have just learned that the book will be delivered to the distributor before May 1, which means I can bring copies to the Bloomington Writers Festival, March 19, 2011. Please drop by!
Marly
