Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmella Alexander.
Hi Carmella, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a mother of two. One child is a special need little boy. I am a bus driver. By vocation. I started writing poetry at the age of ten years old. As I got older, my passion for writing died down a bit. Then shortly after having my son Amir, life changed. Amir was born with a very rare epilepsy disorder that only affects a small percentage of children worldwide.
The life expectancy of children with his disease could be as young as two weeks old up to 12 years old. Receiving this information devastated me. It automatically brought with it a whirlwind of emotions. I feared that I probably wouldn’t get a chance to watch my boy grow up or that my son will never walk or talk. This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Being the parent of a disabled child is obviously difficult especially when your child is totally dependent on you for daily care. The shoes are too big to fill especially as a first-time parent with a special baby. What was I supposed to do? How was I going to handle my emotions of what if? I had to realize that despite how I felt my son needed me! So I picked up my badge of honor and wore it proudly! I am my son’s biggest advocate and his voice! I serve as his voice which enabled me to create a book that portrays him as the superhero that he is! Children around the world deserve representation! Even though they may not be able to walk or talk or even see, every child deserves the right to have an imagination! Fearless helps children peer into the lenses of an imagination of a little boy who is sick. But in his imagination, he is strong and he has friends who are just like him who are strong as well. It teaches children to view children who are disabled like ordinary kids. His book also teaches them that despite limitations everyone can be fearless!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a mother of two has its own challenges. Not because I am a parent to one child with a disability but parenting a child who is not disabled simultaneously means helping them both to feel special. It’s difficult to make sure one child doesn’t feel left out because of the constant dependability of my disabled son. So maintaining a healthy perspective and healthy mental environment for both children to feel the love they need has its difficulties. There’s the challenge of numerous and ongoing doctors appointments, hospital visits as well as surgeries required for my special needs son. I don’t want it to be at the neglect of my other child. So it’s a balancing act. Maintaining a normal family life is often tested.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a first-time author of a children’s book and I also enjoy baking. I have been blessed to build a small business and make it a passion. I have never looked back since. I often get raving reviews on my food from family and friends — particularly my desserts… I discovered that baking was therapeutic for me as it eased the emotional turmoil I was experiencing… As I mentioned earlier, the challenges of being a caregiver is emotionally taxing. So baking and now writing has been a positive outlet for me.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I genuinely appreciate the support that I’ve received either by purchasing baked goods from me when I did a fundraiser for Amir or when I first debuted that I was having a book signing and how much love and the abundance of support that I received during amir first signing was overwhelming! I have a few social media platforms that I’ve always advertised what I am doing and the support from that alone is remarkable.
Pricing:
- 18.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fearless-the-amazing-boy-with-special-abilities-carmella-alexander/1141718660?ean=9781649535702
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/carmella_theauthor
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/moveforamir
