inspiration

inspirationI decided to write the first version of Invincible late one night in the winter of 2000 when I received a moving email from Lewis Kessler, one of my dear friends from law school. Lewis and his wife, Tamara, had taken their four-year old identical twin daughters, Isabel and Olivia, to a remote location in Northern Poland where they had identified an unique (at the time) physical therapy program for Isabel who has cerebral palsy.* This was the family’s fourth month-long journey to this location; the goal was to provide Isabel with an intense and individualized physical therapy program that would advance her physical abilities. That winter, Isabel was striving to take steps with the aid of crutches.

Lewis’ email that night described Isabel’s brute-strong, masculine physical therapist sobbing as he witnessed Isabel’s extraordinary determination, stamina and will. This Russian therapist nicknamed Isabel, “My Pocket Hercules.” That was the title of the first version of Invincible.

Lewis and Tamara’s emails from their trips touched me deeply; I counseled them to retain the text of these writings as I saw them as the foundation of a book. After I read Lewis’ email about the “Pocket Hercules,” my reply said, “Do what you wish with your emails… I am writing a book.”

That moment I determined to write a piece of popular fiction that would build a bridge between able-bodied and disabled children. I have so admired Olivia, along with Isabel, for she models how the able-bodied and disabled can enhance and nourish one another’s lives. While in Poland, Olivia played with children of all ages and abilities. My impression from Lewis and Tamara was that Olivia effortlessly uncovered ways to genuinely interact with everyone. Today, at age 10, Olivia plays in a wheelchair basketball league with Isabel – because she can and because it enriches her.

As a family, the Kesslers have triumphed over physicians’ early cautions that Isabel would face nearly insurmountable cognitive and physical challenges. Isabel is one of the sharpest young minds I have met and she has grown to take independent steps, while still spending most of her time on crutches or in a wheelchair. I believe Isabel’s triumph belongs to the entire family, and notably Isabel’s parents and grandparents, who have worked tirelessly and lovingly to buttress one another. The work is endless. As Isabel matures she faces new social and physical challenges – and these naturally impact the entire family system.

As I have nurtured this work, I have felt compelled to create a piece that might help influence a culture that not only is considerate of people with disabilities, but is poised to learn and grow from interactions with them. I want to help build a society that honors and respects everyone’s humanity and thrives on our relationships with one another. Who better to target this message to then our children?

*Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neuromuscular condition that usually onsets at birth. When someone has CP, messages from the brain to the muscles can get scrambled. So, although a person with CP knows what he/she wants his/her muscles to do, the muscle won’t respond as intended because the instruction for its movement doesn’t arrive properly. The severity of impairment can vary tremendously from person to person.


Olivia

Hi. I am Olivia Kessler (Meg) and I am 11 years old. I currently go to Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC. I live in Maryland with my Mom, Dad, and my twin sister! My sister (Isabel) has Cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. I am very close to her and look after her! I am on Swim-team and track and field. In my free time I like to read, skateboard, dance, run, swim and hang out with friends! I love the book Invincible by Sally Romansky because it is so inspiring to other kids. It shows them they can do anything if they work at it. At the moment I am in the process of starting a foundation for kids with disabilities! When I grow up I want to teach Special Education or work with international relationships and health issues in other countries! I mostly want to focus on Africa and The Middle East. (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt etc.) Enjoy the book!