📚 Back Story: Coping and Thriving with a Chronic Condition by Carla Cobbs #BackStories

 

 Back Story: Coping and Thriving with a Chronic Condition

By Carla Cobbs

While I had free time during covid and began pondering my next move and the possible way to earn passive income.  I wrote my book over the course of 2 years beginning in late 2021.  It began with just some thoughts then turned into an idea of a book.   

I decided to become an author as there is still a world of written words and storytelling with a huge diverse audience.  Additionally, I understand that books can translated into many other art forms like film, audiobooks, pictorials, etc to broaden an audience and interpretation style. I had the idea to write a book to help my fellow disabled person to give advice from my experiences and other sources medical and personal accounts from other disabled members of the community.  

     The disabled community is a small but mighty one.  One main issue within this community is a lack of communication and recognized role models. Many people have heard of the American with Disabilities Act but many cannot name one of the many trailblazer that advocated and protested at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to get it passed into law.  I have always embraced being a role model and sharing my experiences (good and bad) and advice for success is one way I hope to become a national role model in the disabled community.  Most funding and medical care are geared towards disabled children and once those children become adults there are significant reductions in medical specialists, funding/financial resources, and general resources for overall well-being.  It can make one feel lonely and lost. I have lived that truth and found a place in society post full time employment.

I began with an outline, then chapters, then editing then formatting. Subsequently, came more editing, and formatting. I had wonderful guardian angel like help from people in my life, Amazon self-publish groups online and others.      

    I want truly thank amazon for creating a space for self-publishing and even having a category for a disabled author under Autobiographies. This publishing platform is revolutionary, and I want to strongly encourage any writer to consider writing your story.  There is still so much power I the written word and the adage of reading being fundamental is applicable in the 21^st century. We all are living life and have a story to share that will resonate with an audience.  As a person with a disability, I was empowered to write and initially write content that is uplifting and positive to my fellow disabled person and our allies.  I felt drawn to this content vs autobiography because of the need for it.  My story is just mine and empowering itself, but I wanted to write something directly to that person, parent or friend feeling hopeless, lost, sad, happy, triumphant, normal but having few people to share it with that will empathize. The narrative of a disabled person in mainstream media across the world is a very limited oftentimes self-loathing or helpless or a combination of a version two.  In my book I inquire where a superhero, fairytale, bombshell, heart throb, athlete, etc. lead is portrayed as a disabled person in mainstream media.  

    I would like there to be a world of positive role models for disabled people to related especially children.  Additionally, these positive role models can change the stigma and myths about disabled people for the non-disabled public. Ultimately for a more peace united existence.

Carla Cobbs was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis that affects all limbs, especially legs. She uses an electric wheelchair for mobility. Despite her chronic condition she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science (BS) from Bowie State University then pharmacy school at University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. After being offered employment in Texas post graduation, she lived there for most of her career. She worked as a pharmacist for about a decade educating the public about medications, side effects, diseases, and the healthcare system. Additionally, she recognized the number of people that were struggling with coping, thriving and accepting themselves and chronic illness. Currently, she is retired but continues to educate the public by writing the book Her hobbies include movies, jazz, music, aquatic aerobics, swimming, festivals, art, photography, card games, sport events. Carla is devoted to her faith and spirituality.

You can visit her website at www.CarlaCobbsCreates.com.

No single soul on this planet is fortunate enough to have smooth sailing when it comes to dealing with life challenges. Everyone has to go through the twists and turns of life while keeping their sanity intact and growing as a person. However, the journey becomes much more challenging if you have to cope with health complications as well.

Coping and Thriving with a Chronic Condition is a guidebook for people who are suffering from a chronic disease. This book not only discusses the difficulties such patients face to assure them that they are not alone in their journey but also presents ways to ease their suffering and eventually thrive while living with a chronic condition. It also aims to help those without a chronic condition learn more about the challenges of living with a life-long health condition so they can empathize with such patients.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lbaVux