Crying in Silence

Book excerpt: This is an extraordinary autobiography relating to a young Woman´s experience living with Cerebral Palsy and its accompanying seizures. Shelley O´Leary addresses her affliction in a realistic manner in that she acknowledges her physical status with a commitment to overcome her deficiency and a determination not to admit failure. With her God-given gifts of empathy and kindness, Shelley has served as a Role Model for the children she cares for on a daily basis in an educational forum. She has been blessed with the support of the medical community, her friends, co-workers, and, most importantly, her Family. When told that she would never be able to attend higher education, Shelley refused to despair and decided to tackle head-on a college curriculum on two separate occasions. This refusal to give in to self-pity has culminated in her acquiring two Associate Degrees, one in Business Management, and the other in Therapeutic Recreation. Shelley works at the prestigious Morrison Center for the Physically-Challenged in the Greater Portland, Maine area. As you read her story, you will attest to her "never say die" attitude and her childhood mantra, "My Do It!" Shelley Lynn O´Leary demonstrates having the "heart of a lion" and is an extraordinary example of a willingness to overcome any and all obstacles.