Before migrating to the United States seven years ago, Aneika Turnbull had little knowledge of Cerebral Palsy, a nerve-centred disease that restricts a person’s movement.
While working with Florida’s health sector, she saw up-front people with the condition. Despite their challenges, many of them are determined to lead normal lives.
That inspired the 22 year-old Jamaican to write A Little Girl’s Dream, her first book. Released by Canadian company Tellwell Talent in April, the 16-page easy-read is about Ayana, an African-American girl who wants to become a singer despite her physical impediments.
“There is a lot of things that I didn’t know about Cerebral Palsy before writing this book. While at work one day I saw a little girl who had CP and the main thing that stood out to me was the fact that even though she was physically-challenged, she was still able to help her mom carry the grocery bags and move around with her walker,” Turnbull recalled. “I stared at her in awe because I was amazed at how strong and determined she was. Children with CP can still have a normal life regardless of its type and they can be resilient through it all.”
From rural St. Catherine parish in southern Jamaica, Turnbull lives in South Florida. She is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, and is currently a nursing student.
She plans to release A Little Girl’s Dream outside the US and Canada, including in Jamaica.
According to the website, CerebralPalsyGuidance.com, 10,000 children are born annually without the disease in the US.
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