After a tragic event involving their first child, Author and Rights Advocate Carole Simons became passionate about advocating for individuals with disabilities.
Carole Simons has accomplished more than most ever would in the span of a career, but she has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Rethink Loss, her new series of Essays, just soft-launched over the holidays.
Carole describes her essays as, “A story of tragedy and loss. And then what do you do after that? That touches everybody. It’s a story about relationships because relationships define the quality of your life. And it’s a story of gifts. What a gift I had, when I had my kids, and even what I call that morning, the morning my life changed, that at the moment was so devastating, now I see it has only enhanced my life. It’s a story of choices. What are the choices that you make that change how you experience the world? And your family. The essays are raw and honest. Someone you love that has a disability is very challenging. But, it can also be so rewarding. Sammie’ changed our lives and everyone that she touches. A community, a community that rallied around her so that she would have her own life. I never even imagined that. I think the essays will open hearts, open your heart, open your mind. Open your mind to a bigger, better life, a way to rethink whatever your loss is, and really cherish the moments, and in a very concrete way, follow the journey of a family that, were at the other end of it after 34 years, and it’s amazing.”
Rethink Loss essays tell vividly, through the eyes of Carole, the recollections of what happened to their first born daughter, Sammie, when she stopped breathing one morning. The author shares with her in a tone of transparency this horrible story event that caused Sammie to form a brain injury that stunted her brain’s growth. However, through the strength of a loving family and advocating parents, Sammies’ life has been a testimony and advocacy for those with special needs, and through her, lives of countless individuals have been dramatically changed.
Creative Director, Micah Trostle of Trostle Films (Facebook @trostlefilms), has been working with Carole Simons over the past 13 months to bring this project to life. “This project has been one of the most important projects for me to this date, as I have a heart myself for those with disabilities. I spent a summer working at HandiCamp, a camp for kids with disabilities when I was younger. So when I met the Simons family, and Mrs. Simons told me about her vision of sharing her story through essays, I knew it was meant to be. I really hope that people read her essays and are inspired to rethink the way they perceive their own losses and find positive ways in life to make an amazing thing out of a hard situation. This story will change hearts.”
To read the latest essay, visit rethinkloss.com/essays.
Every Monday on the Rethink Loss website, a new essay and video teaser will be released.
