Today’s Xulon Press Successful Author Spotlight features Ami Dark-Rosen, author of the book “Stronger Through Christ: A Mother’s Memoir” which is dedicated to her daughter Sarah, the light of her life. The purpose of the book was written to be a guide for her daughter as she grows into a woman. Ami wanted to leave her daughter some of the sage wisdom Ami has received over the years but also some of the wisdom Ami has gleaned from the life experiences she has encountered dealing with life in a wheelchair. Her story is a sweet sonnet to her daughter, filled with Mom’s best advice for avoiding the pitfalls, when possible, that life has waiting for you. Ami really has written a “how-to get through the painful parts of life” handbook for the one who matters most – her daughter!
Ami’s story began in tragedy. She talks about how this book could not have come at a worse time. ”When I started writing this book, I was really sick. In 2010, things got both stressful and scary in my life. For example, both the loss of my marriage and dealing with limited time with my daughter contributed to the feeling that I needed to write. My book was written in “real time” because I was journaling. Over 95% of the book was written on my Ipad. It was just a culmination of things. I had a spinal cord injury, and I have been in a wheel chair for over 17 years. I was not able to advocate for myself. I needed help getting turned from side to side. I was literally confined to my bed for seven days straight. That entire time I was lying physically on my back. My bottom was in this big crevasse, my feet and head were up. My kidneys were failing. Nurse discovered marks on my rear end. While these marks were healing, over a period of a year and a half, with my body being moved side to side on a regular basis, I took this time to write and started clicking away on my Ipad; a year and a half later, I had written my book.”
Due to an agreement reached with Sarah’s father, Ami can only see Sara on the weekends and during the summer due to joint custody guidelines stipulating that Sarah’s father has custody of Sarah during the school year — this was agreed to because Ami had to move to her hometown so her family could care for her, and this is two hours away from where Sara lives with her dad. So writing this book was a way for Ami to communicate with Sarah even though she was miles away.
When I asked Ami what one past experience changed the course of her life, she immediately responded. “My spinal cord injury changed my life. From the age of five, I have been dealing with the effects of diabetes. I don’t remember a time before that. I think a lot of my actions were due to ignoring my diabetes. I was twenty-three when I got in my chair, and that changed the course of my life. I believe that I will continue to grow spiritually because of this chair. My husband and I were looking into adoption, and I had been diabetic about 15 years by that time. I knew that I was not taking care of myself. Most of the people around me didn’t know that. They thought I was taking care of myself, but I wasn’t. With all adoption agencies, they will not approve an adoption to a single person in a wheel chair. We thought– Why not look at state Department of Home and Family? We checked them out and were able to adopt our daughter– All because of the spinal cord injury.”
Ami continued. “I am sure that we would not have her if I had not been in my wheel chair. We are more blessed to have her in our lives. I am so honored to be her mother.”
Upon reflecting how she first got sick, Ami stated “I can still remember: At the age of five, I felt like I had the flu, like I had the virus. No appetite. During the summer of 1976, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I didn’t follow my diet. I chose to not take my insulin at times. I was not healthy. In 7th grade, they did the BMI test, and I had 33 % body fat. No muscle fat. For 4th of July 1994, I had just graduated from college, and I was looking for teaching jobs. I had a terrible pain in my neck and shoulders. My last memory was walking into the ER on July 4th—after that, no memories for three months. The doctors did a spinal tap for meningitis. They then airlifted me to the Mayo Clinic. I had a staph infection that caused a multiple function failure. When I woke up out of the coma, they said they had never seen anyone who had all of the symptoms had to survive and to make it out alive. I wasn’t ashamed of the diabetes, but I didn’t take care of myself. I just came out of the coma paralyzed. Three months in a coma, and I woke up paralyzed. I struggled with comparing my pain to others when I got in my chair. I thought… how can they complain? I am in this chair. But I learned that God does everything for a reason. He has a higher plan”
When I asked Ami what writing method she used when she started a project, Ami explained “Half the book was written in real time. The things were written down as they were happening. I did a lot of revisions. My goal was to have this for Sarah, when I am long gone. This was a faith based book. It was a fluid process. With my chapters, I wanted to leave people guessing from the end of the chapter to the next. It all came together. It was kind of easy. It wasn’t hard at all. Writing is not set in stone, never finished. It develops over time!”
I questioned her about the most important life event she ever had. Ami was emphatic. “Adopting my daughter. God’s timing is always perfect. Everything that has happened up to this point has been directed by Him. He knows the hairs on our head. He knows what will happen tomorrow.”
Upon reflecting on Ami’s story, I asked her “what message do you want shared by the story of your life?” Ami thought for a few minutes and then provided the following… “God gives the ability to persevere and overcome. God gives us the ability to do both. That year and a half when I was on my back, I prayed and cried myself to sleep each night and God spoke to me. He got me through those times. If I didn’t have Him in my life, I would not be able to persevere. I am one puzzle piece in this huge puzzle. I am connected to people and interact with them. Everything that I have gone through has brought me to who I am today.”
In order to share her experiences, I asked Ami “What would you tell others about your relationship with Christ that would inspire them?” She passionately responded “He has a plan for all of us. We all question “why am I here? What is my purpose?” I never wondered if I had a purpose when I got disabled. But in the last two years, I have wondered what my purpose is. Going back to my wonderful hometown church and realizing that I do have a purpose and possess unique gifts that are uniquely mine that God gave me! That has given me direction and purpose!”
I finished with my signature question “What will they write on your gravestone that will sum up your life?”
Ami responded wholeheartedly. “Jeremiah 29:11 for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, to prosper, to give you hope for the future!” And also… “She loved being Sarah’s Mom!”
After speaking with Ami, I have to say, she is a mom so many kids need today. She is devoted, concerned and focused on her child’s wellbeing, both body and spirit. Her desire is to leave her daughter a legacy that will guide her through tough times while holding on to the one hand that will always be there for her. I can’t wait until Sarah gets to read her Mom’s book. Then she will know what we all have come to realize – God’s plan is always perfect – even in affliction! It’s the journey that gets us to His plan!
Find Ami Dark-Rosen’s book “Stronger Through Christ: A Mother’s Memoir” in the Xulon Press Bookstore.
