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Bring Sam's Book To Life!

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I recently decided to submit My Friends Call Me Sam  to a publisher as an idea for a children's book. I didn't think I would get a phone call but I did and now here I am.

My Friends Call Me Sam  was originally written in 2007.

An inspirational story about a little girl with special needs and her amazing abilities!

Why I wrote this book:

I was volunteering to help at school one day. Sam was 6 years old and attending first grade in a LIFE Skills Special Education classroom setting. It was picture day and I helped Sam's teachers walk Sam and her classmates to the library where the photos were being taken. The library was full of children waiting patiently. As I waited with Sam, I knew she was growing anxious. She didn't like being in unfamiliar environments, especially crowded ones. She held her sensory toy in her hand and sat on the floor and began to bang her head. She also made babbling sounds and hollered a few times. I took a look around and noticed there were children who were staring at her and I tried my best to soothe Sam and avoid the stares. Then one little boy said, "She looks mean. She looks weird." I wasn't ready for such a comment so my only response was "She's not mean. She's sweet."

That night I went home and told my husband about our experience. My feelings were hurt and I felt like something needed to be done to help her peers change their perspective of Sam.

How I chose to write it:

I chose to write this book from Samantha's perspective because this is her story, and if she could speak I know she would have a lot to say.

People who choose to get to know Sam learn that she has an amazing ability to touch hearts and teach those who want to get to know her important lessons on how we should all count our blessings, love each other, nurture hope, appreciate our own abilities and never give up.

Her story will also:

Help increase awareness of children with disabilities.
Help eliminate misconceptions about children with disabilities.
Teach children to embrace differences and become caring friends
Help children see that everyone has strengths, abilities, hopes and dreams and they each have something special to contribute to our community.



Excerpt from book:

Before I was born, my Mom imagined I would be a scholar, a ballerina, or an athlete. She dreamed of teaching me how to color, draw, paint and create arts and crafts. She dreamed of swimming, walking, running and riding bikes with me. She dreamed of shopping with me, taking me to the movies, taking me to theme parks, riding the roller coasters, and doing all of the things she did and learned how to do when she was a little girl. She even dreamed of teaching me how to cook like her mom (my Nana) had taught her.

When my doctors told her I had a disability, she didn't think these dreams would ever come true and this made her feel very sad. My Dad felt sad too.

My Mom and Dad didn't give up on me, though. They believed I could learn, even if I had multiple disabilities.



About Sam:

Sam is my sweet 13 year-old daughter who has green eyes, curly brown hair and a contagious smile. She was born with a wide, right unilateral cleft lip and complete cleft palate, sensory processing disorder, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, severe intellectual and developmental delays and delayed myelination as a result of a chromosome 18 abnormality called distal 18q-. Sam is also Deaf and nonverbal and requires complete assistance with her activities of daily living.

As a child with multiple disabilities, Sam is one who truly embodies a heroic spirit. She is a loving, funny, fearless, intuitive and bright child with amazing courage, strength, determination and resilience. Sam doesn’t know her life is challenging. Challenges are a part of her "normal" everyday life and she lives her life so happily that it would be unfair to focus solely on her disabilities, or pity her.

Sam loves to swim and is on the Katy Wolf Pack Special Olympics Texas swim team. She has learned how to use her “swimming arms,” and has won gold and silver medals in aquatics 10 and 15 meter assisted-swim races. She also loves to surf and ride horses. No one would know this by just looking at her.

In our school district, Sam inspired the development of a program called Special Buddies. It was founded in 2007, the same year this book was written, and assists in promoting inclusion and friendship for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thanks to Sam's existence, the program has had a positive impact on hundreds of children in our community, with and without disabilities, by increasing awareness and teaching patience, understanding and compassion.

Here’s a breakdown of what this campaign will fund:

You will bring this book to life!
Editing
Layout of manuscript
Illustration
Graphic Design
Book printing and binding to meet the bulk minimum
Shipping costs (to me and then to you)

Reward level donations are listed below. All rewards include shipping or hand-delivery… and my eternal gratitude. 


If you would rather just make a donation for an amount different than the reward levels listed below, there's an option for this too! Any amount is greatly appreciated!

Risks and challenges include production and/or printing delays. Once the campaign goal is met, the book will go into production. Production will take about 6 months. Once complete, you will receive your rewards.
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Donations 

  • Diana Salas
    • $25 
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Monica Tello McDivitt
Organizer
Katy, TX

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