Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Farrell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Michele thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I’m a 32 year old author and motivational speaker. I published my first novel “How Much Can I See: A Novel in Essays vol. 1” in April 2022. It’s about Mya who is a 30yr old cancer survivor. The story is based on my life and past experiences. “How Much Can I See: Faith Over Fear” was released in July 2023. It’s a book of poetry depicting some of the most memorable moments in my life. Both books are available on Amazon. I use my social media to educate people about blindness and faith. I use my life story to inspire and uplift people who feel they are alone or who are struggling to find themselves in today’s society.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a 32 year old legally blind cancer survivor. I use my story and disability to inspire those feeling lost and alone. In 2018 I ended a 5 year relationship. After the relationship ended I discovered that I was pregnant. My ex attempted suicide which lead to me having a miscarriage. Two months after this loss my grandmother passed away. In the spring of 2019 I had a sinus surgery but there were complications that caused me to spend 5 days in the ICU. After recovering from this ordeal I had an eye surgery because the doctors wanted to try to slow the progression of my vision loss. The surgery didn’t help and while I was recovering I began having issues with my reproductive health these events happening so close together caused me to fall into a deep depression during which time I had suicidal thoughts. After an intervention from friends and family I sought therapy and reconnected with my faith. A family member connected me to Dawn Bell from Let Love Glow Authors LLC who was interested in helping me self publish a book. She and I worked together in 2020 and 2021 to publish “How Much Can I See vol. 1: A Novel in Essays”. I’m most proud of my resilience and ability to overcome challenges. My life hasn’t been an easy one but my testimony can be used to inspire other people. I’m a proud Christian and walking example of God’s love. Though I’ve seen struggles I manage to have kindness, compassion, and faith in humanity.
The thing that sets me apart from others is my willingness to keep going. Most people faced with the adversity I’ve seen would struggle to keep going day after day. Though I do face hardships I’ll never stop moving forward because through everything I trust God’s plan for my life.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I lived with my grandfather from age 5 to age 15. Ages 5 to 10 were spent in and out of hospitals battling cancer. When not in the hospital I was in a home where hugs and affection were in short supply. My grandfather and his wife weren’t afraid to tell me how much of a burden I was nor did they hesitate when reminding me that my SSI was their key reason for keeping me. It was so bad that my grandfather made my mom i.e. his daughter take him to court to regain custody of me. It was years of lies, slander, and my grandfather telling me how my mom was unfit. He ultimately lost in court because I was old enough to decide where I wanted to live and the judge caught my grandfather in a lie. When the judge discovered that I have brothers he immediately ruled in favor of my mom because my grandfather didn’t have a good reason for wanting to keep me but not my brothers. So, at age 15 I moved in with my mom and brothers. Did I mention this move took me across the country to Arkansas? Crazy right?, but my mom was living there and working as a nurse so it was new home, new school, and new environment for me. It was truly a blessing though because I was able to excel at school and sports while also getting to know my family. Through all this turmoil I even managed to stay friends with those I left in Indiana and went with two other classmates to D.C. as a sophomore.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to inspire those who are ready to quit. In life, there are many ups and downs but with faith and a positive attitude we can overcome.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/918ByDen4cZEJZev/?mibextid=WC7FNe
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/authorml_farrell?igsh=YXgwcHZndDVlOTFw&utm_source=qr