In his teens, Jade Bell was described as "handsome, intelligent, athletic and energetic". This all changed when, in his early 20s while under the influence of alcohol, he overdosed on heroine and fell into a coma. As a result, he lost his sight and is suffering from a disorder called dystonia ,which confines him to a wheelchair in need of 24 hour care. With the unconditional love and ingenuity of his father, he learned to use the computer as his voice. Unable to move his hands or body, he moves his head from side to side touching sensors to create messages using Morse code. He has "spoken" to 100.000’s of students across Canada about the risks of drug use. In the book, there are letters of encouragement from his father and details about his life. His poetry is a concise and powerful expression of the strength of the human spirit.
|