Someone Like Me: An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy
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To ask other readers questions about Someone Like Me , please sign up. Lists with This Book. Jul 03, Mark rated it really liked it. In what amounts to a tell-all-expose John Quinn describes his life for us all to read about Growing up a cop's son in Detroit, Quinn was one of three of seven siblings that were born with a medical disorder - in his case cerebral palsy.
His parents treated John and his affliction like a normal kid. His Dad knew life would be hard and so gave John the mental tools to deal with his future. Quinn wrestled his way through high school while wrestling on how to fulfill his dream of In what amounts to a tell-all-expose John Quinn describes his life for us all to read about Quinn wrestled his way through high school while wrestling on how to fulfill his dream of joining the Navy.
He never won a wresting match and flunked his first attempt at the military's physical but this never-say-die character took life as it came at him, shook it off and found a way to dig deep and conquer his fears and physical inabilities.
Someone Like Me: An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy
Fourteen years later, after serving on board a battleship and working out with the elite Navy SEALS Quinn finally retired and not until writing this book did he ever tell anyone in the Navy that he suffered from cerebral palsy. That's right, he hid his disability from the Navy, toughed it out and became an exemplary sailor and human being. Are you having a tough day, work getting you down? Dec 14, Melissa Storm rated it really liked it.
Some people sit back and let life happen to them, while others take a stand and work on creating the lives they want to live. Quinn clearly and unequivocally belongs to the latter group. John was born in Garden City, MI and raised in a fun, lively household alongside of his 8 siblings Some people sit back and let life happen to them, while others take a stand and work on creating the lives they want to live. John was born in Garden City, MI and raised in a fun, lively household alongside of his 8 siblings.
John was always just a little bit different. Around the same time that John made this observation, he met a young boy named Trevor, who had also been diagnosed with CP. Find your own way to succeed. Let them try, fail, and try again. Support them in their attempts to succeed.
Allow them to find their own way in this world. The first time he tried, John almost made it into the navy after having withheld the truth about his CP, when the recruiter asked if there were any health conditions that should be disclosed , but he failed the physical and was dismissed. Quinn says this year was one of the hardest of his life: When people tell me I cannot do something, I just smile - and use it as fuel to keep going. The next time he took the Navy physical he passed with flying colors, and from there, a twenty-year career with the US Navy unfolded.
His condition remained a secret the entire time. Although facing the constant pain of CP was tough, John found it even more difficult to hide the condition from his fellow servicemen.
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Once this decision was made, I had to keep my guard up at all times and build an emotional wall around myself to keep my CP hidden. Throughout it all, John drew from his seemingly endless reserve of internal strength and from the love and support of his family and best friend, Phil who now works as the principal of Pioneer Middle School in Plymouth and to whom the book is dedicated. Everyone should have a friend like Phil. He was also inspired by some of his favorite writers such as W. Reading about your life makes me feel like I can do it to, that I can succeed in any way that I want just as long as I never give up, never stop trying.
Since the release of his memoir, John has been traveling the country to meet with his readers and to give motivational speeches for schools, organizations, and corporations. Jan 10, Amy Taylor rated it really liked it. Ultimate testimony to the power of perception and self determination! Military, and life's tragedies all while he is hiding his disability. Well written and engaging.
br >For a personal story of triumph over cerebral palsy, John W. Quinn has written "Someone Like Me" ($, History Publishing Company). Despite having. www.farmersmarketmusic.com: Someone Like Me: An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy (Audible Audio Edition): John Quinn, Jim Meskimen, Spoken .
Thank y Ultimate testimony to the power of perception and self determination! Thank you for the trip down memory lane, John.
I graduated a year ahead of John from the same high school. The book brought me back to the days in G. Aug 13, Staci rated it it was amazing. This is the story of John Quinn. He is a wonderful author and his story is one of conquering huge obstacles, and really not taking no for an answer.
His is an incredibly motivating story living with Cerebral Palsy, and following his dream to be in the Navy. If you need some inspiration, this is the book.
Apr 20, Jan rated it it was amazing Shelves: I could relate to this book since I have a older son with "borderline" cerebral palsy and I was a Navy wife. Plus years later when I was going through breast cancer treatment my youngest who has ADHD was in marine boot camp at the same time my treatments started. This is a very inspiring book and an amazing story how John dealt with his cerebral palsy and how he became a Navy Officer!
Apr 10, Pat AZ Realtor rated it it was amazing. I want to meet this guy. Here's a guy with cerebral palsy and he decides he wants to go to boot camp and become a sailor. Not only does he, but he makes a career out of it. Other issues in his life make you think he'd have quit long ago, but no. He is the energizer bunny. Aug 15, Annie rated it it was amazing.
Someone Like Me ~ John W. Quinn
I absolutely loved this book. With the help of Twitter, I was in contact with Mr. Quinn even before I was done reading it. As a someone who has cerebral palsy, it was a blessing and truly on honor to read this book. I related to a good portion of it. Aug 19, Marilyn rated it it was amazing. Recommended by someone who understands, this was a wonderful profile of courage and inspiration. Feb 26, Greg rated it really liked it. I really enjoyed the honesty of this book.
Jan 11, John Morse rated it it was amazing.
This is a gripping story of one man's successful struggle and victory over Cerebral Palsy. He still lives with a range of chronic conditions affecting the brain's ability to control body movement and coordinate muscle movement, but he beats it every day. He successfully fought his way into the US Navy and, through hard work and incredible determination, completed a full career as a professional standout, eventually retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.
His example has led many to overcome similar conditions and lead productive lives, making contributions throughout our society. I am proud to call him shipmate. Sep 09, Jordyne rated it it was amazing. Not only was it informative in caring and habilitation for my son, but the story is an inspiration to me personally on how to overcome any challenge. I will recall John Quinn's father's response to John's initial rejection from the Navy often , "Life is hard.
Question is, what are you going to do about it? Nov 14, Ron Ross rated it it was amazing. What an awesome book by a great guy!!! Nov 06, Becky Christensen rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: I am copying what my review was that I wrote and submitted at Amazon- I ran across John and the mention of his book on twitter of all places.
He having been a career Navy and an officer it of course spiked my interest, as my own son is also career Navy. That was right about 3 months before his book was due to be published in August of I followed John on twitter, then we "friended up" later on, on Facebook. I was able to finally get my copy at a bookstore in Fargo, North Dakota, just blocks I am copying what my review was that I wrote and submitted at Amazon- I ran across John and the mention of his book on twitter of all places.
I was able to finally get my copy at a bookstore in Fargo, North Dakota, just blocks away from where my own son had enlisted 14 yrs ago, and of course had to share it with the Navy recruiters there. So, I have not met John personally, but through reading his book several times I might add, as it is a read and re-read kind of book and our common connections, I feel I know him better than I do some next door neighbors.
I live in rural small town Northern Minnesota. I started reading his book that evening, after getting home from Fargo, and, I just plain did not stop or put it down except to wipe a few tears every so often until I finished reading it several hours later some time much into the late morning. When I finished it, I sat there, feeling totally awestruck and amazed at the human spirit, and what can be done when we put our minds to it. John is and will be an inspiration to many, he will and has touched many lives by revealing so much of himself, and the details of his experiences, pain, sadness, and extreme joy and proud accomplishments in his story of his life and also his 20 year career in the Navy.
His story is so much more than a story about being in the Military, it is a story about Life, and how you deal with it, live with it and in some cases over come it. Someone Like Me, is John's personal triumph over himself, and the challenges and in many cases the gifts he was given at birth and from his family, then from the extreme challenges he under took, through his own determination and perseverance when he choose, this was a determined choice, and one of conviction he made to serve his Country in the United State Navy, and to serve 20 years.
I personally believe this is where the motto "Never Give Up" must have been coined from, although I know better. As a mother of a child who has had her own different and unique challenges since birth, I have watched her exhibit with much of the same determination and drive to over come them, and John's story made me, "remind myself" of her precious accomplishments, her own unique strong will, how unique she is and also how proud and honored I am to be her mother. The next time he took the Navy physical he passed with flying colors, and from there, a year career with the U. His condition remained a secret the entire time.
Although facing the constant pain of CP was tough, John found it even more difficult to hide the condition from his fellow servicemen. Once this decision was made, I had to keep my guard up at all times and build an emotional wall around myself to keep my CP hidden. Everyone should have a friend like Phil. The discipline which John honed during his career in the Navy gave him the strength he needed to write his memoir despite the physical strain of CP which made the task difficult — sitting in a chair for hours at end, focusing his wandering eyes on the screen and having to type almost exclusively with only his left hand.
He was also inspired by some of his favorite writers such as W. Reading about your life makes me feel like I can do it to, that I can succeed in any way that I want just as long as I never give up, never stop trying. Since the release of his memoir, John has been traveling the country to meet with his readers and to give motivational speeches for schools, organizations, and corporations.
She is also an aspiring novelist, steadfastly seeking the publication of her first novel while penning her second. You can contact Melissa via Twitter , Facebook , or email , or learn more about her by visiting her website: Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy.