“A happy life consists not in the absence but in the mastery of hardships.” — Helen Keller
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In her thought-provoking and heartfelt debut, Amy Lou Gibbs takes us on an unforgettable journey back to the Bay Area in the ‘60s and ‘70s and inside her unconventional childhood as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Her parents are deaf and intellectually disabled. She and her younger sisters are not. They were a precariously vulnerable family with complex dynamics and unmet needs that could not be articulated. As the oldest child, Amy Lou had responsibilities most can’t imagine—she was four when she started helping her parents. Somehow, she understood that they needed her.
Being a CODA is a beautiful, rare life experience and a childhood filled with unique challenges. The invisible disabilities compounded their trials. Amy Lou’s mission has always been to share CODA life and Deaf culture because she painfully realized as a child how little the world knew about families like hers, which made her feel more alone and isolated. Readers are in for an emotional ride as they experience life's ups and downs with a child who had to be the voice and ears for gentle parents who never knew her stress. As CODAs, she and her sisters lived in two worlds—the deaf world and the hearing world, and for these girls, without traditional parental guidance, boundaries, and emotional support. Self-reliance was Amy Lou’s path and a requirement of her childhood.
She welcomes you to their home with poignant stories that are sweet, funny, difficult, and shocking at times. Amy Lou reveals the pivotal moments that shaped her life and lessons learned, giving readers a better understanding of a CODA childhood, Deaf culture, and the struggles her family faced. She examines the beauty and burdens of growing up with disabled parents, a lost childhood, and the complex dynamics between deaf parents and hearing children. The ‘70s pop culture captures the essence of the times, and the history of her parents' upbringing gives important context and insight. Music and writing were vital outlets for Amy Lou—Music relieved her stress and filled their home with voices; writing helped her understand who her parents were and make sense of her past. Time and healing gave her the courage to share her unique perspective of navigating life with disabled parents.
Like most CODAs, Amy Lou is extremely close to her parents and siblings. Ultimately, this book is about family and the power of love.
Amy Lou is proud of her family and for all they have overcome. A lot has changed since she grew up. She wrote her book to educate and inspire kindness. The Deaf community has a long and rich history of strength, beauty, resilience, and pride. While there is still work to do, she is happy about the progress she’s seen in her lifetime and honored to share a story from the past that reflects just how far they’ve come. The one thing that will never change is the beautiful spirit of the Deaf community.
This human-interest story will touch many hearts and bring awareness to a thriving yet underrepresented community. Learning about the world, people, and circumstances outside ourselves can open hearts and minds and help bridge the gaps between them. Amy Lou is honored to represent the Deaf community. She hopes sharing her childhood story will foster empathy, understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. Some might call this a survival story, others, a love story. Either way, readers will experience one deaf family’s journey and an extraordinary example of bravery, resilience, and unconditional love.
Amy Lou Gibbs is an author, singer, mother, nana, and a CODA. She cherishes time with friends and family and enjoys performing at gigs, attending concerts, reading, and traveling. She’s actively seeking representation for her childhood memoir and looks forward to its worldwide publication. She currently lives in California’s Central Valley.
Being a CODA is a beautiful, rare life experience and a childhood filled with unique challenges. The invisible disabilities compounded their trials. Amy Lou’s mission has always been to share CODA life and Deaf culture because she painfully realized as a child how little the world knew about families like hers, which made her feel more alone and isolated. Readers are in for an emotional ride as they experience life's ups and downs with a child who had to be the voice and ears for gentle parents who never knew her stress. As CODAs, she and her sisters lived in two worlds—the deaf world and the hearing world, and for these girls, without traditional parental guidance, boundaries, and emotional support. Self-reliance was Amy Lou’s path and a requirement of her childhood.
She welcomes you to their home with poignant stories that are sweet, funny, difficult, and shocking at times. Amy Lou reveals the pivotal moments that shaped her life and lessons learned, giving readers a better understanding of a CODA childhood, Deaf culture, and the struggles her family faced. She examines the beauty and burdens of growing up with disabled parents, a lost childhood, and the complex dynamics between deaf parents and hearing children. The ‘70s pop culture captures the essence of the times, and the history of her parents' upbringing gives important context and insight. Music and writing were vital outlets for Amy Lou—Music relieved her stress and filled their home with voices; writing helped her understand who her parents were and make sense of her past. Time and healing gave her the courage to share her unique perspective of navigating life with disabled parents.
Like most CODAs, Amy Lou is extremely close to her parents and siblings. Ultimately, this book is about family and the power of love.
Amy Lou is proud of her family and for all they have overcome. A lot has changed since she grew up. She wrote her book to educate and inspire kindness. The Deaf community has a long and rich history of strength, beauty, resilience, and pride. While there is still work to do, she is happy about the progress she’s seen in her lifetime and honored to share a story from the past that reflects just how far they’ve come. The one thing that will never change is the beautiful spirit of the Deaf community.
This human-interest story will touch many hearts and bring awareness to a thriving yet underrepresented community. Learning about the world, people, and circumstances outside ourselves can open hearts and minds and help bridge the gaps between them. Amy Lou is honored to represent the Deaf community. She hopes sharing her childhood story will foster empathy, understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. Some might call this a survival story, others, a love story. Either way, readers will experience one deaf family’s journey and an extraordinary example of bravery, resilience, and unconditional love.
Amy Lou Gibbs is an author, singer, mother, nana, and a CODA. She cherishes time with friends and family and enjoys performing at gigs, attending concerts, reading, and traveling. She’s actively seeking representation for her childhood memoir and looks forward to its worldwide publication. She currently lives in California’s Central Valley.
"I'm proud of the little girl who kept joy and love in her heart and never gave up. Grandpa used to call me 'baby lamb,' but I grew to be a lion. We all want love, respect, and acceptance. Some of us have it easier than others but we can all learn from each other. We are here to love one another and to help others the best we can."
— Amy Lou Gibbs
— Amy Lou Gibbs