About One Smile, One Arm

Heartwarming stories of courage and determination

Gadgets and Gizmos

A walk through my world reveals gadgets and gizmos that make my life with one arm a bit easier. A jar opener mounted under a kitchen cabinet. A metal stand to hold my blow dryer. And now, a device that automatically clips my fingernails!

Catch my interview with the son of the inventor HERE.

Add Modeling to My Resume

I’ve never had a modeling job before . . . until 2021. Prosthetics students at Alabama State University needed to practice their knowledge and skills before graduation. So I became a “patient model,” and they made arms for me.

Evaluations and castings have been a part of my life since I was one year old. But never six in one day! This was #6, and I was pretty tired.

We were all speckled with plaster and pleased with our day’s accomplishments. I found plaster on my pants, shoes, shirt, mask, and forehead. I even gained some white “highlights” in my hair.

I returned a month later for the fitting process. Each student had used the cast to make a socket for my upper arm. They were ready to add harnessing, elbow, forearm, and hand.

These are my new best friends. I know they will help many people across the country in the years to come.

Connected by Kindness

A baby born with medical issues, a kind doctor, and a chance meeting five decades later.

Click HERE to listen to my story, “Connected by Kindness,” on the Chicken Soup for the Soul podcast. Scroll to Episode 191, “When Amazing Coincidences Prove It’s a Small World,” and jump to 2:56 on the recording.

Book released January 2021