How the Violin Became a Cello: One Woman's Creative Expression through Celtic Music

by Kara Aiello

Gaelynn Lea Tressler of Duluth, Minnesota discovered her love of music back in 4th grade when the orchestra came to her school. She fell in love with her first musical instrument, the cello. 

Finding the cello too large to play, Gaelynn used creativity to figure out how to have a relationship with this instrument, and that began her journey of playing the cello as a violin.

When she plays, she says it’s a spiritual experience and feels connected to something bigger than herself.

Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bones, Gaelynn experienced many fractures while in utero.  Her legs and arms are small, and because most of her fractures occurred in her arms, this has made playing the violin in its traditional form more challenging and so playing as a cello just  made more sense. 

"Where Fairy Tales Go" - An Excerpt

By Annette Ross 

“A playbook for all of us about the power of love...”

Lee Woodruff, New York Times #1 bestselling author, In an Instant

  

Annette Ross’ inspirational memoir details her personal challenges, financial struggles, and the life-altering medical error that left her unable to walk. Join Annette and her family on this journey to reclaim a lost fairy tale.

EXCERPT Where Fairy Tales Go

The Delivery Room, January 2000

The anesthesiologist arrived in a lousy mood.

It was after midnight. She looked disheveled and distracted. Her dirty-blond hair fell over her eyes. To diffuse the obvious tension, I begin an anxious litany of questions to try and build rapport. I also needed to bolster my own courage. I asked how she was feeling. “Exhausted,” she said, and mumbled something about having gone out with her new fiancé. The tone in her voice was unsettling. And she made it clear that she was not there for conversation. I knew it was important to let her do her job, so I tried to talk myself down by nervously chatting with Bill. We were, after all, excitedly anticipating the birth of our second child. The anesthesiologist brought in a metal cart, instructed me to move to the end of the bed, and told me to “lean over the table.” As she injected a needle into my lower back, my body jolted violently.

My Raw Beauty Project Experience as a Model

By Tamara Mena 

With the way this world is nowadays, being a powerful, successful and confident woman isn’t easy, for any woman. There are so many standards, so much the media tells us regarding how we should be or look like, to be “beautiful” and accepted. However, beauty is NOT defined by any race, size or ABILITIES.

The Raw Beauty Project is an innovative arts project that celebrates women with disabilities, educating viewers to redefine perceptions and beauty, unleashing potential for all.  Being part of The Raw Beauty Project Los Angeles that was held on September 17, 2016 at Paul Mitchell The School Pasadena, was so moving and empowering.  And let me just say that BEFORE the event, I had considered my photoshoot, empowering for several reasons; I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did some really neat stuff that made me feel beautiful and confident during it, but even more so, when I saw some of the photos. The other reason my photoshoot was empowering, is because as a model, I did some stuff I hadn’t done in years, since before my car accident, such as laying and posing on a rock ;).  And no, it wasn’t easy getting up there; I had to have help, but everyone was so willing which made the whole experience so awesome.