Stephanie Wolfe was in her first year of teaching when she found out she was going to have a baby girl. Her daughter, Addie, was born with challenges that kept her in the hospital for the first 10 months of her life. Now, Wolfe is highlighting the beauty in differences through a series of children’s books based on her daughter.
“When it was time for our 20-week anatomy scan, the tech told us that we were having a girl and we were crying and so excited. And we said her name is going to be Addison Olivia. But then, right after, the tech got really quiet. The doctor came in and told us that Addie had a sacrococcygeal teratoma, which was a tumor on her bottom.”
“We had some idea that Addie would have some challenges to overcome, but I don’t think we realized the scope and magnitude of what they would be.”
“A month before the pandemic truly hit, I had a friend that wrote a book and I thought, I have stories to tell … I could write a book. And so I decided to pitch my ideas for a children’s book involving Addie as the main character.”
“The first ‘Authentically Addie’ book takes place at a rehab zoo, and each different animal has a different disability, so you’ll see an animal that has Down syndrome. You’ll find one that has a limb difference. Kids can relate those animals to people.”
“I think many people, when they grow up, their parents teach them to look away, don’t ask questions, don’t stare. No, we’d rather you have discussions with your kids because it makes a difference.”
