Eight Fingers and Eight Toes: Accepting Life's Challenges

by Debbie Jorde

Like most expectant mothers, Debbie Jorde was expecting her first perfect baby. She already had what she perceived to be the perfect marriage, as well as what she thought was the perfect life. The delivery date came and her perfect baby wasn’t so physically perfect, in fact, she was severely disabled. She wasn’t expected to live and the doctors had few answers.

After her second child was born, with the same disabilities, what Debbie thought was a perfect marriage dissolved. She became a single mother dependent on public aid to help care for her children. The illusion of her perceived perfect life reduced to that of a divorced, single mom raising children with lung disease, autism and a rare disabling disorder called Miller syndrome that affects only 30 other people worldwide.

Debbie found herself forced on an odyssey of self-examination through issues such as divorce, single motherhood, eating disorders, addiction, self-worth, and the definition of beauty. The challenges faced in the process led Debbie to redefine her definition of happiness, success, and perfection. The lessons learned and insights gained transformed her life into one that is full of acceptance, courage, joy, and love.

Eight Fingers and Eight Toes: Accepting Life’s Challenges, is a story of the power of a mother’s love for her children, and her journey of self-love. It is a story of struggles, and learning to accept and overcome challenges. One takes a front row seat as the author learns answers to questions asked decades ago. Becoming the first family ever to have their entire genome sequenced brought answers.

Eight Fingers and Eight Toes is a reminder that in spite of the trials that cause us to think life isn’t so perfect, with a little courage and a lot of love, all can learn to accept and overcome challenges. The result being a more fulfilling life of happiness and joy.

284 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2010

About the author

Twenty five years ago, author Debbie Jorde recognized that she was learning valuable lessons while raising her two children who have a rare condition, Miller syndrome, which affects only thirty people worldwide. Important lessons and insights were also gained while successfully overcoming her own personal challenges. Realizing that when she died the lessons she had learned would die with her, preventing other people from benefiting, ignited her passion to write her story. "Eight Fingers and Eight Toes: Accepting Life's Challenges" is her memoir, written to inspire other people and make a positive difference in their lives. In the past she has educated over 2,000 medical students and presented her experience to the Council of Deans of the American Association of medical colleges at their national meeting. She was invited to give a capstone presentation to first year medical students at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She worked with government agencies to help her children achieve independence and gain education. Her daughter, Heather, has a bachelor's degree in psychology and her son, Logan, is self-employed as an artist with an associate's degree in graphic design. While overcoming her challenges Debbie developed a successful business as a self-employed hairstylist, owns her own salon, teaches aerobics, and models. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking and skiing in SLC, Utah where she lives with her husband, Dr Lynn Jorde. "Eight Fingers and Eight Toes: Accepting Life's Challenges" is her first book.

Reviews

[Jodi Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Debbie’s book! I cried, laughed and understood life from her beautiful perspective. I was introduced to her family through Logan and his film, Logan’s Syndrome, which profoundly moved me and have seen it several times. I’ve known pure joy and unconditional love through my own friends with challenges. I also felt comfortable connecting with her family and while watching the film felt a deep connection with her.

After my own losses, her words, her perspective and her honesty touched me. She may not have known it at the time, but she was meant to have Heather and Logan and all the challenges that lay ahead. Heather and Logan were coming into this world and they needed her. As I learned more about them, it’s clear that she has two incredible human beings who are mindful, intelligent, passionate, authentic and unique. In life, I’ve learned that the bigger the challenge, the bigger the reward. Few, in life really get that.

Reading Heather’s words, reminded me of my own childhood and the difficulties of growing up. Inside of her head, I shared some similar thoughts. As a child, I lost my brother and had a hard time relating to other children at school. As a grown up, I appreciate my ability to be blunt when I can. Perhaps the extremes are different for each of us but we are so really alike. There are many differences and also many similarities.

Reading about Logan and learning more about him makes me appreciate so much that he hugged me after the Film Premiere of Logan’s Syndrome at the Carmel Film Festival. Wow! I asked him and he said yes. My husband took the pictures as I hugged Logan in tears.

Thank you, Debbie for having the courage to share your family’s story and letting us see inside your lives in such a authentic way, and thank you for never giving up. If you had, we would never be able to experience what life is about.

[Misspennylane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: Debbie Jorde cuts my hair, and I've known her husband and Debbie for many years. I have a small print of one of Logan's paintings.

The book was good. She goes into depth about what her and her kids have gone through, and it is very eye-opening. I knew they had had many surgeries, and "the basics", but not to this extent. Debbie does always have such a positive attitude about things, and she stresses this in her book. Finding joy in things when you're down.

I do recommend the book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I particularly liked this book because I know Debbie, Heather and Logan. They are very positive people.