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From Local Sources

Author Michelle Weidenbenner has announced the release of the memoir about Jasper native Kelly (Craig) Schaefer titled “Fractured Not Broken.”

At 19 years old, Kelly had a healthy and athletic body, a star basketball player boyfriend and a fun college life with close friends. Everything changed when a drunk driver rendered her a quadriplegic.

During an accident while on vacation with her family in Colorado, Schaefer was left with arms and legs that couldn’t move. She couldn’t walk, write, feed herself or comb her hair. When she thought she couldn’t lose anything more — her boyfriend left her, unwilling to endure the life that awaited.

Through her darkest days of loss and pain, her family and community gathered to push her forward.
With their help, Kelly moved closer to God and toward a faith she’d never had.

“Miracles come in many obscure moments,” Schaefer said. “I spent most of my life awaiting my big break. I expected my miracle to be in the form of a pill, injection or surgery that would enable my spine to heal and give me the mobile freedom I prayed for, but that didn’t happen.”

“Fractured Not Broken” is described as a memoir of loss and faith and also a love story that sounds like fiction.

“Life has its tragic moments of defeat, setbacks and fracturing for everyone,” said Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, author of “Jesus in All Four Seasons.” “Kelly’s story proves, however, that individual momentum, personal progress, and genuine achievement can still be attained. Her courage and optimism are uplifting. Open these pages and experience the joy of ultimate victory.” 

Schaefer

This book will fracture the paradigms of the goals and expectations we set for ourselves and others, noted Weidenbenner, who is also Schaefer’s aunt and lives in the northern Indiana city of Warsaw.
The hope is that Kelly’s words will change how readers think of disabled people and bring hope to readers who have lost faith in finding true love.

“This is a real life story of heroic virtue — especially of courage, humility, and generosity — a triumph of faith, hope and love,” said Charles C. Thompson, bishop of the Evansville Diocese. “This story involves the very essence of the human spirit, family and community. To know Kelly and her journey of miracles is to know that with God all things are possible.”

Schaefer, 35, and husband Shawn Schaefer live in Jasper. She is a teacher at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Jasper and will present excerpts of the book at a Will Read For Food event set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at Vincennes University Jasper Campus.

Her book will be sold at iCandy Salon and Spa in Jasper and at online retailers including Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Apple iBooks.

Contact The Herald at news@dcherald.com.