Defying Disability:
One Couple’s Journey of Fierce Love and Unwavering Faith

Defying Disability: One Couple’s Journey of Fierce Love and Unwavering Faith shares the true story of Bert and Darlene Cherry, a devoted couple who met in 1952 while recovering from polio at a rehabilitation center in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Bert, a preacher’s son from Oklahoma, and Darlene, a single mother from Arkansas, formed a bond rooted in strength, faith, and a shared determination to defy the limitations others placed on them. Critics questioned how a man on crutches and a woman in a wheelchair could build a life together—but they looked at each other’s strengths and chose commitment.

Navigating love, work, and parenthood before the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bert and Darlene built a joyful life in Dallas. Bert enjoyed a successful career in the credit union industry; Darlene ran a childcare business from home. Together, they raised three children and celebrated a legacy of eleven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Written by their niece, Dinah Jordan, during the reflective pause of the COVID-19 pandemic, this biography is both a family tribute and a testament to resilience. It explores how fierce love and unwavering faith can carry us beyond expectation and into possibility.

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READER REVIEWS

  • "First of all, I knew nothing about polio and the information and the history of how they treated it were very interesting. I love stories of how people can overcome things and lead a normal life and even better when 2 people can find each other and share their lives together with the same disability. It was a very beautiful story with a lot of great articles and pictures from the past."

    Kerrie, Amazon Customer Review

  • "This book will both inspire and educate you. The story of Bert and Darlene Cherry is one that shows the reader that love trumps adversity and wins against all odds. I couldn’t stop reading it once I started. The things that this couple dealt with both physically and mentally in their daily life would have most people cowering in the corner, but these two persevered and created a legacy of love and faith for their family."

    Amazon Customer Review

  • "Defying Disability is an informative look back to the 1950s and how two people kept a winning attitude and persevered as they moved through life sharing their best selves with each other and their friends and family."

    Gene, Amazon Customer Review

Darlene Before Polio

“In August 1945, I was a married young woman. I had a precious baby girl, my husband was in the Navy, and I was living with my mother. The second World War was going to be over soon, and I thought life was as good as it could get.” - Darlene

 

Bert Before Polio

“Life was good. These were good years. My senior year, I earned good grades - all A’s except for typing. I played several musical instruments; my favorite was the trombone. The summer of 1949, I worked for a local farmer. I would trot most places I went. I really enjoyed it.” - Bert

Fun Facts about the Book

 

You’ll see burgundy featured in the book and in this website because it is the color for polio awareness.

The paperback book uses the Georgia font, which is perfect because Darlene’s given name was Georgia Darlene.