Four Fingers and Thirteen Toes

Rosaleen is the only Thalidomide Impaired person to have written her autobiography, interspersed with a definitive factual history of the drug Thalidomide from its early years of manufacture in Nazi Germany, to now.

An essential read that will make you laugh and cry, be angry and proud with every turn of the page.

Rosaleen (Rosie) overcame horrendous injuries to her physical being as a result of her mother being prescribed Thalidomide during pregnancy.  The drug left Rosie with four fingers, two sprouting from each shoulder and thirteen toes on legs which came to an abrupt end above the knee.

This fascinating and beautifully written true story, charts Rosie‘s birth into an Irish immigrant family, and leads the reader through every facet of her inspirational life.  It includes her early years filled with long periods of hospitalisation and treatment; her education, employment and relationships; and onto true fulfilment of a lifetime’s desire to be independent.

Illustrated throughout, this is a remarkable story of a strong willed daughter, wife, mother and respected businesswoman.

This so-called “wonder drug” of the 1960s, thought to be banished after the tragedy unfolded, is still being used in the treatment of various conditions and illnesses.  Rosie examines why pharmaceutical companies are eager for it to be re-licensed and includes her honest perspective of the drug.

Radio Interviews with Rosie

AbleRadio

Able On Demand : Malcolm John speaks to Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds about her autobiography 'Four Fingers & Thirteen Toes'. They discuss Thalidomide, it's history and the impact the condition has had on Rosaleen's life. http://bit.ly/14f13t-aod

BBC Radio Wales

 Alan Thompson sat in for Roy in November 2009 and welcomed Rosie Moriarty-Simmonds to the studio. Rosie is a well known writer, broadcaster, disability campaigner and is one of 450 people in the UK living with the effects of the drug Thalidomide, which their mothers' took during pregnancy to ease their morning sickness.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/radiowales/sites/roynoble/pages/rosie_moriarty_simmonds.shtml  

ENDORSEMENTS:

“This deeply moving book is about triumph over devastatingly severe disability.  I hold Rosie in high admiration and hope her inspiring story will be very widely read.”
The Rt. Hon. Lord Morris of Manchester AO QSO (first Cabinet Minister for Disabled People)

“Before you know it you are drawn into a story that makes you proud to be a disabled person.”
Disability Now magazine

FREE PREVIEW:

Chapter 1: ... I doubt that there were three happier people in the whole world than Stephen, James and me.  And then our joy was shared, if not quite so personally, by everyone that had known us through my pregnancy.

   "So what's so wonderful about all this?" you say.  “Lots of women have babies."

   But I was born with legs that ended above the knee and with no arms, and just two fingers on each shoulder.  Four fingers and thirteen toes in all.

   It does make a difference...

Chapter 6: … my mother told me of the first time that she had taken me out shopping with her.  A woman, looking into the pram said, "Oh, what a beautiful baby."  Then, pulling back the covers a little, she saw my little stumpy arms with two fingers sprouting from each shoulder.

   She screamed, "My God, it's a freak," and went running up the road as though afraid that I might be contagious...

Chapter 8: ...Solicitously, they treated us with crash helmets, transforming us into 'Metal Mickey's', a process that rather defeated their avowed purpose of making us less conspicuous in the world.  One particularly ingenious device involved artificial arms powered by compressed gas, carried in a cylinder on your back, hardly something that could be easily concealed....

Chapter 22: ... The pharmaceutical departments of the IG Farben cartel used the victims of the concentration camps during human experiments, such as the testing of new and unknown vaccines and drugs.  In the Auschwitz trials, correspondence was discovered...

REVIEWS:

The following are just a sample of the reviews of the book.  A full list can be found at www.amazon.co.uk and search for Four Fingers and Thirteen Toes.

"I picked up Rosie’s book one evening at 7pm and finished it at 3am early the next morning. I could not put it down. It’s a compelling story about a woman’s (and her family’s) courage, strength and determination in overcoming discrimination. The book is a clever mix of reminiscence, (at times amusing and others moving), factual information about the emergence and use of Thalidomide and vignettes from Rosie’s life. ‘Fourteen Fingers and Thirteen Toes’ is inspirational and informative. Everyone should read this book." 

“Rosie has done a great job here, allowing the reader a peek into her life, and giving a lot of information about Thalidomide (and its return!) along the way.”

“Read this book when I got to hear about the new revised edition. Thought the additional photographs were great. The epilogue was really surprising. It brought the story right back to where it started. I won't say anymore, but this new edition is a MUST to read."

"An insight into a loving, caring family who do not believe in defeat.  A must read for any compassionate person."

“I couldn't put this down! A truly inspirational book - funny, poignant and occasionally dramatic, yet it is never maudlin or over-sentimental. Highly recommended. If you only read one book a year then make sure you buy this one!”

WHERE TO BUY:

Four Fingers and Thirteen Toes (ISBN 9781438942995)
by Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds, is available as follows:-

Buy directly from Rosaleen by clicking the Buy Now button below.

Orders placed directly with RMS are charged at £10.00 per book (inclusive of postage & packaging).

All books purchased will be signed by the Author.  For a personalised message please e-mail us directly at - rms-consultancy@dsl.pipex.com

NOTE – For bulk or overseas orders, please contact us to confirm delivery charges.

Alternatively, you can buy Four Fingers and Thirteen Toes from:-

 AuthorHouse  -  http://bookstore.authorhouse.com

      • as a paperback – ISBN: 9781438942995
      • and as an E-book – ISBN: 9781449082475

 book stores on a “to order” basis
 major online book retailers

Buy directly from Rosaleen by clicking the Buy Now button below. A really worthwhile read for only £10.