Blind author shares her vision

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Blind author shares her vision      
Thursday, 02 July 2009
by Jessica Harper

Stacy Waibel of Apple Valley doesn’t need the sense of sight to see a good story.

The 45-year-old author recently published her first children’s book, “Rudy Gets a Transplant,” despite becoming blind 26 years ago.

PHOTO: Although blind, Stacy Waibel of Apple Valley is able to write using a guide. Waibel has written 32 books about her toy poodle, Rudy. Photo by Jessica Harper After losing her sight, Waibel continued writing longhand by using a guide, and even graduated magna cum laude from St. Cloud State University.

“I used to be an artist, so I visualized the pictures and write about what I see,” she said.

Her husband, Wayne, 55, transcribes her stories on a computer for publishing.

“Rudy Gets a Transplant” is one of 32 stories in a series about Waibel’s toy poodle, Rudy.

“It helps explain the (organ transplant) process so kids who are going through it know what to expect,” she said. “It puts it in a cheerful but matter-of-fact way.”

Waibel said her own experiences in needing an organ transplant inspired her to write the book.

Waibel received a kidney transplant 14 years ago and a pancreas transplant in 2003.

Now her donated kidney is deteriorating and she is waiting for a living donor.

Waibel said she decided to tell her story through Rudy “because he’s small and cute, and children can relate to him.”

Her black lab, Kirby, also makes an appearance in the story as Rudy’s older brother, who donates his kidney to him.

The book is illustrated by Ali Gratz of New Hope, who was 11 years old at the time and had a kidney transplant herself.

“She had the right perspective because she knew what it was like,” Waibel said.

“Rudy Gets a Transplant” is available in all Dakota County libraries, the Hallmark store in Eagan, the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, the University of Minnesota gift shop and at www.rudyslittleworld.com

Now, Waibel is working on publishing a second book, “Rudy’s Check-up,” which teaches children about the importance of staying healthy.

Other books in the series feature her now-deceased dogs, Dexter and Dito.

Waibel said the thing she enjoys most about writing books is that it allows her to be creative and to “be a kid again.”

“It helps me get back to a simple time,” she said.

In addition to writing and publishing books, Waibel gives presentations about her books and the importance of organ donation at local libraries.       

E-mail Jessica Harper at:
jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com

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