As a result of a traumatic birth, Mark Wilson suffered a severe brain injury and, at six months old, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Shirley and Glenn, Mark’s parents, were told Mark would probably never walk or talk. ‘Don’t expect too much,’ was the devastating advice they received. Refusing to give up, they embarked on an intense, home-based therapy program—one with no guarantees, only relentless effort and hope. Against all odds, it worked.
Mark and his family all contribute to this powerful and effecting biography of a brilliant young man. Mark, never one to wallow in self-pity, tells many hysterical stories: learning to drive a go-kart before he could walk, losing his virginity in a most ungainly way.
There are also stories of great sadness: the relentless bullying, the simple everyday tasks made almost impossible by his disability and his battle with depression. Shirley, Mark’s mother, is disarmingly candid about her many dark moments. The depression, the feelings of helplessness and despair, the overwhelming sense of futility. Hers is a story of finding the strength to keep going and succeed. Glenn, Mark’s father, is the silent achiever – the perfect foil to Shirley’s passion and drive, providing the support she so needed. Without him, Shirley and stories would have been very different.
Corena, Mark’s younger sister, has lived her life in the shadow of her brother. It was always about him, rarely about her. This impacted her life in many ways. Ian Hunter, Mark’s therapist and the book’s author, explains Mark’s brain injury and his recovery. Ian’s close relationship with the family allows him to tell their stories fully and openly.
The five voices interweave into a cohesive, compelling whole, sometimes with surprising juxtapositions and always with heart and humour. A hilarious scene describing Mark’s battle with his kitchen nemesis, the plastic bread clip, is followed by his mother contemplating suicide.
Wobbles is a story about an incredibly strong and determined young man who, with the support of his loving family, overcame extreme adversity and self-esteem issues, built resilience and found his place in the world. It shows a family conquering the many challenges that could easily have torn them apart.
Biography/Memoir, Uplifting, Disability, Cerebral Palsy, Family
About The Author
For more than 50 years, Ian Hunter has dedicated his life to helping children and adults with brain injuries find their potential.
Long before neuroplasticity became a buzzword, Ian was pioneering ways to harness the brain’s ability to adapt and heal, challenging outdated beliefs about what was possible after brain injury.
His developmentally-focused approach has touched thousands of lives and helped reshape how brain injury rehabilitation is understood today. Ian’s first book, Brain Injury – Tapping the Potential Within (1986), was among the earliest to show how the brain can rewire itself, offering hope when there seemed to be none.
Wobbles is his second book, continuing his lifelong mission to prove that, with the right support and determination, people affected by brain injury can achieve far more than anyone ever imagined.
