89-year-old Langley resident has autobiography and memoir published

Langley resident 89-year-old Teresa McKenna has become a local author following the official release of her autobiography and memoir, ‘The Wheelchair’.

Consisting of 86 pages about Teresa’s life with a disability particularly during World War Two, the book has been officially available to purchase from 26 February, published by Austin Macauley Publishers.

Mrs McKenna was born in the Ardwick area of Manchester in 1932, but has lived in Langley, Middleton since the 1960s.

When she was four years old, in 1936, Teresa was diagnosed with infantile paralysis – known today as poliomyelitis caused by the poliovirus – which left her paralysed. Her diagnosis led to a two-and-a-half year stay in hospital.

Not soon after she was discharged from hospital with leg callipers and crutches to help her get back on her feet, World War Two had begun, and Teresa was evacuated to Shropshire.

She recalled: “I attended Lancasterian School which is a special education school and because of this, the headteacher did not want the pupils to be separated. We were all evacuated to her brother’s property in Shropshire, where we stayed for five-and-a-half years. We were the longest school to be evacuated so were given a big reception when we eventually returned to Manchester.

“I remember English airmen had a station not too far away from the property in Shropshire. One man used to visit every week to teach shorthand and typing, and another would host woodwork lessons for the boys. We would sleep in a loft where hay was previously stored, and I would just cry as I wasn’t used to being in the countryside.”

Despite her disability, Teresa has overcome many medical adversities throughout her life and has never held back; marrying the love of her life Arthur age 20, a marriage that lasted almost fifty years, and raising four children thereafter – two boys and two girls.

‘The Wheelchair’ details her life in full, through many ups and downs, multiple health conditions, family life, and personal tragedies.

 

 

Teresa said: “I started the book some years ago with my youngest daughter, Colette, who has sadly passed away. After Colette died, I just didn’t want to bother anymore, but my good friend Celestine Cox encouraged me to keep going.

“All together, including the break I had, the book has taken me around 15 years to complete.”

Now in an electric wheelchair, Teresa is ‘pleased but very surprised’ about the popularity of her memoir.

She continued: “It’s not all serious, as I’m not a serious person. There are funny things in there.

“I didn’t think it would be as successful as it is – it seems to be going around like wildfire!

“My eldest son is really pleased, he keeps telling me ‘you have achieved all of this, so you should be proud’.”

In her words, the autobiography “gives the reader an inspirational look at what it takes to tackle any challenge and overcome difficulties that come along in life.”

You can purchase The Wheelchair by Teresa McKenna at WHSmith, Waterstones, Google, Amazon, and on Kindle.

• www.austinmacauley.com/book/wheelchair