Cedar Rapids native Frey gains insight while sharing disability story

For Garret Frey, writing his first book wasn't a struggle. But living it was.

In 1987, the 4-year-old Frey was riding home from day care on his dad's motorcycle when the blanket he was wearing for warmth got caught in the gears. Frey was pulled from the moving bike. His helmet saved his life, but the impact left him paralyzed from the neck down.

He spent 11 months in the hospital, withdrawn from the world. Frey faced challenges over the simplest of tasks, like figuring out how to move or get a drink of water, and more complex needs such as learning how to enjoy life and find happiness.

Then he met clinical psychologist Karen Hutchins Pirnot, who helped put things back together. And now, 23 years after the accident, Frey has found happiness. Wonder how? Read his book.

Cowritten by Frey and Hutchins Pirnot, “As I Am” shares with readers what Frey has seen, felt and learned over the years. Frey says the book is a wake-up call that shows the potential everyone has.

“After the accident I had to readily adopt new things and discover myself, learn new things about myself and find things in life that are great,” he said. “I found it in myself, in God, in family, friends ... it's all taught me to live life to the fullest.”

For seven years, Frey worked with Pirnot, now 70, to adjust to a life that would be spent in a wheelchair and on a respirator. They teamed up again 15 years later to tell his story.

Over the course of a year, the Kirkwood Community College student e-mailed Pirnot his stories, experiences and insights from his home in northwest Cedar Rapids. Pirnot wrote back with revisions and questions from her home in Sarasota, Fla.

“He supplied all the ingredients - I just kneaded the dough,” she said.

“There were lots of moments (in the book) that were emotionally and mentally hard to write,” Frey said. “But it was a good way to release everything that's gone on - kind of therapeutic.”

The book is written from Frey's perspective and allows readers to experience the challenges he faced, from learning to use his breath to move a wheelchair to appearing before the Supreme Court over public education access for those with disabilities.

“They were cool guys,” Frey said. “ But (Justice) Thomas was asleep the time I was there.”

Frey's published catharsis was honored this year by the Royal Palm Literature Awards in Florida. A psychology professor at the University of Oregon recently ordered 100 copies of the book and said it would become required reading in his program for any students going through the program in Eugene.

“This book was really 23 years of working together with Dr. Pirnot,” Frey said. “(The book) has helped me learn who I am.”

Frey is gearing up to start a new book that also will draw from his life.

“As I Am” can be purchased online at www.drpirnotbooks.com or www.amazon.com