Defying Disability

Defying Disability: One Couple’s Journey of Fierce Love and Unwavering Faith shares the true story of Bert and Darlene Cherry, a devoted couple who met in 1952 while recovering from polio at a rehabilitation center in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Bert, a preacher’s son from Oklahoma, and Darlene, a single mother from Arkansas, formed a bond rooted in strength, faith, and a shared determination to defy the limitations others placed on them. Critics questioned how a man on crutches and a woman in a wheelchair could build a life together—but they looked at each other’s strengths and chose commitment.

Navigating love, work, and parenthood before the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Bert and Darlene built a joyful life in Dallas. Bert enjoyed a successful career in the credit union industry; Darlene ran a childcare business from home. Together, they raised three children and celebrated a legacy of eleven grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.