Timothy E. Stevenson
About the author:
Updated: August 25, 2010

Note: The following biography was written to give the reader some insight into the type of life I live and I write.

I was born in the port city of Vancouver, situated on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada on September 1, 1954. I have three brothers and two sisters, and are approximately one year apart in age. My father was a boat builder and my mother a nurse. My father is retired and my mother has passed away. And I currently reside in Vancouver.

On August 28, 1978 and at the age of 23, due to a head-on car accident I suffered a spinal cord injury and became a quadriplegic — a low quad — paralyzed from the neck down C6–C7; and thus, I'm a wheelchair bound person. I consider myself fortunate because I have 60% and 40% use of my right and left hands and arms respectively. I have about 45% of the original use of my lungs and chest. As a consequence, I endure a number of ongoing medical complications.

After spending close to two years in the hospital and as part of a rehab program, I enrolled in college and completed two associate degrees: one in business administration and another in marketing. I consider myself fortunate because I was able to leave the hospital. Many of my room-mates were not as fortunate and were sent to live in institutionalized settings. Because I have the freedom to go out into the community independently, I take nothing for granted and count my blessings.

At the age of 39 while living in Surrey, British Columbia, I began to write. At first, I wrote a number of poems followed by short stories. Most of my poems were written while I was working through an illness or an injury.

I find writing poems intellectually challenging and receive a lot of personal satisfaction in knowing that other people enjoy and appreciate reading them. I find it moving when people approach me and say that they have read or used one of my poems at a funeral or wedding.

I attempt to write poems that inspire, empower, encourage, and enlighten. To keep myself centred, I often read my own poems.


For me the five A's of surviving a major life tragedy:
1. Accept the reality of the situation
2. Assess, rise above it or fall victim to it.
3. Adapt
4. Adjust
5. Attitude gratitude: maintain positive inner self-talk.

If you find your life turned upside down you can benefit my experiences

Timothy E. Stevenson
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