Beyond Dancing: A Veteran's Struggle--A Woman's Triumph

By Anita Bloom Ornoff

It was with a sense of adventure, a call to service, and a touch of defiance that twenty-one-year-old Anita Bloom enlisted in the army.
It was 1943, less than a year since the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) had been formed when one day, a elegant-looking woman in WAAC uniform entered the store where Anita was working. Bloom followed her every move.
Her journey began when she shipped off to camp and became fast friends with several other new soldiers. Together, they memorized army regulations, went to map reading class, and learned how to march.
The young women in camp were of many different backgrounds and beliefs. Anita encountered anti-Semitism, but also learned the importance of moving past differences as she generally acclimated herself to Army life.
She didn't even notice the bite-sized cut on her thumb at first. Even when it started hurting, becoming painful enough to keep her up at night, the technician's indifference to her concerns forced her to continue on with her regular Army duties.
Yet as the cut became seriously infected and the pain in her hand, spreading to her back, became unbearable, Anita was sent to a civilian hospital. Gradually losing sensation in her legs, Anita feared for her life.
Eventually, she was transferred to an Army hospital where her doctors, unaided by penicillin, could not arrest the infection. An operation saved her life, but she lost the use of her legs. Discharged from the Army and placed in a VA hospital, her new friends were the battle-scarred, paraplegics wounded in active service.
She then came to a new facility, enticed by the promises of its director, who assured her that she could learn to walk normally again. Her enthusiasm turned to disappointment and finally despair as she discovered his total lack of commitment to her care. Even though she had been exploited, she came to realize that her choice to leave the VA had been providential, for it was in this unpromising makeshift hospital that she met John Muller, the physical therapist who would change her life forever.
John's perseverance inspired her resolve to prevail over her handicap. His patience and kindness inspired her love. Armed with leg braces and his faith in her, Anita came to realize her dream of regaining her independence. She freed herself from hospitalization and moved to New York City, where she overcame the discouragement of her family and the NYU medical board and was finally granted the opportunity to seek a university degree.
As she embarked on her fight to live a normal life, another struggle was just beginning for Anita--a struggle for justice. Denied veterans' benefits, she indefatigably appealed to members of Congress to recognize her as a service-injured soldier and award her her rightful entitlements. The triumph that she finally earned marked another victory in her battle to conquer her disability.
In Beyond Dancing, Anita Bloom Ornoff's story of her rehabilitation and her flourishing relationship with John Muller affirms that her independence was made possible by the empowerment of love. By accepting tender guidance, but not dependence, she fulfilled her dream of personal freedom, reminding us that the worthiest battles are seldom fought alone.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 091015550X
• ISBN13: 9780910155502
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Bartleby Press
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 7.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Beyond Dancing is the most inspiring book ever written!

WOW!!! Having my own physical challenges I have had to overcome a few obstacles in life, but reading Anita's story puts it all into perspective. My so called "struggles" were small...no TINY potatoes, comapred to the things she overcame. Her strength and determination warmed my heart. Her story once again proved a point I've been trying to make all my life, that there is no room for 'dis' infront of 'ability.' We can all be ABLE or disabled, depending on our attitudes. I urge anyone who needs their spirits lifted, or who themselves might be coping with a 'dis' ABILITY, to read this incredible story.

Review- by author-C.Gale Perkins

Beyond Dancing written by-Anita Bloom Ornoff, is a heart rendering book of a young women's struggle with so many obstacles in her life. Her quest to serve the United States during WW 11 is one of passion and courage for a young woman in the 1940's to make a decision when women were not looked upon to have rights to do so...The opportunity to go to OFC is one that Anita looked forward to, but fate takes hold and her life takes a very tragic turn. She endures all kinds of pain and obstacles and finds ways to keep her spirits up, by helping out others in the VA hospital. No matter what she encountered she is able to rise to the occasion with humor and perseverance.This book will tug at your heart strings. Bring tears to your eyes. You will laugh with her and rejoice in all her victories.. It is a well written book, easy to read and you just want to keep going on to the next chapter. I really appreciate Anita's indomitable spirit.

An Absolutely Super Inspirational Book

What a life Anita Bloom Ornoff has lived! She writes with a vivid clarity; her descriptions of all the events that are relevant to her life make you feel that you're right there. Parts of the book will just absolutely make you cry. Beyond Dancing is a wonderfully true story of inspiration, trials, failures, triumphs, courage, family difficulties and romance. Anita definitely has courage, courage, courage, and determination in an equivalent amount. This is one book you'll never forget! There are pictures in the middle of the book; these sure add alot to the story. I'm glad the decision was made to include them. The 300+ page book is divided into several chapters; I couldn't put the book down once I began reading it.

Beyond Strength, Beyond Honor, Beyond Integrity

Anita Bloom Ornoff had extreme inner strength, massive Honor to herself, her Family and her Country, and Integrity beyond any normal human being. I have no doubt in my mind that to this very day she is still the same! Not only is she a woman that I admire immensely, but because of her, she enabled if not helped to create many of the programs/services that are available to the Paralized Veterans of America of today. Being of woman that was a member of the last class of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) back in Fort McClellan, Alabama under the direction of General Mary Clark I can appreciate if not totally see myself in the position that she was in back at Fort Oglethorpe and further at the barracks at Stephen F. Austin College and still further at the VA Hospital. It was a hard time for women back then to be accepted, so I can share her feelings of anger, confusion and disbelief when it came to why people could not understand that a woman would want to serve her Country. I thank you Ma'am for a wonderful story, a book that was extremely hard to put down and for sharing your heart and soul with me. God Bless You! Charlene Ann Heier

Beyond Dancing.

Anita Bloom Ornoff writes of her triumph over her disability, and her struggles to achieve an independent lifestyle. She does so with candor and style. This lady never gave up and obtained her due, where many would have dispared of ever being successful. Her book is touching, funny, serious and enlightening.She is to be applauded for her work, her life and the ablility to put onto paper the steps that led to her personal success.