Emily Cynthia Mae Wood was born Cynthia Mae Wood in 1967 in Rutland, Vermont. She survived encephalitis and coma as a three year old, just like in this story! Learning to walk and talk again, she still has symptoms resultant of the encephalitis to this day. She has 2 sisters, many nieces and nephews, four children and 2 grandchildren (as of March 2013). She was an External Degree Program Student of Johnson State College of Johnson, Vermont.