Jelly, Baby Essays on Disability and Vulnerability

By: Therese Estacion

Published by Book*hug, 2026-04-28

I am trying to meet my legs in the silent space between us. But they cannot speak. They have no story to tell without me.
Every day I go home. Sit on the couch and remove them from my body. They stand there, still as a statue, and wait for me to open my mouth.

In this revelatory collection of lyrical essays, Therese Estacion explores a number of vital themes relating to her life as a disabled person. Defying genre and constraint, Estacion conveys how ableism has impacted her disposition and self-esteem. She also confronts her own internalized ableism and unpacks how she has come to terms with disability in all its complexity.

Jelly, Baby fearlessly uncovers the trauma, grief, and rage inherent to the struggle to accept one's own vulnerability and reach a place of love. Inspired by the author's psychotherapy training, this book is a tender examination of some of the most vulnerable aspects of the self, and a head-on challenge of self-loathing. The result is a beautiful and astute meditation on ableism and a transformative journey deep into the psyche.