#1 Amazon Bestseller
Limp Forward
A Memoir of Disability, Perseverance, and Success
by Libo Cao Meyers 曹力波
Available Now
#1 Amazon Bestseller
Readers' Favorite Award 2024
Cultural Non-Fiction
Kirkus Featured Review
Dedication
To those who are underprivileged and invisible, yet still giving everything to reach their full potential, with dreams and goals.
To those who have been wronged and undervalued, yet still chasing relentlessly for what is right and fair, with faith and confidence.
To those who feel desperate and hopeless, yet still fighting against all the odds with even a slim chance of winning, with courage and perseverance.
To those who are fighters and dreamers, believing someday you may reach the impossible.
May this book give you the strength and inspiration, limping forward during your darkest moments.
Love and Strength,
Libo Cao Meyers
About the Author
Libo Cao Meyers
曹力波 — "Strong Tide"
Libo Cao Meyers
Engineering Executive at Apple
The Journey
Libo Cao Meyers is an engineering executive at Apple and a veteran of Silicon Valley's innovative culture. Her mission is to enrich lives through technology and service.
She was diagnosed with polio as an infant in rural Northern China. Growing up in a society that systematically excluded people with disabilities, she faced barriers at every turn — from being denied access to schools to enduring multiple surgeries the family could barely afford.
Despite these challenges, Libo excelled academically and earned a computer science degree in just three years. At age 24, she made the courageous decision to immigrate to the United States alone.
Dual Degrees in Record Time
At Ohio University, Libo earned her M.S. and Ph.D. simultaneously in two different engineering fields — completing both within just 4 years, by 2004.
Starting her Silicon Valley career in early 2004, Libo quickly established herself as a leader. She joined Apple in 2011, where she has continued to innovate and lead teams at the forefront of technology.
100-Mile Century Ride
In 2005, Libo completed a 100-mile bike ride using the strength of just one leg, battling wind for 11.5 hours. She continues to push athletic boundaries, pursuing a black belt in Karate and learning to use an exoskeleton for sports.
Beyond her professional achievements, Libo is a dedicated advocate for disability awareness and inclusion. She served as a keynote speaker at Women of Silicon Valley 2023 and continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her story of perseverance.
She lives in California with her husband and their two sons, carrying forward the legacy of the Cao family name that has endured for 3,000 years.
The Cao Family Heritage
Libo's maiden name, Cao (曹), carries a legacy spanning over 3,000 years of Chinese history, tracing back to the Ming Dynasty and beyond. She is of the 87th generation of this ancient lineage.
The Cao family emblem features a dragon — a symbol of balance, harmony, and fierce spirit. This heritage is not just history for Libo; it is a living source of identity and strength that she carries forward for her sons and future generations.
I believe that I can lose, but I can't give in. When I am told 'no,' I make my own 'yes.'— Libo Cao Meyers
The Book
About the Book
From being a little girl with polio in rural China to a tech executive at Apple, Libo Cao Meyers has navigated a life of extraordinary challenges with remarkable candor and a sense of humor. Limp Forward spans continents and generations across eleven chapters and 384 pages.
This memoir takes readers from Libo's polio diagnosis as an infant through her childhood surgeries, the pain of separation from family, academic triumphs against systemic discrimination, and the courageous decision to immigrate to America alone at age 24.
It follows her through earning dual graduate degrees, completing a 100-mile century bike ride on one leg, building a career at Apple, finding love and family, and tracing her 3,000-year Cao family heritage — culminating in an unforgettable story of what it means to limp forward.
The Journey in 11 Chapters
Polio and Childhood
1976–1983Diagnosed with polio as an infant in rural Northern China, young Libo faces her first battles.
Life Apart and on the Move
1984–1988Separated from family, navigating a world not built for her.
United with Family
1989–1995Reunion brings new hope and determination to pursue education.
"It's All for Your Own Good"
1995–1999Overcoming systemic barriers and discrimination in pursuit of her dreams.
Dual Graduate Degrees and a Job
2000–2004Immigrating to America alone and earning MS and PhD simultaneously.
Perseverance, Pride, and a Century Ride
2005Completing a 100-mile bike ride with the strength of one leg.
Reset, Reset Again in the Process
2006–PresentBuilding a career in Silicon Valley through resilience and reinvention.
Love, Marriage, Families, and Kids
2007–2014Finding love, building a family, and balancing it all.
Experiencing This Wonderful Life
2015–PresentEmbracing life fully as a mother, executive, and advocate.
The Stories from Generations before Me
Tracing the 3,000-year Cao family legacy through Chinese history.
Conclusions
Reflections on perseverance, identity, and the power of limping forward.
Reviews & Praise
A vibrant story of a brilliant and industrious woman... a sweeping, intimate, and inspiring memoir.
An incredible true story that will motivate readers to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams against all odds.
A powerful and moving memoir. Libo's story of resilience and triumph over incredible adversity is truly inspiring.
Press & Media
In the News
Featured In
How a Disabled Chinese Immigrant Turned Polio and Ableism Into Becoming an Apple Executive and Author
by Steven Aquino
Read Article
Asian Pacific America interviews with Libo Meyers by Robert Handa.
by Robert Handa
Book Details
Lioncrest Publishing
June 27, 2023
384
Memoir / Non-Fiction