GILLETTE, Wyo. — A local healthcare leader and keynote speaker has stepped out from public relations, becoming a Wyoming-based author with the debut of his memoir on the American Dream.
Titled “Meteoric: A Memoir Against All Odds,” the memoir follows the life story of author Norberto Orellana — who is involved in business development for the Powder River Surgery Center — and is currently available for purchase as of Dec. 2.
From his birth with cerebral palsy, Orellana’s memoir chronicles his rise from disability, extreme poverty, abuse and homelessness to become a successful father, husband, homeowner and college graduate by the time he was 23, according to a late November release.
In his memoir, Orellana shares that the American Dream is alive and well if one chooses to chase after it while also touching on the state of welfare systems and the politics and beliefs that influenced those he grew up around. Candid and unfiltered, Orellana’s story lets readers witness a life of incredible determination and be inspired to spark their meteoric rises.
“My story is not of special talent or gifts,” Orellana said in a statement. “It’s a story of the universal power we all share to defy the odds and achieve our dreams. My mission is to inspire others to take control of their lives, unleash the power that lies dormant in them, and remind them that no one is born extraordinary. We are born to become extraordinary — to become meteoric.”
Through his personal experience with adversity and success, Orellana shares thought-provoking and empowering narratives challenging societal norms. At the same time, he critiques complacency and champions self-agency, developing the idea of the “meteoric” qualities that set those who overcome the odds apart from those who don’t, per the release.
Orellana currently resides in Gillette with his wife and two daughters.
Correction 12/4/24: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Norberto Orellana’s affiliation. He is currently involved in business development at the Powder River Surgery Center.
