Category: Family Publisher: Author House
ISBN-10: 1728327474
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 72
Copyright: September 13, 2019
ISBN-13: 9781728327471
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
A Walk with Liam is one mother's raw, unapologetic description of raising a special needs child. It is filled with joy, despair, laughter and soul-searching. The reader will be immersed in the world of the special needs family. They will share a mother's triumphs and tragedies, as she navigates through the perplexing world of disabilities.The book was written with the intent of helping parents of newly diagnosed children overcome the daily struggles of raising a special needs child, without losing themselves in the process. There is a reference section with websites for further information. The top pediatric hospitals in the United States are ranked by specialty. A section on record keeping is provided to help families keep track of their own journey. If this book helps one special needs family find the courage and strength to face another day, it has served its purpose. You are not alone. We are here. And we are mighty.
A Walk with Liam is one mother's raw, unapologetic description of raising a special needs child. It is filled with joy, despair, laughter and soul-searching. Most of all it is filled with honesty and hope.
The reader will be immersed in the world of the special needs family. They will share a mother's triumphs and tragedies as she navigates through the perplexing world of disabilities. Every misstep, every self-doubt, every failure, every victory and every joy will be witnessed by the reader.
The book was written with the intent of helping newly diagnosed families overcome the daily struggles of raising a special needs child, without losing themselves in the process. The journey is challenging, exhausting and rewarding. There are days when these parents don't think they can go on, but they must, they can and they will.
There is a reference section with websites for further information. The top pediatric hospitals are ranked by specialty. A section on record keeping is provided to help families keep track of where they are in their own journeys.
If this book helps one special needs family find the courage and strength to face another day, it has served its purpose.
You are not alone. We are here. And we are mighty.
Excerpt
The Amble Through Autism
I was beginning to get a handle on Liam's varied diagnoses when I started to notice some subtle changes. He lost the ability to pronounce consonant sounds around the age of two. Prior to that time, he was saying "ba,"ga," "na,"
"ma," and other typical nonsensical baby blather. Now all he did was scream or stare in silence. He also would not make direct eye contact. It was difficult to get him to smile. We would soon learn why: Liam was autistic.
I distinctly recall the day he was diagnosed. I had taken my daughter with us to the appointment because I couldn't find anyone to watch her. On the ride home, I started to cry. This was alarming for my daughter, as I usually stifled my tears until I was alone. I needed to be strong for her and put on a happy face.
As she wiped the tears from my cheek, she asked, "Mommy, why are you crying?" I explained what we had just found out about her brother. "That's okay, Mommy. It just means that he will be able to draw really pretty pictures for us."
My tears turned to laughter. My daughter, not knowing what autistic meant, had thought I said Liam was "artistic."
It would be one of the many times throughout my life where Skylar would pull me out of the depths of despair. Somehow, we would deal with this new diagnosis.
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Reviews for "A Walk with Liam: A Mother's Personal Journey with Her Special Needs Child"
Amazing! What a powerful book. 'A Walk with Liam' is a mother's personal journey caring for and seeing that her special needs son is cared for correctly. The tiredless warrior of a mom shares her tales of love, hardship, trials and errors. The author shares her story of strength, defeat and victories of raising her son. The things that worked, the things that failed, the things she tried. Susa Tala Mueller has put together an exceptional book of encouragement for those finding themselves in her shoes. I can't praise her courage enough. Thank you for your heartfelt words. The ending sections are amazingly helpful and well organized. An excellent handbook for parents of special needs children.
I was surprised recently to learn the percentage of autism in children today. I don't remember exactly what it is, but much higher that I thought, and increasing. I'm so glad you've written a book that describes exactly what you are or have been going through. People who scoff at people with disabled children don't realize the difficulty or the cost.
On one hand, I wish that there was a way to learn of severe disabilities before a child is born so that the parents do not have to go through, and many times, have to give up their children because of the cost and difficulty caring for them. I have been out in the community of young disabled adults whose parents put them in institutions, and then they worked their way out, surviving with low-paid caregivers and housing provided by welfare from the state. I receive some small assistance for my three caregivers who work about 88 hours a week, although I spent most days alone without the need of assistance.
Autism is strange. Some autistic individuals have talents that are very marketable. I have an original and two smaller replicas of collages done by Grant Manier. He came with his mother and hung those works in my home with others. His mother got him out of his shell by putting him in a special school for autistics and providing Grant with magazines to tear up and create his colorful and beautiful collages, some now worth thousands of dollars. He is still very young, 23, now I believe, and already made a name for himself at art exhibitions. He has shown his collages with Cheech Marin and been invited to the White House. His mother is a tireless promoter and has helped him make it happen.
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