From: Margaret Mezzacapo
Author: Jill Bolte Taylor
I had read Ms. Taylor’s book several years ago from my viewpoint at the time as an EMT and member of the Fire Department, which I still am. But reading it now from the viewpoint of having had a stroke myself at a relatively young age, it takes on a whole new meaning and perspective. There were times when this book was almost uncomfortably close to home. Ms. Taylor chronicles everything spot-on. I’d recommend this to all audiences.
From Lola Ferris
author: Peete, Rodney
Not My Boy! a Father, a Son, and One Family’s Journey with Autism
Imagine being an NFL star quarterback and discovering that your son, at three, has developed autism. When R.J. was born, Rodney Peete had dreams of tossing a football with his son. Instead, the anger, denial and pain he experienced on hearing the diagnosis took its toll on his relationships with his other children and almost collapsed his marriage.
Today, eight years later, R.J. has come from a child who couldn’t “look his father in the eye” to a lively, healthy youngster who plays soccer. The journey the Peetes took to bring him to this point included changed expectations, determination, patience, a roster of professionals and parents like themselves. Peete describes in intimate, simple, honest language the painful trip he and Holly, his wife took, how he changed from a macho, tough guy to a father able to give his child unconditional love. This is a must-read for any parent who is going through a similar experience, or anyone who wants to read a book about the way love of a child can lead a parent to learn how to be a strong yet devoted father.
From Margo Blatt
author: Picoult, Jodi
House Rules
I was glad that this book was not as much of a tearjerker as her others. Or maybe my hormones were out of whack. I am very sensitive to children waith special needs as I work with them during the school year. Aspergers is a subject I am so interested in. My son was diagnosed with it however I feel this is not a correct one after reading so books and biographies about the condition. Anyone in the education field should read this. Or anyone with a heart.
From Lola Ferris
author: Singh, Simon & Ernst
Trick or treatment : the undeniable facts about alternative medicine
If you are considering treatment with unconventional techniques please read this book before you make a phone call to a specialist in such methods. A medical journalist (Singh) and a medical doctor (Ernst) set out to discover the truth about the lotions, potions, pills and pummeling that make up the world of alternative medicine. They were determined to be objective, to investigate clinical trials, and any scientific evidence that might support claims that alternative medicine works. What did they come up with? Very little evidence that the scientific method was used to evaluate such treatment. Claims of specialists in this field were found to be anecdotal in most cases, and a placebo effect in others, with very little true scientific investigation ever taking place.
Using many fascinating historical case studies, they ask what works, which
claims are the truth, who is ripping you off, who can you trust, which cures have some merit and which can be harmful. Written in a lively, reasoned style, this book is a must for anyone thinking of using alternative therapy, although if you’ve already spent time and money and are a true believer, reading this book will only result in a headache.
From Lola Ferris
author: Davenport, Randi
The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes: A Mother’s Story
This is the poignant story of a mother’s fight to get her son, Chase, diagnosed and treated for a disease that is variously described as ADHD, autism and finally,in his teens, full-blown psychosis. Davenport tells the story of visits to doctors, each with different diagnoses: Chase’s problem doesn’t fit into any niche, making the search for help even more frustrating.
As he enters his teens, Chase becomes paranoid, violent and suicidal, and insurers cut off his health insurance, since there is no name for his disease. This forces Davenport to send him to a state mental hospital, where he is drugged into a vegetative state. She finally finds a small
facility, devoted to young men with developmental disabilities, though we are never sure this is the end of her painful journey. We are drawn into the world of Davenport, an academic and a writer, as she describes the pain of a fiercely devoted mother held hostage to forces beyond her understanding or control. Her story is straightforward, honest and gripping.
