5 comments about Me and My Shadow: Learning to Live With Multiple Sclerosis.

1. I so enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. While there are other books out there that give more medical and scientific info on MS, this one by far does the best job of going to the heart of MS and how it effects those diagnosed and those who care about them.



2. Carole Mackie's story of her symptoms, her diagnosis, the progress of her disease, and the things she did; projects she took upon herself to help her come to terms with her disease is one of the best'personal story' books on MS that I have read. Because the course of her disease was so similar to my own. I feel like most people with the relapseing-remitting type of the disease need to read this book. She doesn't over dramitize, or give any technical medical rundown. She is just an ordinary working young person faced suddenly, and joltingly, with a potentially, progressively debilitating disease. How she deals with it and comes to acceptance was life-reaffirming to me. She answered the question for me: where do, and will I be able to go from here?



3. My 35-year-old daughter gave me this book. She was recently diagnosed with MS and we have read the basic information books from the MS society. These books were very informative but as with most books of this nature...very factual.
   We have been leery to read other books since the unpredictable nature of this disease can be very upsetting for both patients and their families.
   Carole's book was very different. It gave her story, then gave those that were close to her, the opportunity to tell their story as to how it has effected their lives as well.



4. I was recently diagnosed w/ MS and picked up this book because, do I dare say, the title! It really spoke to me. As I read the book the things she said were so in line with what I was experiencing, right down to her diagnosis - assuming it meant you're off to the wheelchair, questions about being able to have children, the whole nine yards. I felt like it was me in that book - and in many ways it was. Its only been a month since I was diagnosed and its hard for those around me to understand what I'm going through. Indeed, this book gave me someone to connect with. I think its a good book for the newly diagnosed. It puts things in perspective.



5. This book was a big disappointment. She just isn't a very good writer, or particularly introspective or surprising. What she IS is very concerned with herself -- she dramatizes her situation out of proportion, and is able to gather a whole team around her to support her (very mild) symptoms.Everyone she comes in contact with is immediately recruited to help take care of her! As a woman who has struggled with MS for over 15 years I have to admit I found little to instruct, comfort or inspire me in this very self-centered account.

No comments about Autistics' Guide to Dating: A Book By Autistics, For Autistics and Those Who Love Them or Who Are in Love with Them.

5 comments about One Hundred Days: My Unexpected Journey from Doctor to Patient.

1. David did an exceptional job detailing every step of his BMT (bone marrow transplant). His courage was inspiring, and the tremendous support from his family was touching. Personally, I think his mother should receive an award for her devotion.

   I'm sure this book will serve as a useful resource, not only for individuals preparing for BMT, but anyone facing a life-threatening blood disorder. David's journey preparing his body for his sister's bone marrow, and his long recovery period was engrossing, thanks to David's skills in projecting his unique literary voice. He made all the medical terminology along with his treatments easy to follow.

   The ending surprised me -- that's all I'll say about that. I hope David remains healthy. I'm curious to know what happened to the novel he was working on.




2. This well-written book describes a doctor's experience within a system in which he had previously flourished. He was faced with an impossible decision between conservative and agressive treatment for a rare disease, and was essentially forced to make a leap of faith. It calls into question the notion of informed consent -- often there is no definitive informtion to aid the patient into making the right decision.



3. Biro is a writer and a dermatologist (not sure which order he'd put those in himself), and he's written a gripping account of surviving a life threatening disease. From the earliest stages, through the difficult decision to proceed with a bone marrow transplant, and the agonizing months of treatment and recovery that follow, he takes the reader by the hand through an emotionally and physically harrowing ordeal. Through it all, his life hangs in the balance, and he's written his story so well that you have to keep reminding yourself that he's had to survive the experience to write the book you're reading.

   This is not to say that you don't step back now and then and realize that you're not reading the story of a typical patient. Biro clearly has all sorts of advantages by being a doctor, with numerous personal connections in medicine, including a father who is a doctor. Biro gets privileged treatment all along the way, including the advice of two specialists whom he's actually able to get together in the same room to discuss his case from their differing points of view.

   In retrospect, you also realize that Biro has glossed over a remarkable stroke of good fortune -- his younger sister's being a perfect match as a bone marrow donor. While he praises his family for their tireless support at his bedside throughout his time as a patient, you feel that he also takes a great deal of this attentiveness for granted, especially the very painful procedure that his sister undergoes to be his lifesaver.

   But in spite of these misgivings, a reader is likely to feel thoroughly absorbed by Biro's story. He does, after all, have to endure weeks of physical pain and discomfort, all the while knowing that he might not survive at all. It's OK for him to be more self-centered than maybe we'd prefer.

   This is an excellent book for anyone in the healthcare professions, as it depicts graphically the experience of being a patient and having to endure treatment that is as life threatening as the disease being treated. As a companion to this book, I'd recommend the play "Wit," about a dying cancer patient, by Margaret Edson, also made into an HBO film by Mike Nichols, starring Emma Thompson.




4. I have PNH, and was stunned to find a book about my rare disease. This book does not go into great detail of living with PNH on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. Dr. Biro was fortunate enough to have a perfect match for his Bone Marrow Transplant. This book tells of his story through the BMT process, which I think is good for any one to read if they may have to have a BMT. It really explained a lot to me. Any one with PNH, would benenfit from reading his book. And it helps all of us with PNH to know there is a chance of a successful ending to PNH.



5. I read this book upon recommendation of a friend who knows the Biro family. I'm a health educator, so the chronicling of medical events is something I enjoy reading about, and this was not disappointing in that regard. I already knew some general information about BMT and how grueling it is, but David's narrative really filled in all the blanks. His decision-making process, the treatment ordeal itself, his illness's effect on his family -- it was all fascinating. Even though I knew he survived, I couldn't wait to read what happened next. This book made me care very much about what happened to David. I'd love to see an article on him and how he is doing now -- any aftereffects he may have suffered.

5 comments about A Feather in My Wig: Ovarian Cancer Cured, Seventeen Years and Going Strong!.

1. I was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in July 2000. After reading and hearing about the dismal survival statistics, I became extremely distressed and upset. A few months later, I discovered 'Feather'. This book boosted my immune system! It is informative, encouraging, humorous, and best of all, human. Barbara's story is certainly worth telling. I retell it often. My copy gets revisited on those sad and down days - a source of encouragement that helps me stay happy and strong.



2. Once my mother was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer, I began to learn about this terrible disease.
   
   Of all the books and internet sites I found, this little paperback is among the best. Brief, authoritative and written by a long-term suvivor. It gives you the good, the bad and ugly about treatment options and the disease with an upbeat undercurrent that science and medicine is becoming more successful in treating ovarian cancer.
   
   The author wrote this book from the victims perspective, which makes it a great introductory tome for anyone just diagnosed with this vicious disease.



3. This book that was written by an R.N. who experienced all of the Ovarian Cancer Disease and has indicated humor, positive attitude towards beating this "Beast". It's a must read book to make your day that is filled with laughter and a determined feeling of getting better each and every day. The review with one star is obviously a person who did not read the entire book and I challenge her to read it in its entirety and guarantee that she will love the book when finished! I absolutely loved the book and found so much healing in reading it myself. For I am also an Ovarian Cancer Survivor of two years and going strong. Godbless you Barbara...



4. I bought this book for my mother, who is currently battling ovarian cancer. I bought it to inspire her, and let her know that there are survivors out there. Well, the introduction was written to dramatize the book. It went on and on about how few people survive ovarian cancer (not true!!) and what a miracle it was that the writer survived. Consequently, my mother got extremely depressed. She never read the whole book because the introduction upset her so much.



5. I got this book for my mom who's recently been diagnosed with cancer. I picked it up this afternoon and didn't put it done until I was finished. What an inspiration! Just what I needed after a long week of discouraging news and facing grim statistics. The author was cured of Stage III Ovarian Cancer and tells how she battled the disease and won. Nothing "hokey" or "alternative" about it--unless you consider meditation, prayer, visualization, and POSITIVE thinking "hokey." This is an EXCELLENT book, surely it's a "must-have" for anyone facing this disease.

5 comments about Dancing on Quicksand: A Gift of Friendship in the Age of Alzheimer's.

1. Marilyn Mitchell has done an extrodinary job depicting the life and heartwarming stories of David Touff. Marilyn focused on herself just enough; not too much, but enough to let the reader understand her as the loving caregiver that she is. As the reader becomes acquainted with David throughout the book, they feel wrapped up in every emotion he experiences. My father has Alzheimer's and there is never "one size fits all" formula when it comes to caregiving. From the time I finished this book, I am still carrying David in my heart!

   Marilyn is an extrodinary person and writer. She gave of herself far beyond what the average caregiver or family member could even imagine doing. David was blessed indeed to have had the years with her as his close friend.




2. I came to this delightful book from the perspective of a daughter helping to care for my dear mother in the last 5 years of her life with Alzheimer's. Oh, how I wish I had read the book 7-9 years ago for its insights about relating to someone with dementia. Yet I think readership of this book should not be limited to people interested in this growing health problem. The book is a guidebook to enjoying life more fully, especially in the city/area where you live, as the author and David did with the many field trip pleasures of Denver. If you feel that a key ingredient of a good story is how people transform one another through their relationships, you will find yourself instantly captivated by Marilyn's and David's encounters and ensuing bond. They each possess charm, wit, and intelligence. Marilyn has an endearing ability to put herself in David's shoes, trying to understand his shrinking world and helping him uncover his genius. Marilyn's gift for language and her perceptiveness gives this book an energy that carries you to the end and leaves you regretting you're on the last page. You counter the regret by sharing this gem with others.



3. Dancing on Quicksand was an incredibly inspirational book. Reading it has made me want to be a better person, listen more carefully, to love others unconditionally, to work harder at loving others where they are. In a culture where we want to get rid of anything difficult, it was refreshing to see what Marilyn Mitchell gained by sticking with David and loving him through his illness. Although this is a book about a person who has helped someone with dementia, it is far more than that. It is a book about what real love looks like. I am just about to open up my copy one more time and read it again. Thanks Marilyn for sharing this rich experience with us!



4. Mitchell's remarkable account of her relationship with David Touff reminds us, regardless of whether dementia is involved, to be respectful and mindful in our relationships with each other. This well-told story is inspirational and informative, and is of especially great use to anyone dealing with how to relate to anyone whose faculties are fading.



5. Mitchell's remarkable account of her relationship with David Touff reminds us, regardless of whether dementia is involved, to be respectful and mindful in our relationships with each other. This well-told story is inspirational and informative, and is of especially great use to anyone dealing with how to relate to anyone whose faculties are fading.

5 comments about Spelling Love with an X: A Mother, a Son, and the Gene That Binds Them.

1. While informing us about Fragile X Syndrome, Clare Dunsford reminds us in a distinctive voice that much more than genes binds us. Her well-told tale captures the complexity of competing realities running through most of our lives -- identity, vocation, family, faith, parenthood (and the profound difference between motherhood and fatherhood), friendship, support, loneliness and love. So we laugh, cry and rejoice with her as she recounts the frustrations and surprises of her childhood, romances, career and parenting experiences. Her references to classic literature make manifest the mystery encountered in human differences no matter the time or culture, a mystery best understood in the binding of body and spirit despite the fragility of either. "Spelling Love With an X" is a classic love story. Dunsford's X is her and her family's cross (a cross that marks others' lives in other ways) and is only made bearable in anyone's life by Love which is more Divine than human. Her story offers hope to all of us who want to live and love well.



2. As a parent of a son with Fragile X who is a couple of years younger than Ms. Dunsford's son, J.P., we've experienced the despair as well as the joy she writes of. Her story is beautifully written and shines with the love we have and hope we need for the future for our adult children. She is able to describe the charming, witty character of her son in a way that rings true for parents of children with Fragile X. It's her own story as well. Life as a carrier of Fragile X has its own challenges - ones you might believe are your own character faults - until you find out, at whatever age, that you are a carrier and that the personal battles you've fought for so long are the result of a genetic defect you were born with. The science is helpful. The research is hopeful. Parents, family, carriers, friends should read this book to get a good look at life with Fragile X.



3. This book is still with me. Those are the best kinds of books, I think, the ones that you remember well after reading them. I think it's because "Spelling Love With An X" resonates beyond its specific circumstances. It's not just about Clare Dunsford and her son, but in some way every parent and child. Or, really, every relationship. As Dunsford wonders aloud at one point in the book, since her family carries the gene, is it possible this or that relatives slight eccentricity is really just an extremely mild manifestation of Fragile X. In other words, most brain disorders are merely exaggerations of characteristics we all understand to some degree. We are all on a spectrum of varying consciousness and need. As a result, Dunsford's exploration of the extreme challenges she faces with her son are more than just a faceless "case study." They do what literature should do at its best. They make her and her son's situation universal.



4. Clare Dunsford's book is an unusual blend of personal memoir and scientifically researched information drawn from a mother's poignant journey raising a child with Fragile X. Dunsford's book blends poetic elegance with important up to date information about her son's genetic condition, a useful read for anyone living or working with children or adults with any developmental disorder. As a special educator who is also an avid reader I was fascinated. Further, I learned of the relationship that this disorder may have to autism which has touched my extended family and of the hope that the future of medical research holds for all those affected by developmental conditions. Ms Dunsford tells her story with strong emotion and wonderfully crafted writing but does not stray from her goal of sharing the knowledge base she has been accumulating over the 21 years of her charming and interesting son's life.



5. Clare Dunsford's book is a moving, beautifully written story about her and her son JP's journey with Fragile X, the most common inherited cause of mental retardation. Dunsford defly weaves science, poetry, and wit through her personal story. This book will resonate with anyone who has a child touched by Fragile X, autism or any other cognitive or genetic disorder. But this book's reach goes far beyond the world of Fragile X. Anyone who loves memoir or who is interested in exploring the depths of a mother's love, a family's interconnectedness, and the human soul will discover they can't put this book down.

5 comments about Finding Ben : A Mother's Journey Through the Maze of Asperger's.

1. I came across this book at the time when I was struggling with my boy who was exhibiting severe symptoms of Autism. I spent all my time and energy trying to 'fix' or 'rescue' what I felt was a 'broken' child and we both end up deeply frustrated and totally miserable.
   
   Then I came across this book by accident at a cookbook section of the library. This is truly god's miracle cos my boy has the SAME NAME. After reading this book I cried and cried and cried for days and then came the great awakening which totally transformed my life and my rel'p with my child.
   
   In this book you will not find secret ways or recipes to healing your child. Only one simple, powerful and life changing way - ACCEPTANCE. This book taught me how to embrace my child's uniqueness and focus on his strengths instead of his weaknesses.
   
   Today, with my acceptance and love, my Ben (age 5) who has SEVERE autism symptoms is doing so well in school and everyone we know tell us he's the happiest, smartest and sweetest little child they've ever met. I'm forever grateful to god and to the writer for this book.
   
   This is a book that everyone especially parents with special children should read. I wish this book would transform your life like the way it did for me and my family.



2. The book certainly was depressing but I kept reading it because the cover had promised a 'happy ending'. I'm sorry, but I did not see the happy ending. All I read about was Ben who had to struggle much more against rigid expectation than with his developmental disability. And his mother who went from "why is my son so different, I am disgusted by him" to "it is not my fault but he still disgusts me" to "look-at-me I can interact with my son without feeling disgusted and I am a 'tireless advocate for people with dissabilities'". I am sorry, but she needs to get over herself in the worst way. I know that is probably not entirely fair of me to say. I can accept Ben as a person with Aspergers and maybe I should accept that his mother is who she is. I would think that she is a Type A and going from trying to fix her son to 'I m an advocate - let's write a book about it', might be a huge improvement, but it is still the flipside of the same coin.
   I have a son with high functioning autism and I can related to having your heart sink every time you realize how different your child ticks. I am awake at night worrying how his life will be. But I always knew that my job was to love and protect. Parenting will teach you about yourself but at the end of the day it is about your child not you.



3. Reads like a novel. Very honest. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.
   I bought this book because my daughter suspected her child of having Asperger's syndrome. I knew nothing of the disease. This book not only helped me understand it, but it also gave me much insight into my own grandson's world.
   I liked the way it was written. Simple and honest. Much better than reading a lengthy, technical book on the disease.
   Read it, you'll gasp, laugh and cry.



4. Finally, a resonant voice in the mire of books on special needs that isn't overloaded with technical detail. What distinguishes this book from others is that Barbara La Salle lets her anger, regret, and fury fly forth --an honest voice amid the cries by everyone else to "hush up, be strong, compassionate, and a veritable pillar of strength" even though deep inside you are cracking up.
   
   Anyone with a special needs child faces frustration. Unfortunately, most of the books out there demand that you either take the countenance of Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Phil. Everything isn't okay, and Barbara LaSalle, who is both the mother of her son Ben and also a therapist, let's that old stereotype take a pounding. She talks about her regrets, her failures, and her slow acceptance that not everything about her son is her fault. Her son Ben also writes part of the book. His voice is important to show that people with Asperger's struggle, but have a conscience worth hearing and learning from.
   
   Her story is moving, and it is also honest and shocking. I'd recommend this to all parents, spouses of Asperger's patients, as well as Asperger's patients because they have to understand that until you can identify your own anger, you can never move beyond it.
   
   Nicely told, the only regret I have is that a bit more attention to editing and structure from a writing standpoint would have made it move a bit quicker and avoid some of the repetition that befalls it.



5. I have a high-functioning autistic son who is very like Ben in many ways, and I was horrified at this mother's attitude! While I applaud her for her honesty in admitting all her faults, I can't help but feel that Ben's life would have turned out very differently if she had accepted him as he was. This is the story of a great tragedy, the loss of 33 years of this young man's life.
   
   I was a "goody-two-shoes" when I was a child, always trying to please the "grown-ups" and fit their expectations. But as I grew up, I realized that I would have to make my own decisions, ESPECIALLY when it came to my child! Obviously, this mother did not. No matter what my family said, no matter that the doctors accused me of being an "overly protective Mom", I knew my child was this way because of something internal to him, and that his behavior was not his fault!
   
   When I finally found a doctor who recognized his autism (at age 4), I realized that the truism is correct; "a mother knows best." But even if I had not received the diagnosis, I would never have behaved the way this mother did. She betrayed her son because SHE wanted to fit in, to be a "good girl." This story broke my heart for the sake of Ben, and I am still depressed after reading it several days ago.
   
   I believe that most mothers will love and accept their chid, no matter how strange he is. And I believe that is one of the most important things we can do for them! If you want to see what NOT to do, this is the book for you!

5 comments about Miracle in the Making: The Adam Taliaferro Story.

1. The book "Miracle in the Making" is an inspirational story about Adam Taliaferro, a former Penn State football player who was paralyzed in a game. He was told he would never walk again and this books lets you travel with Adam in his personal story of his road back after being completely paralyzed. This boo is a truly motivational book in which i recommend anyone, not just Penn State fans, to read.



2. This truley is an excellent book. I grew up in the same neighborhood with Adam, attended the same HS (graduate a year after) and every bit of information (names, dates, etc) are all correct. All the information about his character is completely true, he really is an inspirational person. Growing up in a huge suburban high school with him, it really was a very competitive atmosphere. Everyone seemed to love him because he was one of the brightest (one of the highest GPAs of his class, scholar athlete and best athlete in the school) along with being one of the most modest, down to early people ever. If someone had the will to succeed it is him. I recommend this book to anyone overcoming obstacles, down on their luck,athletes and basically anyone because it is the type of book that you can not put down.



3. After finding out that Adam Taliaferro couldnt walk again ever. His father and mother urged him to push on. His spirits were high always no matter what. This is a triumphant story about courage and self-determination and a little help from some up above



4. This book is good for anyone whether you are a football fan or not. I personally am a football fan, and I would especially recommend this book for those football fans out there. This book is inspirational and well documented. It is also at a good price now, and it is a quick read.



5. All too often in today's world of youth sports; parents, coaches and players miss the meaning of sportsmanship. Having been involved in youth sports for 14 years, I have witnessed over bearing parents and tenacious coaches. I suggest they keep a copy of "Miracle in the Making" in their equipment bags. This book highlights the true meaning of a parent/child relationship and a coach/player relationship. Adam is the definition of courage, kindness and strength. His family's support during his recovery is awe-inspiring. The writers did a terrific job of bringing me along on Adam's journey to recovery. I will be on the sidelines cheering; watching as Adam wins the biggest game of his life!

5 comments about Never Give Up!: How Tragedy Taught Me That Life Is an Attitude.

1. I read this book for a book report, and I got so into it, that I finished it in a day. I was drawn into Ron's life, and I didn't want to leave! His story was (I know this is really cliche but...) Inspirational. My point of view changed, from that moment. I realized that even if I felt like God's grace wasn't prevalent in my life, it actually was, because God has kept me safe throughout my life. There's multiple reasons that Ron had to go through this ordeal, but I believe that at least one reason was to reach people, people that feel lost or hurt, or like there's no reason to live, becasue Ron's been there, and he's been through that. God bless him, ans I pray that more people will read this book, ans see How God has work great things through this accident. I throughly enjoyed this book though.



2. I bought this book last year after seeing Ron Heagy on a television program. I was so encouraged when I listened to him that night while hearing him speak. Then I found out about this book.
   I cannot tell you what a wonderful and inspiring book it is to read. Mr. Heagy really captures your heart when you read all the things he went through after his accident which left him a quadraplegic. After I read the book I passed it to a friend and she read it that night and her husband read it in one sitting!
   This book will inspire, encourage and challege you in your life. It is a wonderful depiction of his life and hardships and what God has done for him despite everything he has been through and will eventually go through.
   It is a highly recommended book to read for anyone....young and old. Take time to buy and read this book! You won't regret it and you will want to pass it to every friend you have to read it.



3. Here's another one of those books by authors who have had a rough life. The theme is the same as most of the books in this category: "If I can do it, you can do it."

   This book is different. More than a challenge book, this one is a moving, emotional autobiography that will fill your heart with admiration and a desire to do something for others. The movie, Pay It Forward, came to mind several times as I hungrily read page after page. I just didn't want to put the book down. Several times, while reading "Never Give Up!" on an airplane, the emotion welled up strongly enough to bring tears to my eyes and a "catch" in my heart. I have not read many books that grabbed me and held me as this one did.

   Ron Heagy is a quadriplegic. He's seriously handicapped physically, but powerfully strong spiritually. His love of God was present before his life-changing experience when he was 18 (no, I won't spoil your reading by telling you what happened), but became considerably stronger over the years. Even if you are not a deep believer, you will be impressed by how Ron's faith has made a tremendous difference for him.

   Today, Ron Heagy makes a difference in the lives of other people as a motivational speaker and a leader in service to the disabled community. As you read about what he has accomplished, as he shares his story, you will be thankful that Ron and others like him are around to influence us. I was inspired by his struggle, but perhaps even more moved by what he has done in spite of potentially overwhelming odds.

   This autobiography is filled with 39 chapters, an average of seven pages long, each sharing a chapter in the author's life. Co-author Donita Dyer, who helped shape this awesome story into book form, did a masterful job. We are right with Ron, inside his head and his heart, as he moves from one experience to another on a roller-coaster ride of a life. You can't help being thoroughly engaged in this story, as an individual, as a member of society, and as someone who influences the lives of others every day. There are several aspects of this book that will be particularly valuable for corporate executives, teachers, and others who are looked up to because of who they are . . . or should be.

   Warning: You won't be able to put this book down until you finish it. Then you'll want to give it to someone else close to you to read. This valuable book is priced low enough that it can easily be given as a gift. Buy several copies.




4. This book is one of the best books I have ever read. It was WONDERFUL! It made me see that I am not the only one in the world with problems and when you are thrown one and slaped in the face with it that you can make a triumph of it. I hope that you enjoyed this wonderful novel as much as I did.



5. I met Ron Haegy several years ago and heard his story as told by him. He is simply amazing. I have looked for this book and not found it in our local stores. I ordered it and got another book by the same title. I am excited to find his book at Amazon.com and I have no doubt that it will be as wonderful as Ron was in person. I recommend this book to everyone.

5 comments about The Things I Want Most: The Extraordinary Story of a Boy's Journey to a Family of His Own.

1. An uplifting account of one boy's struggle to overcome a disadvantaged life. If you liked this, definitely check out "The Wanderer" by Ken Grant of Massachusetts (1993)



2. This book is the best personal account of fostering/adopting an older child that I have ever read. It is a natural for a "made for TV" movie, with its dramatic story, picturesque setting, and cast of "characters." I laughed, I cried, I sobbed. In Miniter and his wife, we see the mixture of naivete/ignorance, denial, and audacity that goes into the decision to bring a "disturbed" youngster into one's family. The book also reflects the reality that formal treatment plans are limited (and sometimes unrealistic) and that "real life"-- honest emotions and reactions, normal expectations, natural consequences-- can be a strong motivator in turning around dysfunctional behavior. To the reader who is NOT an experienced foster/adoptive parent, I would offer a few minor cautions: 1) Miniter makes no mention of receiving any kind of training before taking the boy into his family. If that was indeed the case, that's a major flaw in the "Harbor" program. Prospective foster and adoptive parents of kids in the child welfare system should receive fairly extensive training in areas such as what to expect when the children come into your home, how the system (and particular agency) works, and how to manage difficult behavior. 2) Miniter would probably be one of the first to point out that this book is not a blueprint for others but is instead ONE case study, of ONE youngster, in ONE family. The Ministers' experience notwithstanding, psychotropic medication and/or psychotherapy are important-- if not essential-- components in some youngsters' healing, and respite care and parent support groups can be lifesavers for some "therapeutic" parents. 3) Miniter says he ignored some of the safety precautions recommended by his agency, and suggested that (hunting) guns were readily accessible in his home. Having weapons easily available in ANY home with kids (even "normal" children!) is foolhardy, and most agencies REQUIRE pretty sensible safety precautions.



3. This book teaches many lessons. First and foremost that the husband-wife relationship plays such a major role in raising children, and it showed in this book. The relationship between Rich and Sue is an admirable one, one that not is not so common after so many years of marriage. With that bond of love, they raised a house full of kids and later in life, were able to take on one more kid, very different from their own. They gave it 1000% and stuck with it through thick and thin. What they did for "Mike" is untouchable, precious and blessed. God Bless the Miniters and the best of luck to "Mike" in his future endeavors to become a chef.........This book more than once will put a lump in your throat and a tear or two in your eye...To learn more about children, about sacrifices, about life, you must read this beautiful story !!



4. This book is not only for those who are adopting or work with disturbed children, but it can serve as a valuable lesson for those who have never been in these situations. It is necessary to know that trouble derives from the early years of a child's life and how important it is to show affection, trust and caring to children at all ages.



5. How many broken windows and hearts can one family endure? Obviously for the Miniter's there is no finite answer to that! What a family! I picked this book without having any clue of what it was about. Saw the jacket, the title caught my eye and that was all it took. I was drawn in almost immediately. I am a 20-something woman, that is not married, has no children and is not adopted. I have not encountered many, if any, foster children and I still found this book to be an incredibly moving story. To Richard and Sue and the entire family- you have most certainly earned my respect and admiration. If only we could all be as patient, understanding and as loving as you are! What a great testimony to the good in the world- thank you for sharing your story. I truly hope that you encounter only good fortune in the future, no one family deserves it more than you!!