No comments about The Sweet Cherry Ranch: A Memoir.

No comments about Dead Asleep.

No comments about My Mother Ruth.

5 comments about Does She Know She's There?.

1. We read Does She Know She's There? as a requirement during our college course about teaching students with significant disabilities. We all really enjoyed the book. Although the novel was long, we found it to be a heartwarming story. Nicola Schaefer journals about her life with her daughter Catherine. Catherine is a child with multiple physical and cognitive disabilities. At a time when institutionalization was a common answer for children with disabilities, Nicola spent the great majority of her life advocating for her daughter and other children like her. She worked to get Catherine into appropriate schools and provide nurturing environments for children and adults with significant disabilities. Schaefer's genuine writing style brings readers into the story where they experience both her heartaches and joys. The text is also complimented with touching black and white photos of Catherine and the people that were important in her life.



2. Be careful! There are two versions of this book. You want to read the newer version, so you can get the whole story. Both versions are great. It is an inspirational true story written by a mother of a child with a severe disability. It discusses the mother's courageous attempts to better the quality of her daughter's life, when that was not the normal.



3. Wonderfully written! Nicola shares an aspect of life that many are too afraid to explore. Throughout the story of her daughter's life, Nicola shares the inhumanity and stigma that go with being a person with a disability in yesterday's society. This book is a time travel that spans through 1961 to 1999. It was astounding to see how society has changed and unfortunately...how it hasn't. This book will enlighten you and challenge you to view people with disabilities in a new light.

   As part of a college requirement, I read this book along with 3 of my classmates. We have analyzed and come to the conclusion that this book could change even the hardest of hearts.




4. What a lovely way with words. The author eloquently welcomes the reader into her world and allows you to meet Catherine, a unique and special young lady. The novel also lends itself to be a textbook on history and legislature regarding those with disabilities. Mrs. Schaefer obviously is rich in both knowledge and love.



5. It's hard to believe that Mrs. Schaefer isn't a professional writer who spends hours at the typewriter every day of her life. Her writing is amazing! I am the mother of a son with severe disabilities who was born in 1998, and Nicola is now my role model. Her daughter, Catherine, was born just a year before me in 1961, a time when services were essentialy non-existent for someone with her degree of disability. The Schaefer's raised her at home during a period of history when supports were something that had to fought for and won. And fight she did. What a woman.

   What's most inspiring to me, though, is the joy and humor that Nicola shares when telling Catherine's story. Despite the "inconveniences", as she refers to them, that Cath's disability presents, life is good. Not easy, but very, very good. I fell in love with the entire family.

5 comments about Do Butterflies Carry Spare Parts.

1. This is a book that comes straight from the heart. It is about a mother's heroic struggle over many years to help her developmentally-challenged son, whose immune system has apparently been severely damaged by a chemical intended for termites. This voyage through many years of treatment, through false starts, frustrating encounters with ignorant school teachers and officials, is also a spiritual journey that leads to encounters with forces of evil that seem otherworldly. All of this leads to shocking ending that no reader could expect. Highly recommended.



2. This book tells about how one mother never gave up trying to find help for her son. Her story is an inspiration to others who have to struggle for appropriate medical care, effective educational methods, and physical endurance to carry on over the years and never give up. After the first page, a reader cannot put it down. The story keeps unfolding, even when you think there can't be more. The Bryce family worked together to gain spiritual strength, and now Sarah shares their story with her readers.



3. Sarah Bryce eloquently illustrates the challenges of having a son with special needs. The reader is transported into the world of the 1960's & 1970's, when little was known in the medical and educational communities about children with undiagnosable conditions. In a time where warehousing handicapped children was encouraged, Bill & Sarah Bryce bravely navigated the turbulent waters of ignorance, nonchalance & anger. Instead of giving up hope, they sought help in both conventional and unconventional arenas and were successful. This book is a lesson in tenacity, courage and love.



4. This is a very fascinating book, brings out the loving relationship of Bill and Sarah Bryce with their highly gifted son Malcom who suffered from a severe nervous disorder.
   The book tells of their acquaintance with a physical therapist through whose help and encouragement they were able to help their son deal with the problems he faced.
   Thru this book and our friendship with the Bryces, I was put in touch with the therapist, Ed Snapp. By treatment in his clinic I have benefited greatly in my battle with a periferal nerve disease.
   Martin Schmidt 1343 31 Rd, Minden, NE 68959



5. I read Sarah Bryce's "Do Butterflies Have Spare Parts" and cried and laughed and got mad with the medical community and ached as the parents and family struggled through this painful ordeal. Sarah Bryde has opened up an avenue for us who have "different" children and with education and books like this maybe we can bring more understanding and healing to multitudes that need it.
   The book was the most loving and sincere and showed the love of a family, striving to stay intact under difficult circumstances. I highly recommend the book to any one who wants to understand human differences.

No comments about Always Happy or The Story of Helen Keller.

5 comments about Equal to the Task: One Family's Journey Through Premature Birth.

1. I cried with him and laughed with him through out this book. We also have a child that spent the first few months of her life in NICU. We adopted our daughter and did not know her until the week before she was dismissed from the hospital. From the information that the nurses gave us, we know that she was on one of those rollercoasters the whole time she was in NICU. Reading Mr. Cantrell's book helped me to picture the rollercoaster ride we would of been on if we had the privilege of meeting our daughter sooner than we did. My heart aches when I think of her going through that by herself. We have had many ups and downs with our daughter and her health since she has come home. Mr. Cantrell's honesty about the ups and downs in his faith helped me to know that I am not the only one that can be so strong in my faith one minute and then question God about how much I can endure the next. I thank Mr. Cantrell for his open and honest book on such a hard time in his family's life. I thank him for allowing me to share this experience with his family. I know that no two NICU stays are the same. None the less this allowed me a glimps in the first few months of my daughter's life. I thank him for that glimps.



2. We all wonder how we would "act" if faced with the reality of life's potential dark moments. I read this non-stop after just wanting to peruse it for a moment. It is informative factually but, more importantly, it let's you know you are not alone in feeling a range of emotions you might never expect when faced with adversity. It is also a love story even if it had not had a happy ending.



3. Althought the book shared a difficult and personal battle against adversity, i unfortunately found it to be dissapointingly weighed down with a dependence on religious faith for the fortunate outcome. Although this is a suitable and sufficient option for some, i personally found it to detract from the book for what it was...a tale of survival against the odds. Uncompelling and light in its narative style and format ... would not recommend to friends in a similar situation. Just one more light-weight text "for the soul".



4. I read Dail Cantrell's book and at times I found it almost impossible to put down. Cantrell is incredibly honest. Not many of us have the courage to address our most personal doubts and fears and then write about these deep, dark, unspeakable thoughts, particularly when someone else will read them. But the book is also informative, inspirational, and funny. Cantrell told about the day-to-day events that go on in the NICU and about how life somehow goes on even during incredibly stressful times. Sometimes I actually laughed out loud. It's my opinion that the book will provide information, hope, and inspiration for anyone facing prematurity or a child's illness.



5. Equal to the Task is emotionally involving, honest and informational. I had planned to read a little before going to bed, and found myself still reading at 2:30 a.m. Mr. Cantrell uses self-deprecating humor to tell his at first very frightening story of Benjamin's birth and struggle for life. I found out a lot about what one would expect to see in a neonatal unit. I especially liked Mr. Cantrell's references to music and the signifcance they play in our lives. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a good read, knows someone who has been through a similar experience, or might be facing one. It will provide both information, reassurance and hope.

5 comments about Today I Smile.

1. I was a student of Mrs. Wattles' English class back in the 90's. I was also a friend of Mandy's.
   I try to read this book at least once a year to remind me of the importance of family and why I should live each day as if it were my last. I have battled addiction for years and this book has helped, and still continues to help me immensely!!
   I plan on sharing this book with my son in the coming years. He is now 10 years old.
   Today, I ordered a copy as a gift for a lady who I work with. She lost her teenage daughter in a car accident a few short years ago. I am hoping this book will touch her heart, as it has mine - and will somehow bring her a sense of peace, knowing that she is not alone.
   Mrs. Wattles, thank you for writing this book. You remain in my thoughts and prayers, yesterday, today, and always! Much love to you!
   Carrie Malloch
   MSHS Graduate, 1993



2. "Today I Smile," offers each of us a glimpse into the raw pain of dealing with the death of a loved one. Readers experience the havoc drug addiction creates for the no-longer-denying-addict and her family. "Today I Smile," is insightful and offers hope to all in the midst of dealing with addiction or the loss of a loved one. I applaud the author's courage at opening up her experience with her daughter's addiction and the grief that raged at her daughter's untimely death. God Bless You, Diane....



3. I just finished reading "Today I Smile." I was struck by the author's honesty in telling a painful story. This is a well written story that allows the reader into the author's life. I felt as if I knew Mandy. I wanted to hug Kelsey and Diane. I highly recommend this book, for anyone that has lost a child, or for anyone that has a loved one involved in drugs. The story is told without self-pity, only with love and a need to share. There are many important facts that are written for all parents.
   This is a "must read."



4. My greatest fear is losing my son or daughter, and this book was not only heartwrenching, but insightful as well, delving into young people and the continual problem with drugs and addiction. Excellent book, especially for parents or teachers of our young ones.



5. An important and timely read for parents and those involved with children and young people. We must all be aware and alert concerning the dangers to the unwary in our present time. A sensitive and moving story. A must read for everyone!

2 comments about Deaf Women's Lives: Three Self-Portraits (Deaf Lives Series, Vol. 3).

1. Being a physician, albeit a hearing one, I considered myself fairly insightful about communicating with deaf people. How wrong I was! This book educated me in terms of "deaf awareness", helping me to understand better the challenges, and above all, the incredible hard work that deaf people face when functioning in a hearing world. For the first time, I glimpsed the rationale behind a deaf culture where sign language reigns supreme, where those of us who hear and talk with our voices are superfluous in a rich, rewarding personal life. I imagine that signing feels like putting on a comfortable pair of slippers after struggling all day in uncomfortable leather shoes that do not fit well!
   
   In the book, the three women profiled show us three different approaches to communicating with others in their world. Most importantly for me is that they tell their stories as women - women who have made their way through life with courage, determination and great good humor. Such is the measure of success. In their work, these women have ministered to the deaf, as well as families, schools, and communities. Through this book, they minister to all of us, helping us understand some extraordinary people who cross our paths.



2. The collaborative effort of Bainy Cyrus, Eileen Katz, Celeste Cheyney, and Frances M. Parsons, Deaf Women's Lives: Three Self-Portraits presents the lives of three deaf women through their own eyes and in their own words. One works as a counselor for mainstreamed deaf and disabled students; one survived harrowing Nazi attacks upon England during World War II; and one has traveled the world to teach administrators and deaf students how to communicate better. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this inspirational triple biography of women who refused to let their inability to hear limit their lives or their dreams.

No comments about Journey From Madness to Serenity.