Changed by a Child: Companion Notes for Parents of a Child with a Disability

I bought this shortly after finding out my baby had severe cerebral palsy, blindess, and mental disabilities from brain damage. It was helpful to read the words of other parents whose children were didabled in various ways, because they knew what they were talking about. I did not feel the same as all of the contributors, but I could see their point of view. Reading some of the contributions, I felt so good knowing that some of these parents felt the same and had the same thoughts I did. At the time, I was deluged with advice and attempts at wisdom from people with healthy normal children. But this book offered me the shared wisdom and strength of parents who really know what it is like.

I only wish I had found this book a year ago, when I was first struggling with the facts of my child's disability. This is a book they should hand out to parents in hospitals and clinics. It is honest, heartbreaking, sweet and hopeful all at the same time. Not every one of the little notes will match your mood at any given time, but the book is structured so that you can pick and choose among them at random. Barbara Gill has managed to put into words the complex emotions of having a child that challenges every facet of your life in previously unimaginable ways, yet for whom you feel a deep and ferocious love. I keep it on my desk at work and pick it up when I feel myself flagging -- it never fails to help me pick up and go on.

This book was given to me by a friend and I have given it to countless others including my school district and my daughter's teachers through the years. This book means different things to me each time that I read it. I can pick it up after not reading it for several months and find something new and inspiring in it. I belong to a book club for moms who have kids with special needs and although we've read several books, we keep coming back to this one and each meeting we each read an exerpt and it can result in an entire night of sharing. This book can make you laugh, cry, reflect and give you strength to face another day. This is my favorite book of all times.

As the mother of a special needs child, if I had to choose one book to recommend, this would be that book! It is overwhelming sometimes how many books there are about our children and their conditions, behaviors, prognosis, etc. etc.. This book stands apart from all of that. It is one you will actually like to read and find time to read again and again and again. Thank you to Barbara Gill for having written the most amazingly wonderful and insightful book.

I am a Child Psychiatrist and was touched by the excerpts in this book. So much so that I haved given copies to the parents of many of my patients.From mild to major disabilities,my patients teach me every day and their parents need to hear how others put these challenges into perspective. The book offers support and compassion to the caretakers and families of these children.