Encouraged By Other Caregivers

It's like a Sisterhood; caregivers being encouraged by other caregivers! Two years ago I wrote Emily Perl Kingsley asking her permission to use "Welcome To Holland" in "Journey With Jeff'; Inspiration for Caregivers of People with Special Needs." She wrote, pleased to give her permission and asking me questions about Jeff. She told me her son Jason, who also lives with Down Syndrome, has written a book called, "Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome." I have read this encouraging book about two high-functioning young men. They remind me of Corky in the "Life Goes On" TV series in the 1990's. Wish that well-written program was still airing! ~~~ Just finished a book my favorite son-in-law found for me, "The Year My Son and I Were Born," by Kathryn Lynard Soper. I identified with many of her experiences, such as our babies' noisy breathing -- it led us to an Ear/Nose/Throat Specialist who asked if we'd ever thought Jeff could be retarded! Our world blew apart! Soper's comment, "He's slow, slow, slow. So what?!?" compared with our great pediatician's "So what!? Record everything Jeff CAN do in the back of his Photo Album." This became the beginning of my book about Jeff. When I see a child with Down Syndrome now, I think of the woman in Soper's book whose baby died at 5 years of age. Whenever she saw another child with Down Syndrome she cried, "His face, his face. It's been so long." Tears came when I read this ~~~ I wrote Kathryn Soper of my enjoyment of her memoir. She wrote back, "I appreciate you taking the time to contact me -- like you, my greatest reward is hearing from readers and fellow travelers." From one caregiver to another!