Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs Read online

  What People Are Saying About

  Chicken Soup for the Soul ®

  Children with Special Needs . . .

  “This is such an important book! As parents, we need all the love, strength, and support we can get, especially from other parents and families. We are our children’s voices and the world needs to know how dedicated parents are and how hard our children work to overcome such obstacles that we sometimes take for granted.”

  Nicole O’Drain

  “If this book had been available to me back when our son Gary was born, it would have given me great hope for a happy future for our wonderful son. Families of children with disabilities desperately need validation that their child can function successfully in our society, and lead a productive life. The stories printed here demonstrate just how much is possible with hope, optimism, and faith.”

  —Helen Ruvolo

  “Thank you for not only addressing this topic but for providing a forum that allows us the opportunity to share our stories and read all the beautiful pieces included in the published edition. Each time I read such stories, they go straight to my heart and always leave a lasting impression; always touching, always spiritually enlightening, always uplifting. Love them!”

  —Diane Cassity

  “As the founder of Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona, I know that Down syndrome is the most common genetic birth defect. There will be countless parents who will love this book. Most parents’ hearts feel broken when hearing what feels like the hardest news ever about their newborn or unborn baby. This book will bring more comfort than you can ever imagine.”

  —Gina Johnson

  “When I was pregnant, all I could find was books that told me the bad, unhappy things that were in store for me. I wish I would have had a book that would have given me hope for a happy life. But of course, no one could have prepared me for the amount of joy I receive from my daughter daily.”

  —Carolyn A. Kenney

  “The need for such a book is long overdue. The challenges of my son’s autism have made me aware of how much work goes into not only loving him, but also appreciating his uniqueness. We need to know that others support us, whether through words that embrace the core of our struggles, or through a simple smile of understanding at the grocery store. We need avenues to express our joy, vent our frustrations, and share our triumphs.”

  —Brenda Williams

  “Our family is quite grateful for this project and the awareness it will create for these fantastic children. Our children have broadened and enriched our lives greatly and perhaps this book will give many others a little ‘taste’ of our joy.”

  —John Bolton

  “Chicken Soup for the Soul will provoke a better understanding of individuals with different abilities. I wish I had this book when I taught special education.”

  Joey Travolta

  Director, Inclusion Films

  “Reading these stories has been a great experience for me. I work for an agency that provides services for people with disabilities and sometimes feel disconnected from our agency’s mission. This has helped me feel a stronger connection to my work place. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in other people’s lives, to hear their dreams and hopes, triumphs and sorrows. It has been an honor.”

  —Patty Dobbins

  “I wish I could write each and every person to thank them for their stories. They have kept me smiling and sane through an international move, trying to readjust to life in the states and starting a new job. It’s been a busy couple of months, and I’m not sure I could have done it without the laughter and the tears from reading these stories.”

  —Heather Minnick

  CHICKEN SOUP

  FOR THE SOUL®

  CHILDREN WITH

  SPECIAL NEEDS

  Stories of Love and Understanding for Those

  Who Care for Children with Disabilities

  Jack Canfield

  Mark Victor Hansen

  Heather McNamara

  Karen Simmons

  www.hcibooks.com

  www.chickensoup.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Chicken soup for the soul : children with special needs / Jack Canfield . . .

  [et al.].

  p. cm.

  eISBN-13: 978-0-7573-9854-4 (ebook) eISBN-13: 0-7573-9854-5 (ebook)

  1. Children with disabilities. I. Canfield, Jack, 1944-

  HV888.C475 2007

  362.4083—dc22

  2007020388

  © 2007 John T. Canfield and Hansen and Hansen LLC

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  HCI, its logos and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

  Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

  3201 S.W. 15th Street

  Deerfield Beach, FL 33442–8190

  R-05-08

  Cover photo ©Wolfgang Weinhäupl, topimages.com

  Cover design and interior formatting by Lawna Patterson Oldfield

  This book is dedicated to

  everyone involved in the life of

  a growing child.

  We also dedicate this book to our own children

  who have helped us grow as people.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  Share with Us

  See Me Melissa Riggio as told to Rachel Buchholz

  1. ADJUSTING

  Welcome to Holland Emily Perl Kingsley

  In the Game Reverend Johnny Wray as told to Stephanie Welcher Thompson

  A Message from John Jo Clancy

  The Miracle of Jay-Jay Louise Tucker Jones

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Sarah and MMC John S. Smigal

  Tomorrow Jill Presson

  No Words Stacey Flood

  Seeing Through Josh’s Eyes Deborah Rose

  The Voice of Reason Wears SpongeBob Underpants Shari Youngblood

  One Mother to Another Donna Turenne

  Reaching Back Pam Wilson

  A Reason to Celebrate Janet Lynn Mitchell

  My Finest Teachers Gina Johnson

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Cheryl Kremer

  The Vacation Michelle M. Guppy

  What They Forgot to Mention Sandy Sotzen

  2. GRATITUDE

  Is That All? PeggySue Wells

  The Little Boy Who Waves Michelle M. Guppy

  All She Has Connie Ellison

  One Brief Hour Suzanne Woods Fisher

  The Gift Jeffrey J. Cain, M.D.

  I Won’t Do It Nanette Whitman-Holmes

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Jimmy Hinkley

  McBuns! Trisha Kay Kayden

  Challenges Mary Mooney

  What’s the Truth About Thomas? Laura Dean as told to Jeanne Pallos

  Kids Amaze Me Chynna Laird

  A Whale of a Time Michelle Ward

  Talking to Strangers Jennifer Lawler

  On the Inside Susan Farr-Fahncke

  Broken-Down Signs Scott Newport

  Broken Shells Debbie Jaskot

  3. MILESTONES

  Dancing with Myself Stephanie Welcher Thompson

  Sunday Morning Hillary Key

  Speech Therapy Karen Brill

  Toss of a Coin Ted Kuntz

  Miniature Angels Susan Farr-Fahncke

  Milestones Gina Morgan

  Baby Steps Came in Her Own Ti
me Beverly Beckham

  The Race Lisa J. Schlitt

  In Life and in Death, Always Faithful Sarah Smiley

  Perspectives Dick Sobsey

  4. BREAKING BARRIERS

  Music to My Ears Jacqui Kess-Gardner

  I Am Dillon York

  The Spirit of Travis Teresa D. Huggins

  Amanda’s Triumphant March Carol Willoughby

  The Need for Speed Linda Muzzey

  The Most Famous Kid at School Rachel Ezekiel-Fishbein and Joel I. Fishbein

  Trials and Tribulations Ellis Rubin as told to Dary Matera

  You Didn’t Give Me a Turn Mary Henderson

  I’m a Dancer Briana Hobbs

  One Special Olympian Dominick Castellano

  5. COMMUNITY

  An Appalachian Miracle Cookie Bakke

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Rosita Ferro

  A Classy Kind of Love Patricia Gillule

  Swimming with John Michele Iallonardi

  Miracle Field Scott Newport

  The Dance Kristy Barnes

  Silent Grace Ashley Carroll

  The Goal Susan McMullan

  What I Learned in Middle School Donna Larkin

  Motherhood Donna Judge Malarsky

  An Angel Among Us Margaret Prator

  6. SIBLING REVELRY

  Something about Benny Kimberly Jensen

  Believe Jennifer M. Graham

  Silent No More Jordan

  Teaching by Example Jeanne Moran

  Just Tori Katherine Schroeder

  Switching Roles Gina Favazza-Rowland

  Big Brother Time-Off Kimberly Jensen

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Deana Newberry

  7. EARLY LEARNING

  The Slide Corinne Hill

  Three Houses Down on the Left Deborah McIntire

  Illumination Jeanne Schmidlin

  One Egg at a Time Dawn Morrison

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Karen Simmons

  The Case of the Silent Kindergartner Amanda Green

  Out of the Mouths of Babes Ava Crowell

  Ace of Hearts Lynn Skotnitsky

  Labels Lisa Scott Macdonough

  8. FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE

  Joey’s Gold Medal Perry P. Perkins

  A Simple Question Bonnie Mintun

  Step by Step Amy Baskin

  Independence Day Daniel Wray

  The Class Trip Debra Behnke

  Good Night, Faith Paulette Beurrier

  My Dad Made the Difference Pam Johnson

  The Most Important Words Daria J. Skibington-Roffel

  Something in Football Lauri Khodabandehloo

  A Revelation Lisa Logsdon

  Bearing Gifts Mimi Greenwood Knight

  The Freed Bird Dillon York

  Afterword

  Supporting Others

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  Who Is Heather McNamara?

  Who Is Karen Simmons?

  Permissions

  Acknowledgments

  We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the following people who helped make this book possible.

  Jack’s family: Inga, Travis, Riley, Christopher, Oran, and Kyle, for all their love and support.

  Mark’s family: Patty, Elisabeth, Melanie, and his grandchild Seth Reilly Delgesso, for once again sharing and lovingly supporting us in creating yet another book.

  Heather’s family: Rick and Kyla, who were very patient while Heather burned the midnight oil during the final stages of production.

  Karen’s family: Her mother, Mitzi Briehn, for teaching her perseverance, and Jim Sicoli, her patient husband, who is also the father of her six children, Kimberly, Matthew, Christina, Jonathan, Stephen, and Alexander.

  To Chicken Soup Enterprises: especially D’ette Corona, Russ Kamalski, Patty Aubery, and Patty Hansen for being there on every step of the journey. They provided insight throughout the entire process.

  Our publisher Peter Vegso and his entire company, Health Communications, Inc., for their vision and commitment to bringing Chicken Soup for the Soul to the world.

  A special thank you to all who run Jack’s and Mark’s businesses with skill and love.

  To the “Autism Today Team” of Shane Lamotte, Larry Draut, Larry Clyman, and Rebecca Epp, for all their “overthe-top” hard work.

  We have two panels of volunteer readers to thank. We received more than 5,000 submissions to our website, and more than 200 people donated their time reading blocks of 200 stories each. A special thank-you to the New York State Rehabilitation Association and Patricia Dowse for providing us with so many of the volunteer readers. We wish we had the space to mention all of you.

  Thanks to our second panel of readers, who helped us make the final selections and made invaluable suggestions on how to improve the book: Willy Ackerman, Madge Brown, Reverend Kathryn Cardinal, Gail Conceicao, Patty Dobbins, Pat Dowse, Concetta Ferguson, Larisa Gamble, Mary Ingersoll, Sandra Killian, Barbara LoMonaco, Alishia Mackinnon, JillMcElyea, KarriMcManus, KatyMcNamara, Michael Mihaley, Heather Minnick, Micole Ongman, Lakshmi-Rao Sankar, Betsy Valnes, Nadine Vogel, Marguerite Waldron, Debra Williamson, and Kim Wilson.

  To Janice Friedman, who read the final manuscript and gave critical feedback. We appreciate your coming through at the eleventh hour.

  To everyone who submitted a story, we deeply appreciate your letting us into your lives and sharing your experiences with us. For those whose stories were not chosen for publication, we hope the stories you are about to enjoy convey what was in your heart and in some ways also tell a story.

  To everyone who weighed in on the title. Each and every opinion mattered and was discussed at length.

  Because of the size of this project, we may have left out the names of some people who contributed along the way. If so, we are sorry, but please know that we really do appreciate you very much.

  Introduction

  If we had a nickel for every time we heard, “Love the book idea, but I’m uncomfortable with the term ‘special needs,’” we’d all be chaise-lounging while counting our riches in five-cent increments.

  Choosing the right title has been a difficult and delicate task. In all of our years of compiling Chicken Soup books, we have never had such a reaction to any of our other titles. Since it is our mission to make this book accessible to anyone who might receive comfort or be empowered from it, we needed to go with a title that most people will recognize. So, it is with great pleasure that we present Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs.

  If you’ve picked up this book, you most likely know a child who has “special needs” or a disability. This book is for moms, dads, grandparents, foster parents, teachers, doctors, social workers, friends of the family, and everyone else who is participating in the raising of a child or children with a disability on a day-to-day basis.

  Perhaps we should warn you that there is one thing you won’t read: a pat answer for the challenges of life. Throughout this book, families of children with disabilities will meet other families “who have been there,” identify with their struggles, and read of their victories along the way.

  You’ll read how one mother overcame her fear when her eight-year-old daughter with Down syndrome was asked to her first slumber party. And what one father said to the dentist who scolded him after learning he allowed his daughter with limited vision to roller-skate. Plus, read what one teacher did to help her students grieve and commemorate one of their classmates.

  Parenting is challenging. Parenting a child with a disability has its own set of challenges. Recent statistics show that more than 20 million families in the United States have a child with a disability—that’s nearly one in three families.

  After reading the more than 5,000 submissions received for this book, we have come to the realization that we don’t have a monopoly on the world’s problems. Others have their share, often far bigger than any of ours. This has helped us to see our own tribulations in truer persp
ective. And by learning how others have faced their challenges, we’ve been given fresh ideas about how to tackle our own.

  It is our hope that through reading Chicken Soup for the Soul: Children with Special Needs, your heart will be lifted and your journey made lighter as you come to know you are not alone. If this book does either of these for you, we can finally put all those nickels to good use.