“[I] finished the book this week, and wanted to congratulate you on a clear eyed yet compassionate first person journal of your journey. I found it measured and thoughtful and am impressed with your solid moral and ethical compass. It could have been maudlin, or solipsistic, or victim-focused – but was none of these. It was a triumph of courage and naked self-disclosure, without feeling voyeuristic – a tribute to your agile mind and the life of your sweet little boy. Thanks for sharing…” – GM
“Your book is so moving. Your writing conveys the love and commitment you had for Owen and how you worked around the system to do what you felt was best for him. The first chapters had me constantly asking myself “What would I have done… what would I have done?” – AF
“I finished it last night (with a tear). Your writing really got the point across about the weaknesses in the system and the wonderful people children like Owen are.” – JD
“One of the things I liked most about the story was the humour you injected (forgive the pun) into it. It was an easy read because it wasn’t overly sentimental, but it still forces the reader to ask some some serious philosophical questions about the nature of will and consciousness, without making them feel TOO guilty about their abilities. Every able body takes for granted the ability to do “simple” things like eating, and even more, we neglect to consider that a disabled person’s will might be different from ours. I was moved by how honest you were about the internal struggles you faced with regards to imagining what Owen would want in contrast to what *you* wanted as his mother.” – AJ
“You also have an incredible way of being a truth teller or namer of elephants in a way that is not about blame. The deeper level of the book about interacting with healthcare, clinicians, specialists, schools is so thought provoking and powerful! You have important insights and questions about the nature of the system and how decisions are made. It actually makes me want to reread (which I will) the book and focus more on that than the narrative. The message about accepting what is was loud and clear, the question about how decisions are made and the ‘path of referral’ I thought was bang on and relevant to anyone who interacts with the system.” – SG
