SLP Mommy of Apraxia

Anything but Silent book review and giveaway!

Written by

Laura Smith

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I’m continuing on with Day 4 of giveaways leading up to Apraxia Awareness Day on May 14th! Today I am reviewing the book ANYTHING BUT SILENT by Kathy and Kate Hennessy.  Kathy Hennessy is the mother to Kate who has pure CAS and another son Andy who has global apraxia and SPD.

The book rotates chapters from Kathy’s point of view to Kate’s point of view.  First of all, I just have one piece of advice: if you are a parent or professional

READ THIS BOOK.

READ THIS BOOK!

Yes, people.  It’s that good.  I read it in one night!  I couldn’t put it down.  I laughed, I cried, but mostly I related.

It starts with the diagnosis:

“I decided that day I could beat myself up about the unfairness of life or I could educate myself and help my daughter move her own mountains.”

I could not have said it better.  This is EXACTLY how I felt.  How I feel! Kathy wasn’t kidding either.  She’s now the education director at CASANA (apraxia-kids.org).

It captures the need for others who are going through the same thing:

“What I needed at this point in my life, more than anything, was another parent, and that was the one thing I couldn’t find.”

I can’t even imagine.  My fellow women I have met through facebook are my saviors.  Seriously, I don’t know what I would do without them.

They capture the fears at simple holiday traditions:

“When you have someone in your family with childhood apraxia of speech, things that are everyday occurrences for other families are moments for you that aren’t very normal at all.”

She’s referring to the tradition of seeing Santa.  Kathy would fret and worry that Santa wouldn’t understand them, among other things.  Let me tell you, EVERY mommy of apraxia has been there.

From fighting insurance companies, to therapy sessions as a lifestyle, these two amazing women tell their incredible story and as Kathy puts it, “Today both kids are doing great and I’m still standing.”

This story was inspiring beyond my wildest imagination.  I can’t believe I waited this long to read it!  Read it people!!  That’s my review.  You won’t be disappointed!

To win this book, enter below. Open to U.S. residents only!  Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Comments

5 responses to “Anything but Silent book review and giveaway!”

  1. Angela

    The biggest challenge has been getting AAC approved for kids with CAS.

  2. Jess

    The greatest challenge is wondering if we’re doing the best we possibly can for him.

  3. Francie

    Our greatest challenge has been finding a way to fund the needed clinical therapy. Also, there’s the weekly, if not daily, struggle that comes when my son, despite a willingness to repeat what he is saying and an effort at charades, cannot get us to comprehend what he’s trying to express. The look of disappointment is heartbreaking.

  4. Cindy C.

    The biggest challenge for me as a therapist is figuring out ways to make therapy meaningful to the child and keep the family encouraged. The stories of how they got to my office are often sad and a little scary. More awareness in our profession is very needed.

  5. Cassandra S.

    The biggest challenge has been securing approval for the optimal amount of therapy per week, followed closely by juggling all of the different aspects that need to be targeted in therapy- speech production, but also ensure language is developing appropriately and providing a functional means of communication in the mean time.

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