Courage To Walk
Robert Waxler s book provides a poignant and troubling look at a family struggling courageously in the face of a harrowing crisis. What happens when a son is stricken with a mysterious and potentially fatal disease? Why does this happen and how does one--how can one--understand this? What can be done when so much feels out of control? Who should make which decisions? These and other issues are confronted in Mr. Waxler s unsettling, absorbing and compelling narrative, which speaks to the heart as well as the mind. ----Dr. Francis Haines, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Brown UniversityAs someone with cerebral palsy who also works in the disability field, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges that disability can bring to individuals and their families. Professor Waxler s book combines humor, emotion and personal reflection to create a refreshingly honest and accurate look at the highs and lows involved for the entire family after his son Jeremy s illness. Courage to Walk is a winner! Hopefully, it will reach a very wide audience. ----Patrick Gleason, Staff Writer Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center Spotlight NewsletterThere is an implicit contract we make at birth: father-mother/son-daughter. Certain expectations are in place, and we assume that all will continue in what is conventionally considered the natural order of things. With a clear eye--and with no emotional manipulation whatsoever--Robert Waxler tells us what happens when that contract goes awry. This is a very important story, beautifully told. The story of Robert, Linda and Jeremy--with Jonathan hovering close by--reminds us that a parent s love for a child truly knows no bounds. ----Elizabeth Mehren, Professor of Journalism, Boston University, author of Born Too Soon