The Bon Bon Gazette: Book Review: A Child's Journey Out of Autism by Leeann Whiffen

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Book Review: A Child's Journey Out of Autism by Leeann Whiffen

I don't remember the last time I had a book move me as much as this one. I just finished reading A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure By Leeann Whiffen.

Wow.

My 8 year old son has Autism. Yeah, so I've read a lot of Autism books. I've read books about therapies, books about the biomedical approach. Books blaming autism on vaccines and books saying its not the shots at all. And then, there are the books about recovery. For something that there is "no cure" for, there sure are quite a few books about there about Autism Recovery. Most claim and credit a specific approach - the gfcf diet, chelation, ABA, AIT, etc. Some go so far to say "it wasn't autism after all - it really was Mercury poisoning or it was a milk allergy. I read each one and take it in. And you know, there's only so much doom and gloom and blame I can stomach. I think this is where A Child's Journey out of Autism is a stand out for me.

The author, Leeann Whiffen, keeps it so real. From the trials and frustration of an unconsolable infant, to a toddler who tantrums so much she cannot leave the house. She captured it and nailed it on the head. I walked in those shoes and she was brave enough to share it all. The feelings when someone tells you your child has autism and you don't want to believe it -but in your heart you know it is true. The frustration at "the system" for throwing in the towel on our kids and not providing enough services. Instead of curling up in a little ball, Leeann Whiffen moved mountains. From instituting an in home ABA program, implementing the gfcf diet and biomedical options, even finding a way to work in RDI. She did it. Clay did it. Clay was "un-diagnosed".

The title of the book uses the word "Cured" which is a huge controversy both in and out of the autism community and may turn some people away from reading this book. For a review of this book that presents an alternate view and hits the nail on the head about "Curing" Autism please read here.

This really is much more than a story of recovery. For me some of the most profound parts of the book have to do with Leeann sharing how Clay's autism impacts her family including her older son, Drew, who is typical. Its tough for the siblings and I could see so much of my own daughter in her son - even though in my case it is a younger sibling (and a girl). When she shared about how her mother reacted and felt when her son didn't acknowledge her in the room - the pain. I have to say that in that moment, I realized that I never once have stopped to consider how my parents, Alex's grandparents FEEL. And, most of all her relationship with her husband is one to be held up. So many times you read about "the autism divorce rate". So, reading about the Whiffen family was more than encouraging.

If autism is in your life in any way - read this book!

Out of 5 stars I give A Child's Journey out of Autism .... SIX!