Cindy Dowling

Cindy Dowling is a freelance journalist in Australia and the mother of an autistic child.

Bernadette Thomas

Bernadette Thomas is a book publisher and has a son with Down syndrome.

"Compiled by a psychologist and two parents of special-needs children, the essays in this book reveal deeply personal issues. Through these sincere accounts we see both the strain on the parents and the potential of the children." —Library Journal (starred review)

"Breathtakingly raw, poignant: a far better guide to spiritual growth and navigating the emotional terrain of parenting’s extremities than most ‘mainstream books.’ This is a book of profound human courage, honesty, and truth-telling, and deeply important because of that." —Juno (UK)

"The honesty in this book took my breath away. There are so many different, compelling voices to listen to. The book embraces the entire family experience, as well as the whole grieving cycle." —Susan Senator, author of Making Peace with Autism

"This riveting book brings us the much needed voices of parents of children with disabilities, who speak with breathtaking honesty about their grief and gratitude, anger and exaltation, despair and laughter. It offers a wisdom that speaks not only to parents and families of children with special needs but to anyone who wants to learn how to live gracefully with disappointment and to transform life’s challenges into blessings." —Miriam Greenspan, psychotherapist and author of Healing through the Dark Emotions