“From Heartache to Hope”
I’ve done a few book reviews before, but never on this blog.
(I was even signed up to be one of those Thomas Nelson book review bloggers, but the first book they sent for review was that one by Britney Spears mother. Yeah. I’m truly sorry, Thomas Nelson, but I honestly just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’m a Southern girl and I was taught if you don’t have something nice to say… I think it’s still on the bottom of my nightstand.)
Anyway.
I do have a book that I am thrilled to be able to share with all of you!
“From Heartache to Hope– Middle Tennessee Families Living With Autism.”
In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you right upfront that I am friends with the author and producer of the book, Leisa Hammett. I met Leisa online when I was blogging for the Tennessean and she was moderating the forums on their Moms Like Me website. We have met in real life several times since then, most recently at the Blissdom conference last week, and my affection and admiration for her is boundless. I have also met her teen daughter Grace, who was diagnosed at age three with moderately severe autism. Grace is a visual artist whose work can be seen at http://gracegoad.com/
Let me try to describe Leisa to you. She is, of course, a tireless advocate for her daughter and the autism community, lecturing, volunteering, and educating. She has appeared on countless seminar panels, workshops, and even ABC’s “The View.” She is articulate, focused, and driven. She is fiercely intelligent. She is tall and lovely with a head full of goldilocks curls. Her resume is equally impressive: “…a 30-year veteran of the corporate and nonprofit communications industry including public and employee relations, writing for regional and national magazines and newspapers, arts editor, former ASMT (Autism Society of Middle Tennessee) Parent Representative…” Are you getting the picture? This woman is a force of nature!
For “From Heartache to Hope,” Leisa teamed with highly-respected Nashville photographer Rebekah Pope, a specialist in baby, child and family portraiture. Together they have profiled a diverse collection of families in the middle Tennessee area whose lives have been directly affected by autism. From a single African-American mother raising three autistic children to the wealthy scion of the Frist family and his autistic son, Leisa’s spare, elegant words and Rebekah’s evocative black and white photos immediately draw you in. There is an unflinching quality to this book– no attempt is made to soften the heartbreaking reality and relentless struggle of living with autism. But unexpectedly, there is not only a thread of hope that runs through each story, there is a deep sense of connection and yes, joy in these families. They are part of a club that no one ever wanted to be in, but now that they are, there’s no way they are going to allow it to ruin their lives. These mothers and fathers and grandparents and siblings don’t just see a diagnosis, a label, a disorder; they see their loved ones.
Autism is described as a complex neural disorder that significantly alters the brain’s development of social and communication skills. It profoundly affects how a person perceives the world, and their ability to relate to other people. Autism includes a wide spectrum of behaviors– it can range from mildly impaired social interaction to severely disabled. It is baffling and complicated and can be devastating to everyone involved. That’s why the descriptions and pictures of the families in this book, all these different kinds of families, are so very heartwarming. In every single photograph, the person with autism is being physically touched and embraced by the other family members. They are surrounding, protecting and drawing their loved one into the family circle– constantly reaching out to the person who’s unable to really reach out to them. The images are strong. The words are beautiful. This is a poignant and powerful book.
On a personal note: Many of you readers know or know of Emily Sutherland, one of my favorite women in the world, who is a scriptwriter for Gaither Music and the benevolent overlord at Gaither.com. In 2008, her brilliantly quirky 11 year-old son was diagnosed with Asberger’s Syndrome, which is part of the spectrum of autism disorders. She and her incredible husband Scott rallied from the gut-punch of the diagnosis and embarked on a journey of learning and discovery. They researched and networked, striving to educate themselves so they could best serve their child. It was heartbreaking and inspiring to watch. Thanks to a complicated combination of medical, nutritional and psychological interventions, their son is doing well. But as Emily recently wrote me, “My wish is that everyone could be spared as late a diagnosis as we received.”
One of the many benefits of an art/documentary book like “From Heartache to Hope” is that it raises awareness of what autism is, and helps de-mystify and de-stigmatize by ‘putting a face’ on the people who are living with it. Leisa and her creative collaborators respectfully honor these ordinary families that will spend their lives wrestling with this extraordinary disorder by allowing them to simply and honestly tell their stories.
P.S. I would be very interested in hearing if any of you guys have friends or family whose lives have been touched by autism…
** “From Heartache to Hope” can be ordered here. The book costs $35, (plus $4 shipping costs), and the proceeds will benefit ASMT, the local autism support organization.
**All images courtesy of Rebekah Pope Photography/”From Heartache to Hope”
