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"JEREMIAH" Forward
by Dr. Roland Carson:
People
in my position are always imparting a lot of
unpleasant news to parents whose children have been seen and assessed. It is impossible for us to
appreciate the
impact of the diagnosis and its implications on the parents, their
lives, the
lives of the extended family, and the emotional storm through which
they live. Jeremiah,
written
by Frances Armstrong, provides a most absorbing medium through which
the
professional can come to appreciate the series of events he sets loose
as soon
as he pronounces the unpleasant diagnosis.
Mrs.
Armstrong has, through this book, opened the doors of
perception,
not only for the professional, but also for families to come in the
future. It is rare
to come across a book
through
which one can anticipate not only the questions, but the subsequent
emotional
storms which would engulf the parents and their families. Such a book makes it
possible for the
professional to plan a series of interviews and meetings, through which
the various
stages of emotional pain can be discussed and managed.
It also brings home to the professional that
there is no beginning and there is no finishing to the management of
the
handicapped child. I
have never read any
book such as Jeremiah, which
cautions
the professional that his or her task is never finished. What Jeremiah
makes so clear is that we must never assume that the family will be all
right
on their own.
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Anyone
who has ever loved any child with
a disability will
identify with
the heartbreak and
joy experienced
by Fran and
John Armstrong.
In
telling this story of
triumph and
tragedy,
Fran hides nothing -
the
shock, the struggle, the
anger,
the
effect on other members
of
the
family, are all there.
| I
have been honored to have
been asked to read Jeremiah before
its publication. It
is a fascinating book. It
is impeccably well written. The
message is lucid and painful, without
being exaggerated. It
is the type of
book that should be read not only by every professional in the field,
but by
the families who have had to deal with people like Jeremiah. I am going to recommend
that all my medical
students read this book before they ever come to work with me.
Above all, Jeremiah
is rare. To read it
is to sharpen
one’s
consciousness. I
strongly commend this
book to you and to the rest of the world.
R.
A.
Carson, M.D.
Children’s Psychiatric
Research Institute
London,
Ontario.
To
order a copy
of "Jeremiah" -
If
you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to
contact us at info@fesa.on.ca
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