Recommended by: Stephan J. Macaluso, Librarian
Call Number: Stacks RJ506.D47 H83 2008
Robert and Julie’s daughter, Schuyler, was born with a malformation of the folds of the brain. It robs Schuyler of speech and fine motor control. Robert refers to her condition as a Monster: it is a very rare disease with dire consequences and a frightening name; it lay in wait from before Schuyler’s birth, only to manifest itself at age three. Schuyler, Robert and Julie endured years of testing before her diagnosis--Schuyler was originally thought to be autistic. After much research, consultations with leading experts and a series of unforgettably enervating meetings with school officials, Schuyler began special classes and was given an electronic speech device, paid for in part by readers of Robert’s blog. This book is as much about a father’s unconditional love for his daughter as it is about a child with a complicated disease. Robert is a fine storyteller and this memoir is an honest, inspiring and very real look at fatherhood, coping, and a family’s resilience.
