Sandy Hartranft

Glenn Hartranft

The day I found Ben swinging from the chandelier, I knew two things - being his mom was going to be a wild ride, and if I ever decided to write a book about it, I had my title. This book started as a way to cope, a reminder to breathe as I raised three boys, including Ben, who was diagnosed with autism at age 2. It tells our story - from experiencing the complex emotions of fear and guilt at hearing the diagnosis, to fighting tooth-and-nail with the school district to get Ben the services he needed. Our journey isn't over yet, but my once-nonverbal, illiterate son is now a public speaker. And this is the story of how - against all odds - he learned to read and write, learned to drive, and eventually got a job. It's the story of how he was voted homecoming king by his high school of 3,000, and how he continued to exceed all our expectations for him.

I have been working on this book for over 10 years. When I first started, it was a way for me to document events, feelings, successes, and missteps while raising our son, Ben, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age two. Over time, I realized that the stories of other parents helped me on my own journey, so I hoped my book might do the same for someone else.

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