“It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl as long as it’s healthy.”  That is the usual response from an expecting parent whenever asked if they are pulling for a baby girl or boy.  What nobody prepares you for is when the second half of that response doesn’t come true.  There wasn’t a handbook on what to do when the doctor informs you your child has had two strokes, one on each side of her brain. 

The photo above from several years ago captures the innocence of a young child with startlingly blue eyes who has defied the odds to not only survive her arrival on this earth but also to brighten the lives of everyone she comes in contact with.  This book, Special, was originally titled Kitty Wampus and was written back in 2006 when my daughter was but a toddler.  It incorporates my experiences as a parent and as a therapist observing others’ reactions to my own daughter and other persons with disabilities. I hope this story helps teach kids a bit about disability awareness and inclusion via the story of Kitty Wampus and resonates with readers from all walks of life.

“Always listen to experts. They’ll tell you what can’t be done, and why. Then do it.”
― Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love