This is the story of the incredible journey of Melissa, her family, and her community, and the challenges each faced.� Melissa�s condition, Trisomy 18, is one that carries a poor prognosis and her story is one of unconditional love, hope, despair, and joy, as she struggled to hold onto her fragile life.

�

For Melissa�s family, life was extremely challenging for her short nine years.� Her story gives the reader an insight into their lives and how each of them coped in their own way.� Josie, Melissa�s mother, in writing Melissa�s story, opens her heart and innermost feelings and thoughts, enabling the reader to gain an understanding of how, despite the many challenges Melissa faced, each achievement was a milestone to be proud of.

�

-Shirley Wass-������ Parent to Parent New Zealand

This is the story of the incredible journey of Melissa, her family, and her community, and the challenges each faced.� Melissa�s condition, Trisomy 18, is one that carries a poor prognosis and her story is one of unconditional love, hope, despair, and joy, as she struggled to hold onto her fragile life.

�

For Melissa�s family, life was extremely challenging for her short nine years.� Her story gives the reader an insight into their lives and how each of them coped in their own way.� Josie, Melissa�s mother, in writing Melissa�s story, opens her heart and innermost feelings and thoughts, enabling the reader to gain an understanding of how, despite the many challenges Melissa faced, each achievement was a milestone to be proud of.

�

-Shirley Wass-������ Parent to Parent New Zealand

For parents of children with special needs, to achieve visibility and meaningful interaction in their communities takes a whole set of skills and commitment quite different to those required to achieve the same outcomes for a family of typically developing individuals.This is an everyday struggle that not all parents face. It requires 'Extreme Parenting' and that's what author Kylie McClelland shares in her new book- her personal experience, the issues these parents need to deal with, and the strategies and techniques they must equip themselves with to achieve the parenting required to guide their challenging children toward lives of dignity and choice. "I am not in the business of telling anyone how to live.This is just what I did, how I met the challenges and helped my family both as individuals and as a unit to have a life which is more happy than not.It's certainly not the only way, it may not be the 'right'way, but it is what has worked for us." TESTIMONIALS “This is a thoughtful, compassionate and insightful book that touches the heart and inspires the very best of human endeavour. It is a tribute to those who live with a disabled person, advocate for disabled persons, and who strive to educate a world naive to the challenges and diffi culties of disability. Merely informing does not often educate in matters such as these. This personal story of hardship, heartbreak, frustration, coupled with joy, hope, achievement and love will be instrumental in doing so, whilst supporting and strengthening others. In doing so, Kylie McClelland has sent a strong challenge to those charged with the care and support of those we are privileged to serve.” Dr Bruce Chenoweth Senior Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Development and Assessment Team, South East Sydney Local Health Network Conjoint Senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales “This book oozes intelligence, deep thought and confronts those who cannot accept that our human diversity must be celebrated and accepted . . . it conveys exactly what needs to be said . . . just wonderful.” Mary Lou Carter, Mother, Activist, Secretary of the Carers Alliance “This book is my bible and needs to be in every carer’s hands. Money can not buy the kind of help this has given us.This book will change lives.” Betty Slatyer, Primary carer, grandmother and advocate Every health professional should read this book. Kylie McClelland will become to carers of children with autism spectrum disorder what Lionel Logue became to King George VI’s speech; a person who thinks outside the square and dares to use their own vision, instincts and determination to achieve results. Kate Baychek, Clinical Nurse Educator

For parents of children with special needs, to achieve visibility and meaningful interaction in their communities takes a whole set of skills and commitment quite different to those required to achieve the same outcomes for a family of typically developing individuals.This is an everyday struggle that not all parents face. It requires 'Extreme Parenting' and that's what author Kylie McClelland shares in her new book- her personal experience, the issues these parents need to deal with, and the strategies and techniques they must equip themselves with to achieve the parenting required to guide their challenging children toward lives of dignity and choice. "I am not in the business of telling anyone how to live.This is just what I did, how I met the challenges and helped my family both as individuals and as a unit to have a life which is more happy than not.It's certainly not the only way, it may not be the 'right'way, but it is what has worked for us." TESTIMONIALS “This is a thoughtful, compassionate and insightful book that touches the heart and inspires the very best of human endeavour. It is a tribute to those who live with a disabled person, advocate for disabled persons, and who strive to educate a world naive to the challenges and diffi culties of disability. Merely informing does not often educate in matters such as these. This personal story of hardship, heartbreak, frustration, coupled with joy, hope, achievement and love will be instrumental in doing so, whilst supporting and strengthening others. In doing so, Kylie McClelland has sent a strong challenge to those charged with the care and support of those we are privileged to serve.” Dr Bruce Chenoweth Senior Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Development and Assessment Team, South East Sydney Local Health Network Conjoint Senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales “This book oozes intelligence, deep thought and confronts those who cannot accept that our human diversity must be celebrated and accepted . . . it conveys exactly what needs to be said . . . just wonderful.” Mary Lou Carter, Mother, Activist, Secretary of the Carers Alliance “This book is my bible and needs to be in every carer’s hands. Money can not buy the kind of help this has given us.This book will change lives.” Betty Slatyer, Primary carer, grandmother and advocate Every health professional should read this book. Kylie McClelland will become to carers of children with autism spectrum disorder what Lionel Logue became to King George VI’s speech; a person who thinks outside the square and dares to use their own vision, instincts and determination to achieve results. Kate Baychek, Clinical Nurse Educator

For parents of children with special needs, to achieve visibility and meaningful interaction in their communities takes a whole set of skills and commitment quite different to those required to achieve the same outcomes for a family of typically developing individuals.This is an everyday struggle that not all parents face. It requires 'Extreme Parenting' and that's what author Kylie McClelland shares in her new book- her personal experience, the issues these parents need to deal with, and the strategies and techniques they must equip themselves with to achieve the parenting required to guide their challenging children toward lives of dignity and choice. "I am not in the business of telling anyone how to live.This is just what I did, how I met the challenges and helped my family both as individuals and as a unit to have a life which is more happy than not.It's certainly not the only way, it may not be the 'right'way, but it is what has worked for us." TESTIMONIALS “This is a thoughtful, compassionate and insightful book that touches the heart and inspires the very best of human endeavour. It is a tribute to those who live with a disabled person, advocate for disabled persons, and who strive to educate a world naive to the challenges and diffi culties of disability. Merely informing does not often educate in matters such as these. This personal story of hardship, heartbreak, frustration, coupled with joy, hope, achievement and love will be instrumental in doing so, whilst supporting and strengthening others. In doing so, Kylie McClelland has sent a strong challenge to those charged with the care and support of those we are privileged to serve.” Dr Bruce Chenoweth Senior Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Development and Assessment Team, South East Sydney Local Health Network Conjoint Senior Clinical Lecturer, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales “This book oozes intelligence, deep thought and confronts those who cannot accept that our human diversity must be celebrated and accepted . . . it conveys exactly what needs to be said . . . just wonderful.” Mary Lou Carter, Mother, Activist, Secretary of the Carers Alliance “This book is my bible and needs to be in every carer’s hands. Money can not buy the kind of help this has given us.This book will change lives.” Betty Slatyer, Primary carer, grandmother and advocate Every health professional should read this book. Kylie McClelland will become to carers of children with autism spectrum disorder what Lionel Logue became to King George VI’s speech; a person who thinks outside the square and dares to use their own vision, instincts and determination to achieve results. Kate Baychek, Clinical Nurse Educator

This Book is an expert guide for parents to achieve understanding and gain knowledge of ways to help their child with ADHD. This guide will also be valuable to teachers and other professionals who work with ADHD children.

--How do you know if your child has ADHD?

--How do you help your ADHD child function better at home and in school?

--How do you help your ADHD child make and keep friends?

--How do you help your ADHD child learn better in school?

--How do you accept that your child might have ADHD?

This Book is an expert guide for parents to achieve understanding and gain knowledge of ways to help their child with ADHD. This guide will also be valuable to teachers and other professionals who work with ADHD children.

--How do you know if your child has ADHD?

--How do you help your ADHD child function better at home and in school?

--How do you help your ADHD child make and keep friends?

--How do you help your ADHD child learn better in school?

--How do you accept that your child might have ADHD?

This Book is an expert guide for parents to achieve understanding and gain knowledge of ways to help their child with ADHD. This guide will also be valuable to teachers and other professionals who work with ADHD children.

--How do you know if your child has ADHD?

--How do you help your ADHD child function better at home and in school?

--How do you help your ADHD child make and keep friends?

--How do you help your ADHD child learn better in school?

--How do you accept that your child might have ADHD?

It all began when the Geismans� son, Mike, was born with numerous fractures, some of which had occurred in the womb before birth. The cause was osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that, at the time, was thought to be so rare that the only information the delivering physician could provide was a brief description in a medical textbook.

Wanting to share their story about living with this rare disorder, Gemma recounts Mike�s life experiences, from his birth to his growing up years, describing with candid detail how caring for Mike was like handling an extremely fragile china doll. She illustrates the difficulties of the lonely, early years, the ambivalent and upsetting feelings and the reluctance to let go as Mike struggled to live a normal and independent life.

Believing that her family�s experiences with the disease were too valuable not to be shared, Gemma tells of her attempts to get her story published, breaking through finally with a story and two follow-up pieces in Redbook magazine. Gemma also shares how she established, together with other parents, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF), the only national organization that sponsors research and serves families affected by OI.

From the Seeds of Sadness is a poignant story of unconditional love, of joys and sorrows, and of lessons learned. It recounts the Geisman family�s journey through the complexities of raising a �breakable baby�, how they conquered fear and anguish and turned what they thought to be an agonizing burden into a gift of hope for generations to come. Heart wrenching but inspiring, this memoir is a symbol of courage and hope for others who are facing the difficult challenges of raising a child with an incurable illness

It all began when the Geismans� son, Mike, was born with numerous fractures, some of which had occurred in the womb before birth. The cause was osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that, at the time, was thought to be so rare that the only information the delivering physician could provide was a brief description in a medical textbook.

Wanting to share their story about living with this rare disorder, Gemma recounts Mike�s life experiences, from his birth to his growing up years, describing with candid detail how caring for Mike was like handling an extremely fragile china doll. She illustrates the difficulties of the lonely, early years, the ambivalent and upsetting feelings and the reluctance to let go as Mike struggled to live a normal and independent life.

Believing that her family�s experiences with the disease were too valuable not to be shared, Gemma tells of her attempts to get her story published, breaking through finally with a story and two follow-up pieces in Redbook magazine. Gemma also shares how she established, together with other parents, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF), the only national organization that sponsors research and serves families affected by OI.

From the Seeds of Sadness is a poignant story of unconditional love, of joys and sorrows, and of lessons learned. It recounts the Geisman family�s journey through the complexities of raising a �breakable baby�, how they conquered fear and anguish and turned what they thought to be an agonizing burden into a gift of hope for generations to come. Heart wrenching but inspiring, this memoir is a symbol of courage and hope for others who are facing the difficult challenges of raising a child with an incurable illness

It all began when the Geismans� son, Mike, was born with numerous fractures, some of which had occurred in the womb before birth. The cause was osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that, at the time, was thought to be so rare that the only information the delivering physician could provide was a brief description in a medical textbook.

Wanting to share their story about living with this rare disorder, Gemma recounts Mike�s life experiences, from his birth to his growing up years, describing with candid detail how caring for Mike was like handling an extremely fragile china doll. She illustrates the difficulties of the lonely, early years, the ambivalent and upsetting feelings and the reluctance to let go as Mike struggled to live a normal and independent life.

Believing that her family�s experiences with the disease were too valuable not to be shared, Gemma tells of her attempts to get her story published, breaking through finally with a story and two follow-up pieces in Redbook magazine. Gemma also shares how she established, together with other parents, the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF), the only national organization that sponsors research and serves families affected by OI.

From the Seeds of Sadness is a poignant story of unconditional love, of joys and sorrows, and of lessons learned. It recounts the Geisman family�s journey through the complexities of raising a �breakable baby�, how they conquered fear and anguish and turned what they thought to be an agonizing burden into a gift of hope for generations to come. Heart wrenching but inspiring, this memoir is a symbol of courage and hope for others who are facing the difficult challenges of raising a child with an incurable illness

Big sister Phoebe offers a glimpse into her world and that of her little brother Ethan who has autism. Her simple explanations provide insight into autism and the special challenges that it brings. Through Phoebe´s innocenceand honesty, she reveals her acceptance of and love for her brother. Not only children, but parents, family members and teachers will gain a better understanding of autism from this book.

Endorsed by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Autism Society of America.

"This book, with its engaging characters and charming illustrations, is sure to appeal to young children. It does an exceptional job of entertaining while at the same time increasing knowledge and awareness of many aspects of autism spectrum disorders. We hope that this early education will lead to a greater acceptance of those with the disorder."

-Sally Linder, Co-President, Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Autism Society of America

A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book will be donated to the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Autism Society of America.

In his quest to understand the tragic death of his sister, the author invokes memory and imagination to reconstruct her lifelong struggle with a devastating skin disease, and with the alcohol and prescription drug addiction that accompanied the battle. Removed from her home and family at the age of nine, dead from an overdose of prescription drugs at forty-one, Ann Lourie Zipf comes alive for us in this remarkably candid work that is both biography and fiction.

Ann’s childhood yearning for home and the constant postponement of her return, her marriages, her children, the gnawing pain of her disease, and the effect of her addiction on her life and death are all vividly told in this moving story of one woman’s heroic life.

In his quest to understand the tragic death of his sister, the author invokes memory and imagination to reconstruct her lifelong struggle with a devastating skin disease, and with the alcohol and prescription drug addiction that accompanied the battle. Removed from her home and family at the age of nine, dead from an overdose of prescription drugs at forty-one, Ann Lourie Zipf comes alive for us in this remarkably candid work that is both biography and fiction.

Ann’s childhood yearning for home and the constant postponement of her return, her marriages, her children, the gnawing pain of her disease, and the effect of her addiction on her life and death are all vividly told in this moving story of one woman’s heroic life.

Rose´s Colors
is the inspiring true story of a girl born with multiple disabilities. Rose enters the world with cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, a vision impairment, and developmental delays. Can her family learn to accet and love her?