A Life Suspended

Book excerpt: Nicole Hendrick Donovan, a mother of four, couldn't have prepared for the events that led to her son's removal from the public-school system. Behavioral spikes, depression, and anxiety were only symptoms of an underlying diagnosis, which had gone untreated for years. On a sunny afternoon, Jack eloped from first grade, creating chaos and leaving a trail of injured staff in his wake. Within the pages of her memoir, Donovan describes the path to her son's autism diagnosis and her journey to acceptance and unconditional love, not only for Jack, but also for herself. In the family's dedication to get to the bottom of their son's issues, they enlist a group of professionals to help understand Jack's educational rights, his academic needs and to aid in the creation of therapeutic supports. After becoming completely enmeshed in Jack's well-being, Nicole loses herself in the process. She soon realizes her resentments at a failed system and the continuous fear around Jack's future are sparking a series of panic attacks, which prompts her to look deeper within herself for answers. As Nicole surrenders to the ebb and flow of life, she opens her heart and sees what truly matters.