After reading the first few pages of Amee’s Story, I wasn’t sure I would ever finish the book. That’s not because it was poorly written. Rather, it was so well written I was pulled back into a difficult time in my own life. However, I persisted with the reading and I’m so glad I did.
In thirty-three chapters Harrison takes us from the birth of Amee, in August of 1982, through her miraculous life-and-death early months, the challenges of childhood and teen years, up to her 28th year (2010, the year the book was published). It’s an inspiring story of a special child and the faith, prayers, and perseverance of her mother—indeed an entire family—who supported and encouraged her.
Once into the book I found it hard to put down. Harrison describes in detail the physical, intellectual, and social challenges Amee faced at the various stage of her life and how Amee, her mother as main caregiver, and the whole family rose to them. The search for a correct diagnosis and then helpful therapies, the recurring challenge of getting medication dosages right, and the difficult saga of her education are all themes too familiar in the lives of special needs children and their caregivers.
I would recommend this book not only as an inspiring story, but also as an eye opener for parents of newly diagnosed special needs children as well as school, community, and church educators.
Amee’s Story was a Finalist in the 2011 Canadian Christian Writing Awards.
Violet Nesdoly 