Andrew Solomon Far From The Tree

I have cerebral palsy. I had selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) at the age of 39. SDR is the only proven procedure to eliminate the spasticity caused by CP. The problem is that the medical community is not sharing the information. I, like most people with CP, stumbled upon it - on Facebook. I advocate for SDR. Read my HuffPost article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicole-luongo/sdr-life-changing-surgery-for-cerebral-palsy_b_5615021.html…

I wrote this poem several years ago when my family was struggling to accept our daughter's decision to marry a person of a different race -- a family taboo.


Family Treason

Whether by chance or plan
The fruit at times falls far
From the tree and sets its seed
In soil foreign to its stock

It may take root and bear fruit
Of…

Andrew Solomon gets this as right as possible. I celebrate your message and the vehicle you have given all of us parents of exceptional kids. We love, as hard as we can, even when it would seem impossible to go on. As the word and the message find their way to the surface, so the needs of the child, my child, find their way to priority in my life.
My son is a giant. He lives with gigantism.…

I had to come out twice in my life. To my parents, at least. Both times were embarrasing, and both were very disappointing. The first time was when I was sixteen. At eleven I knew I was gay, and I had given myself a deadline: Either I told my parents before I was 18, or I told my parents before that.
When I was sixteen I fell in love with a guy. We dated a bit. It was not a great love, but it…

I am like many middle age women, I have more in common with my fellow sojourners than differences. Unfortunately, or fortunately as I see today, it was and continues to be my 'differences' that draw attention to me and not in the way of highlighting my gifts and talents.
I have always been a very tall female for my age; alas my age has caught up to my height. Along with the gift of height came…

My baby boy died the same day he was born- January 12, 2013 as a result of undeveloped kidneys and underdeveloped lungs. Reading Andrew's book has brought me great comfort; we all have loss in this life. One line in particular has been a revelation, "it takes an act of will to grow from loss." Thankfully, through his insightful words, I have been able to realize my burden will not go away unless I…

I was honored to meet Andrew, at a fundraiser that he and his partner John, hosted for my friend Spencer's film project related to Our Little Roses in Honduras. I felt so grateful to him and for his book and was blessed to be able to thank him face to face.

For about a year I was working on a memoir about my only sibling and our relationship. She has DS and we were born less than a year…

I have entered many rooms in my 70-some years. Reading this book allowed me for the first time to enter a room in which I felt totally accepted. Thank you!

My daughter Adora told me that she wanted her book to be published when she was six. I told her yes and went to work to help her to realize her dream. She got her first book, a big 296 pages of her stories published when she was seven. She was so inspired to teach other kids to love read and write because she loves to read and write so much. She couldn't image anybody who wouldn't love them. She started…

Despite 2 spinal fusions for severe scoliosis and chronic pain, I have managed to feel beautiful enough on the inside, that my outside really does not define me. As a Clinical Psychologist/RN I have strive to impart self acceptance and self love in the individual as well as support parents in helping their children appreciate and encourage their strengths. I recently wrote a book for kids that delivers…

My story begins with my birth, I suppose most of our stories really begin there. My father was from the mountains of NC and he moved after serving in the Air Force for 4 years to S.C. (Greenville area/ eg...the "upstate of South Carolina") and he met my Mother in 1959 after his service to our country. He "courted my Mom" the old fashioned way, in July 1960 - they were married. I came along on January…

We were also at the LPA convention in Boston. Our daughter was born with Achondroplasia. I read the Chapter in your book on Dwarfs. Well done, thank you. I also was an EMS Helicopter pilot in Iraq. I rescued an Iraqi family with three handicapped children with Morquio type of dwarfism. They now live with me in Idaho. My interpreter (a Muslim) in Iraq wanted to tell the Salman family, (they are also…