Deeply in love, Cal and Mary brave divorce, marry, and help each other succeed in their work. Cal becomes a renowned inventor, Mary a best-selling author. Then Alzheimer's strikes. Cal faces his disease courageously, Mary finds ways to sustain their relationship despite it. While they don't beat Alzheimer's, it doesn't win either. Their love persists throughout and beyond their battle.
A Very Special Child
Mary MacCracken records the ways in which she guided an emotionally disturbed eight-year-old on a long, difficult journey to reality and security
First published in 1974 as A Circle of Children this is the first of four books from learning disabilities specialist Mary MacCracken.
This deeply moving memoir tells the story of Hannah: a child who has been beaten and abused; a girl full of loneliness and rage; a student no one but learning disabilities teacher Mary MacCracken could reach. Mary had reservations about eight-year-old Hannah joining her class. The three emotionally disturbed boys she was currently looking after had been making steady progress, and Hannah, who had a reputation for being a withdrawn and incredibly troubled child, would only be a disruptive influence. For the first fortnight Hannah retired to a cupboard and refused to come out. Howling almost non-stop she was displaying the worst symptoms that Mary had ever seen. How could Mary help a child who had been shut up in closets and treated like an animal? What could she say to a child who had been locked out of her own home, and beaten by both her brother and her father? How could she reach this lost girl? This is the remarkable story of Hannah and Mary's journey together. Deep within Hannah, Mary recognises an amazing strength. And with love, skill and patience, she gradually starts to make a difference. It's a long road to recovery, but Mary never gives up. As this moving true story unfolds, we feel Mary's joy, we share her hope and, in time, her faith that Hannah will be okay.
From bestselling author and teacher Mary Maccracken comes the engaging and inspiring story of five troubled children who she fought to bring back from the brink
From the author of international bestsellers A Circle of Children and Lovey comes an inspiring true story of a gifted teacher's determination to understand the `rotten' city kid everyone has given up on.