My Child Has Special Needs
by Rebeckah J. Ripley
Published by Pleasant Word
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Addie Mattson
Subtitled: A Journey from Grief to Joy
Grief comes to us through many experiences. Bearing a child whose limited abilities or health conditions cut short our dreams and opportunities is one. Author Rebeckah Ripley's account of her son's crisis birth and ongoing health problems is intended as a guide for mothers whose babies are born less than perfect.
Each short, easy-to-read chapter ends with Points to Ponder for thought and journaling by the individual reader or as topics for group discussions. The issues are those that any parent of a special needs child faces as she lives through stages that parallel those in Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's On Death and Dying.
The author modifies those stages to Denial, Anger, Guilt and Acceptance by saying that these four are unique to the experience of mothering a special needs child. Ripley herself worked through counseling, journaling and prayer to get to acceptance. She poses thought questions tailored to each of her four steps:
1. "What did you anticipate for the life of your child?"
2. "Are you angry now or have you felt anger because of your child's needs?"
3. "Do you feel guilt over your child's special needs?" and, finally,
4. "What do you think it would require from you to find peace from the grief?"
Potentially, Ripley's work could help many parents who share her experience. However, it is clear from the introduction onward that the author's advice is so deeply informed by her Christian faith (the Ripleys are Christian missionaries) that she effectively denies her help to people with other religious faiths or none.
For example, Chapter 2 is entitled "Right with God" and begins: "Nothing in this book can be of any benefit to you without the power of God working within you."
The chapter comprises numerous Bible quotations and commentary focused on Christian conversion as a necessary prerequisite.
This book also is well-padded with material that is only marginally related to the author's advice. Chapter 12, a detailed chronology of fetal development and Chapter 6, a series of prayers for her son based on Bible verses, seem intended to stretch this thin volume to its scant 123 pages.
Armchair Interviews says: A book with good information but a very strong Christian focus.