The Miracle of Love

by Ondine Sherman

  Thanks to my writing group, especially Sharon Berger and also Louise Zaverdinos and Miriam Hechtman, who gave me the courage to believe my story was worth sharing.

  Rebecca Huntley, thank you for your generosity. Kathryn Heyman was a great writing mentor, and many others read my manuscript, providing valuable advice and feedback, including Gabby Stein, Kathy Bail, Nick Jose, Richard Smart, Caroline Baum, Jeffrey Masson, Danya Sherman and Emile Sherman.

  My wonderful team of home support for Dov and Lev gave me the time needed to write. Thank you Efrat, Rachel, Naomi, Raquel, Jyobina, Tamako, Jana.

  Dov and Lev’s therapists have worked tirelessly and I am full of gratitude to Raheli Dror, Debbie Evans, Prue Nix, Terry Meskin and Debbie Bell. Thank you also to Joe and Jeanette Neubauer and Hanna Klein.

  Thanks to Dana Campbell and my Voiceless team, especially Elaine Morris and Katrina Sharman who first held the fort during my big break.

  My friends have stuck by me, continuing to try to understand my journey. With love to my dearest, especially Sharonne, Alicia, Elaine, Bianca, Gabby, Sara, as well as Meital, Brendan, Ron, Petri, Yoav, Zehavit, Shelly, John, Bill, Janice, Rob and Jesse, Danielle, Emma, Dana, Corinne, Suzan, Dan, Roni,Tami, Debbie J, Simon, Lina, George,Yael, David, Cholit and Debbie H.

  The beautiful women in my ‘circle’—thanks for listening to my inarticulate rants and allowing me to share yours.

  To all the doctors and medical researchers: I don’t, in fact, hate you at all. That was the grief talking, sorry! I sincerely appreciate your work, thought and effort; without it, we would be so much worse off in every way. Thank you especially to Sam Refetoff, Ken Holden, Charles Verge, Ben Herbert, Carsten Bonnemann, Charlie Teo and Ron Granot.

  And to my beautiful dog, Ketem, and the many canine family members who are no longer with me. Tigger passed away last week. Fifteen years old, and a wild, wise spirit until the end. Winnie, Taurus, Bronnie . . . big tummy scratches and wet-nose kisses to you all.

  Bibliography

  Karen Armstrong, The Case for God, The Bodley Head, London, 2009.

  Alan Attwood, Editor, The Big Issue, 5 June 2012, Issue No. 408. Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy, Penguin, London, 2000.

  Bernard Clark, A Mother Like Alex, HarperTrue, London, 2008.

  Barbara Gill, Changed by a Child, Broadway Books, New York, 1997.

  K.R. Holden, O.F. Zuñiga, M.M. May, H. Su, M.R. Molinero, R.C. Rogers and C.E. Schwartz, ‘X-linked MCT8 gene mutations: characterization of the pediatric neurological phenotype’, Journal of Child Neurology, October 2005, 20(10):852–7.

  Simon Jacobson, Towards a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Schneerson,Vaad Hanochos Hatmimim, New York, 1995.

  C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, HarperCollins, USA, 1994.

  Rabbi Milecki, personal communication, 2010.

  Heidi Murkoff with Sharon Mazel, What to Expect the First Year, HarperCollins Australia, Sydney, 2009.

  NSW Ombudsman: Consultation with families with children of disabilities, June 2011: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/publications/reports/community-and-disability-services/consultations-with-families-of-children-with-disabilities-on-access-to-services-and-support

  Don Richard Riso, Personality Types, The Aquarian Press, London, 1987.

  Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, Beyond Never Again: How the Holocaust Speaks to Us Today, USA, 2010.

  Dorothee Sölle, Suffering, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1975.

  Jane Werner Watson, My Little Golden Book About God, Golden Press Inc., Sydney, 1957.

  Susan Wyndham, Life in His Hands, Picador by Pan Macmillan Australia, Sydney, 2008.