Customer Reviews

A Child of Eternity: An Extraordinary Young Girl's Message from the World Beyond

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I am a high-functioning autistic person, and I think that this book perpetuates all the worst myths about autism - that there is a normal person "trapped" inside the autism and that facilitated communication shouldn't be exposed to scientific scrutiny (which has so far shown all facilitated messages to come unconsciously from the facilitator, as Temple Grandin, an autistic scientist, notes in her book "Thinking in Pictures") because that would violate the "trust" involved. Kristi Jorde describes physically holding her struggling daughter at the keyboard because she decided to believe the messages saying that this was just "her body disobeying her". This is not my idea of "trust" - as an autistic person, this is my idea of a nightmare. "Normal" people need to respect non-verbal people as they are, and to learn how wonderful it can be to interact without having to use words, instead of exploiting their silence as a blank screen on which to project their own rescue fantasies

I am a mom of a child with Autism. He is 3. I will start out by saying that I am highly involved with his curriculum and have used all PROVEN scientific based treatments with my son. Including ABA and AVB.And all have pirven and continue to prove to be effective
I must say , the story and the words in the beggining of the book make a beautiful read. The pages just turned and flowed. The writing style I loved. The realities of the mothers accounts with the behaviors and reactions and the numerous evaluations in search for a diagnosis, were real and I could relate to the frustation. I was a bit bewildered WHY no behavioral intervention was taken for Adri.. with all the research and books and moves that the parents apparently made, made me wonder how they could have over looked the research and books based on ABA or AVB (applied bahvaior analysis and applied verbal behavior)..nonetheless.. The minute the book began reflecting about the triumphant of facilitating communication , the book turned so "candy coated" to me..
I KNOW the struggles, I know the fears.. I live them every day of my life.. THE MESSAGE that prevailed about the spiritual renewal WAS a good one.. But I believe if you are a parent suffering from the need of spiritual guidance I would more so leave that to books and writers such as Depak Chopra's How to Know God... If you are a parent or researcher or educator in the field of AUtism.. I would say DO NOT waste your child's precious time in a education style that
will not help the child. If you want to help your child function in this world.AS WE KNOW IT....so that you and they may have a more productive life, I would say there a trully better reads than this one..(A WOrk in progress, behvioral intervention for children with autism..)
Again, I will say, needing GOD, and being able to SEE through an autistic childs behaviors and see THEM as a child of God, is a lesson , we parents of special needs children DO NEED TO DO..

However, it is also our duty to educate them.. and help them flourish to be the best that they are capale of being..this includes helping them function and flourish with the world we DO live in..
I was dissapointed in how, the accounts AFTER this facilitation "triumph" still failed to help Adri with her self injurous and self help skills.. She still peseverated and still self inured herself and others..
To me.. those issues needed to be addressed AND could have been minimized..with the direction of books such as Richard Foxx's Decreasing Behaviors or his other book Increasing (appropriate ) Behaviors..
You could still teach and live a spiritual life while still helping your child function in a more "noramlized" way..To think that she was never really redirected or that her behviors were never addressed also trubled me .. Not for ME.. but for parents that may be looking for more CONCRETE answers..may be swayed into a technique that may simply be a waste of time..
I think Adri and her mom shared a wonderful bond.. I Guess it was the best intervention that the mom had her hands on.. or perhaps she was at the end of her rope.. and needed something to help her cope.. so she looked twords GOD to give her the strength to accept her daughter was.. However, God has also blessed many researchers with the knoledge and the peseverance to find the most effective way of treating our kids.. SO I would say God works in many ways.. And we all find him at the end of many different paths and journeys.I pray that that family continues to grow and stay close to GOD.. I would also like to hope that (though it may be too late) they would give Adri the resources she would need to live a more individual and less cripling life..
Who's to say they couldnt have done BOTH..
Continued to let this child spiritually guide them (if that WAS the case) AND give her treatment that ALSO would produce
a higher functioning person..
Maybe some will say I "missed the boat " on the meaning of this book.. But I guess I am more of a REALITY check kind of mom.. My child has Autism..YES.. Do I need.. more than ever .. a finer relationship with GOD and the world around me..YES.. Is it my responsibility to RESPONSIBLY educate my child..Yes..
Many Blessings to all..
Nicole

A truly uplifting book. This book was the catalyst into my search of why we are here, what lessons we have to learn in this life, and how we need to be non-judgemental and always give LOVE. Love is the answer, the meaning to our lives. This is a good book and a good account of how we can all learn to communicate with our spiritual guides. We are all searching for answers which are easily accessible if we only ask and then open ourselves up to receive these answers. Let this book lead you onto read many more entralling books on spirituality and life.

This will bring out the skeptic in most readers. It can be a stretch to believe and will push your buttons if you don't buy into past-life regression, guides, facilitated communication. It is a wonderful account of a young girl's life, and her mother's constant participation/direction in her life (maybe to the extreme?). And raises questions not only about autism but other forms of physical difficulties (stroke victims, spinal injuries) where the body is not in tact, communication is difficult or impossible, but the mind is functioning beautifully. How frustrating to be trapped inside of that body. It is a story of hope and inspiration. I didn't want to put it down.

I bought this book a month ago when I was having a spiritual crisis. Reading this story helped me to regain my faith in search for healing, for both me and my husband. Today, I am sitting here with glorious faith and refreshing hope. The issue is not wether true or not, but the contents which I find them valid. People are still battling between science and spirituality. That is a waste of time. For those trying to feed their spirits, this book is highly recommended. For those trapped into the battle between scientific proof and spirituality, this is not the best time to read it.

I feel honoured and happy for both Kristi and Adri for bringing light and hope into my life.

I 'found?' this book in a book-store and after having started to read I couldn't stop reading. This story, as another reader stated, true or not, doesn't matter, because the contents and its implications are really important. If everyone would believe and obey and/or consider to include Adri's believes of Love and the reason of our existence here on earth in their daily life, this earth, our future would change. And implicitely this story tells, that many illnesses, treated with love, surely would disappear. I recommand this book to everyone to include into our daily thoughts. Be in peace!

This book is one of the finest I have ever read. It is touching, inspiring, thought provoking, gripping, sad, happy and much much more. I reccomend it above any other book except for 'Hannah's Gift'. It will make you look at things very differently and provide a refreshing take on life and why we're all here. Incredible.

I might have rated this book higher if the claims of having lived certain historically prominent lives hadn't been made. It appeared sensationalist and subtracted from the overall message. Additionally, I had the sense throughout that Kristi showed some very "controlling" aspects of her personality that might very well have manifested in the purported communication from her daughter, Adriana. While this subject matter has been of continuing interest to me and while I don't doubt the veracity of many other similar accounts, I have serious reservations about a story where one mother with apparent control issues is the sole "facilitator" in whatever form, for a daughter who cannot speak for herself. This is an uplifting book from many aspects but a "grain of salt" is warranted here

If we were to look up "hope" in the dictionary it reads.. " a confident expectation that a desire will be fulfilled.." and that is exactly what I feel about life and about this book. It is an amazing life story and I would love to communicate with Kristi or Adri if it was possible. They have given me more faith that I could ever have imagined. My friends and family all want to read this amazing book. I told them it would change their life as it did mine. Every day I can read Adri's Prayer on my refrigerator door and I thank them for sharing this inspiring story.

You have to read this book. It's wonderfull, If someone knows where can I take information about Kristy Jorde or Adriana Rocha, you can write me soniagutierrezm@la ciudad.com. Thanks and don't forget read it.