A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure [Paperback]

Leeann Whiffen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2009

Told with the intensity of a medical thriller, the extraordinary story of how Clay Whiffen and his family conquered autism.

"Leeann Whiffen's fight for her son is a poignant, intimate story of perseverance and love - a reminder to all of us that a mother is the greatest ally a child with autism will ever have. A Child's Journey out of Autism shines a heartfelt light on a future of healing and hope."
Jenny McCarthy, author of Mother Warriors and Louder than Words

The therapy costs $30,000. We'd be mortgaging our lives and our savings on something we're not even sure could help our son. But the clock is ticking: the longer we wait, the harder it will be to pull him out of this shell. How are we going to afford it? How can we not afford it?

When Clay Whiffen was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, his parents didn't know where to turn. They refused to believe that he could not be cured, and began to try every therapy they could afford - and many they couldn't. In this extraordinary story of one family's struggle with autism, Leeann Whiffen gives voice to the fear of losing a child and the fight to reclaim him, exploring what treatments eased her son Clay's symptoms, where the Whiffens found support, and how the family conquered one of the toughest challenges a child can face.

With a foreword by autism specialist Dr. Bryan Jepson, A Child's Journey out of Autism spells out what treatments worked, where the family found help, and how they made it through this crushing crisis. In a time of despair and confusion - when another child is diagnosed with autism every 20 minutes - this is a profound, proven message of hope for anyone whose life is touched by the disorder.

PRAISE FOR A CHILD'S JOURNEY OUT OF AUTISM

"I have heard so many stories like Clay's that I thought I could no longer be moved by them; I was wrong. This is an important book to read if your family has not been touched by autism, because it's important to understand the disorder that has affected so many all over the world. If someone you love is on the autism spectrum, read it because it will allow you to see that autism is treatable. While not all children make a complete recovery, improvements in their quality of life are possible at any age. I strongly recommend this moving and intelligent book."
Jane Johnson, Executive Director, Defeat Autism Now!

"This uplifting and positive book gives parents of newly-diagnosed children hope for the future. There is no easy fix or magic bullet for recovering a child from autism, but as Leeann so skillfully shows us, with perseverance and determination, the possibilities and rewards are endless. Thank you, Leeann, for sharing your story and empowering parents to make that journey to rediscover their child."
Chantal Sicile-Kira, author of Autism Life Skills, Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

"Leeann Whiffen takes the reader onto the rollercoaster ride that is autism from the first chapter to the last. A Child's Journey Out of Autism is field guide on how an average family can grow in love as they take on autism, refusing to accept the mainstream doom and gloom pronouncement that there is no hope or treatment. This is an important, really powerful book. If you know a child with autism, read this book for them."
Kim Stagliano, Managing Editor, Age of Autism, and mother of three girls with autism

"The journey from diagnosis to recovery is filled with obstacles and setbacks. The financial and emotional burdens families endure are heartbreaking. Yet, like the Whiffen family demonstrates, there is power in hope and determination. Parents like Leeann and Sean demonstrate that autism doesn't have to be a lifelong struggle… With effective treatments, a supportive network, and unwavering parents, recovery is indeed possible… Leeann's determination, drive, and hope are inspirational. Her story is unique, yet it mirrors what so many families encounter, the stress of inadequate funding options, the frustration of misdiagnosis, the confusion associated with learning about the best treatments. Her ability to tell her story with heart mixed with concrete information will no doubt help many families."
Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA, founder and executive director, The Center for Autism & Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD)

"The Autism club is not one that we choose to join. Sadly, many of us are welcomed to this club by medical professionals who offer little hope for our children. But as the Whiffen family and thousands of others have discovered, our children can get better and in many cases, even recover from Autism. In A Child's Journey out of Autism, Leeann Whiffen welcomes us to the club with the gift of hope. This book is a must-read for parents with a newly diagnosed child with autism."
Wendy Fournier, president, National Autism Association

(20090217)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The story of Clay Whiffen started out no differently than that of countless others diagnosed with autism: his parents, author Leeann and her husband, Sean, felt they could only watch as their happy baby morphed into a child they did not recognize. At first, the parents, in their 20s, denied their son could be autistic. (In the foreword, Dr. Bryan Jepson writes that in the mid-1980s, autism was a rare condition—1 in 5,000 children; by the mid-1990s, it had become the most common developmental disability with 1 in 150 children diagnosed.) But soon, Leeann writes, "I feel compelled to do whatever it takes to help Clay.... I stay up all hours of the night investigating everything related to autism." As Sean worked hard to cover the cost of Clay's treatment, Leeann became a master networker. The Whiffens decided on an applied behavior analysis program, and "I press forward in sheer faith that what we do will help him." Although the book's dialogue is often stilted, Whiffen has written an inspirational and educational story. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Bookended by photos of Clay Whiffen—one as a picture-perfect but blank-eyed toddler, the other as an engaged child, smiling impishly—this is mom Leeann’s story of an obsessive quest to restore normalcy for her child, at any cost. At the outset, she and husband Sean were in denial for several months, and even then, after Clay’s diagnosis and her beginning research into the disorder and various interventions, she was unable to bring the word autism to her lips, as if the word itself condemned Clay to unknown horrors. Of the myriad options available, a program called Applied Behavior Analysis seemed to show the best anecdotal results. With the hefty annual price tag of $30,000, however, it would swallow a substantial portion of the family’s income. But Sean reasoned they would spend any amount to rescue Clay from kidnappers, so money should become a secondary consideration with autism, too. In the end, that and other costs, including Leeann’s health, proved worthwhile. Clay’s autism diagnosis was removed. An inspiring account of love, luck, and dogged determination. --Donna Chavez

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402218389
• ISBN-13: 978-1402218385
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leeann Whiffen has served on the boards of local autism organizations, and provided voluntary assistance in consulting with hundreds of families facing autism throughout the U.S. She's presented at autism conferences and has been a featured guest on radio and TV stations to provide greater awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorders.

Leeann co-authored the Early Intervention Fast Start Checklist developed for the Autism Council of Utah (ACU). She is a recipient of the "Outstanding Individual of the Year" award (ACU) and the EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award (Exceptional Parent magazine). She serves as president and is co-founder of the Utah Autism Coalition, a non-profit advocacy group and also serves as the Autism Speaks Utah Chapter Advocacy co-chair. She is currently working with legislators to provide help for treating children with autism. She continues providing comfort and guidance to families facing autism--both independently and as a Generation Rescue Angel. Leeann currently lives in Utah with her husband and three sons.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring must read, March 22, 2009

By 

Ricci Carole King (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure (Paperback)

Leeann Whiffen has written a deeply intimate, poignant, and inspiring book describing the courageous journey her family traveled in their determined and successful efforts to recover her second son, Clay, from the grip of autism. As the mother of a teenage son with autism, I was completely drawn in as Ms. Whiffen provided a detailed account of Clay's health issues starting in infancy, and his emerging signs of autism. Even though the title gives the ending away, I could not put this book down, eager to read each chapter and follow the course taken to Clay's recovery.

Many parents with a child diagnosed on the autism spectrum will relate to Ms. Whiffen's anger and indignation when it is first suggested by a neighbor that Clay may have autism. In telling her family's story, Ms. Whiffen provides an account of events that will be painfully familiar to countless other families of children with autism. What might be unfamiliar to many who read this book is the reality that autism is treatable, and for some children, recovery is possible.

One of the strengths of this book is that it is not just a book about a family's struggle with autism. It is that, and so much more. Whether intended or not, Ms. Whiffen has provided an inspiring snap shot of a once somewhat insecure young woman, who comes to a place of empowerment through her conviction that she can find healing for her son. From beginning to end, there is no pretense about Ms. Whiffen. Much of the book's appeal is deeply rooted in her ability to tell her story with humility, and deep gratitude for the positive outcome for her son.

This is also a beautiful love story; the love of parents for their children; the love of parents of children with autism for other parents of children with autism; and the love that the author shares with her husband, Sean.

Leeann Whiffen never makes the battle she waged against her son's autism seem easy. However, by writing this extraordinary book, she has made the battle easier for the families of newly diagnosed children who will receive prudent guidance in reading her book.

This book is for every parent, not just for those whose children are diagnosed with autism. A portion of the proceeds from "A Child's Journey Out of Autism" will go to the National Autism Association, a worthwhile cause supporting families affected by autism.

Ricci Carole King

Moderator, Autism Biomdedical Discussion

[e-mail]

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone has to read this book!, February 27, 2009

By 

lilly (Cutchogue, NY, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure (Paperback)

Leeann Whiffen and her husband Sean were suddenly thrown into the world of nightmare when their two-year-old son Clay was diagnosed with PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, which is a form of autism. From that day forward, they went through the whirl of misinformation, doctors' inadequacy and fellow parents' misunderstandings, confused, sometimes cold and reproachful looks and comments. They hit every stumbling block, every wall and shutting door but they refused to give up. Because of the determination to win their son back from autism, they also met many helping angels on their journey: doctors who wanted and knew how to help, parents who suffered the same anguish, and people who wanted to help simply because they wanted to make a difference in one child's life.

A Child's Journey Out of Autism leads us through Leeann's incredible path of always holding on to hope. Even though it is a real-life story, it reads like a first class action and suspense book. Even all the medical terms and description, that otherwise could bore a reader to tears, are surprisingly interesting because they are written in a language of deep emotions. Leeann turns out to be a fantastic writer. Her writing is clear, very straightforward and engaging, grabbing a reader's attention from the first page and holding it to the very end. Probably the best part is that Leeann neither sanctifies nor victimizes herself. There are moments of doubt, selfishness and despair, but there are also moments of great joy, determination and courage to go on one more day. She is a normal mother who loves and cares for her children and who manages to win the battle despite being told that she never would. Precisely because of this `normalcy', Leeann's message of hope to other parents of autistic children is so powerful. I couldn't help but care and cheer for every member of the Whiffen's family: Leeann, her husband Sean and their two wonderful boys, Clay and Drew (who, by the way, is a wonderful, courageous brother and friend to Clay). I cried tears of sorrow and joy, and I guarantee that everyone who reads this book will too.

This book however, should be read by every parent, not only the ones with autistic children. It is a story of how to appreciate every little thing about our children, how to love them fully and unconditionally. It is a story of perseverance in the face of biggest despair, of determination to never give up, even if we are told that that's precisely what we should do.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, April 5, 2009

By 

Allan Wrubell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure (Paperback)

As the grandparent of an autistic child, I was grateful to be able to read about the parallel's between Clay's situation and that of our grandson who is still undergoing ABA treatment. Having recently met Clay, it gives us hope that we can expect similar results for our grandson. Leean continues to be a strong and determined advocate for the early diagnosis and treatment of autism and to end the discrimination by insurance companies of covering the necessary and proven therapy. The Whiffen family experience should be an inspiration to all families dealing with autism and inspire us to support efforts to find a cure for this affliction that affects so many of our children today.