"My greatest fear in life was having a handicapped child," says Laraine Sutton as she reflects on the birth of her seventh son, Thad, who was born with a severe birth defect which would render him dependent on full-time care for the length of his life. "As a family, we were faced with a decision - we could either pull together or fall apart," adds Trent (brother #6).
So begins this journey through the life of one family as they navigate the challenges and joys associated with raising a child with multiple handicaps. "I think Thad brought into our lives a sense of purpose...because we were forced to do things we had never done before," continues Laraine.
But could these experiences prepare the family to face the uncertainty and fear brought on by another crisis, 30 years later, when Tom (Laraine's husband) suffers a sudden heart attack which causes significant brain damage?