Voiceless Child

True story! "I spoke soothing words and touched her pale fingers. The silent weeping stopped." The baby's chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. Airway scarring rendered spoken language impossible. Heather wasn't my child, but her distress tattered my heart. Fourteen months old, the little one lay swaddled in a blanket, forgotten and lost amongst unchanging hospital routines. “Just be glad she’s only abandoned, not abused.” The words on the other end of the phone line stung. I wrestled with anger, but instinct quieted any sharp response. A chance meeting turned tragedy to miracle. I wrote the book about our search to give the voiceless child a family, to find a surgeon who could reconstruct her airway. Otherwise she would never speak, never swim. When I met her, she'd never been outside, never seen the sun, never seen the moon. She could not even move a finger. She'd always lived in a hospital on a breathing machine, fed by a tube in her tummy. No one dared dreamed she might survive and have a family of her own. Might we adopt her? Were the damning prophecies true? Sometimes dreams come true, more fantastic than envisioned. There is a newer subspecialty, pediatric otolaryngology. These ear, nose, and throat surgeons can restore voice and hearing. READ THE BOOK. WRITE A REVIEW. TELL YOUR FRIENDS. Enjoy the adventure of healing Heather and discover the miracle surgery that restores her voice. "This is a true story of hope, unconditional love, faith, as well as an exceptional family who would not take "No" for an answer. Ann writes beautifully with vision and descriptions that take you bedside with Heather, on family outings to the river, or just inside her home filled with laughter, scary moments with how fragile Heather was, the exhausting routine of life at that time, and finally the miracle of seeing Heather grow up." Kathy, Reader *** Diana Forrest. I'm reading this book now, can hardly put it down. Thanks be to God to her awesome Adopted family and to so many great Doctors and nurses. Heather is a living beautiful Miracle and a precious gift from God. Dec. 25, 2017 Janet Kortright rated it amazing. I could NOT put this book down. I read it in one night. Start to finish. I felt like I was part of the journey, the family. I will read this again and recommend it to others. A feel good story that shows they're are good people in the world. To advocate for children. To stand your ground to get the care needed for your children. Lynn, January 3, 2018 Voiceless Child is an amazing true story on the trials and tribulations in adopting a special medical needs child. A must read for all especially those who can relate to caring for and having a premature baby like me and my husband. Such a double blessing: For Heather - to be adopted by a loving family and getting a voice. For the family - the experience of adopting and providing medical needs for Heather that takes them on extraordinary life experiences of faith, hope, perseverance, joy, and love. Thanks Ann for sharing your true life experience! *** Heather’s story is heartwrenching, captivating, frustrating. I was impelled to read on to discover who would help or hinder her recovery. What I learned applauds the magical minds and hands of innovative surgeons. The inspiring story of perseverance is relevant to anyone who is facing a challenging obstacle. --Dar Walks Out, Lakota Sioux, Pine Ridge, South Dakota Voiceless Child is a thoughtful exploration of the grace and imperfections inherent in medical care systems and individual providers. Heather epitomizes the motivation for devising surgical procedures that eliminate a parent’s constant worry of death associated with airway disorders. -- Dr. Robin Cotton, director of pediatric otolaryngology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Before the events evolved to the point whose impact could only be conveyed through a book, I published it as an article, “The Child No One Wanted” in Woman’s Day. “We’ve had a terrific reaction to it. Our readers really loved the story.” --Jane Chesnutt, then editor-in-chief of Woman’s Day.