A Mother's Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent by Eichin Chang-Lim

A Mother's Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent Reviews

• 
  SA Krishnan

  Beautiful book
  
  The book is a memoir and the care and sensitivity with which the author tackles the need of special children by parents, was commendable.
  Beautifully narrated with titbits of advice and experiences peppered all the way, it was powerful read.
• 
  Julie Watson

  A heartfelt read of a mother's journey as a parent of a special needs child. Eichin's son was born profoundly deaf and as a mother, she knew this long before she got the diagnosis that her son was born with Waardenburg syndrome. A mother knows so much more at times than the experts. The book follows Eichin's life covering her son's childhood years until he becomes independent and leaves home. The book is a quick, capturing read and gives an insight into the roller coaster ride this mother goes through emotionally, balancing her own life, the struggles and the victories. What a beautiful dedicated mother.
• 
  Carol Phipps

  Much has been said and written about motherhood, but not nearly so much about a mother’s heartbreak when she learns that her perfect child is not so perfect after all. A Mother’s Heart by Eichin Chang-Lim is the true story of how one courageous woman copes with such a revelation, when her first-born is pronounced profoundly deaf due to a genetic disorder called Waardenburg syndrome.
  
  This book was written to help others who are facing life with a genetically disabled child to understand and deal with what lies ahead for them, and to let them know that they are not alone. But this story is one of hope and triumph, not defeat. The author shares her own experience from the birth of her special needs child, through his childhood and up to the present, where he has become a young adult out on his own.
  
  A Mother’s Heart is written in an honest, straight-forward manner, and the author is completely open about the ups and downs, anguish and joy, the guilt, the anger and all the other emotions and roadblocks associated with raising a special needs child. Her tale is often heart-wrenching, but more often it is uplifting.
  
  I highly recommend this book to anyone who has or knows a special needs child or simply is curious to know what it is like to have and raise such a child.
  
• 
  Grant Leishman

  This book surprised me just a little bit. I guess I was expecting a very sad and angst-ridden story of the difficulties of raising a special needs child. What I got instead was a simple, straightforward account of the highs and lows of dealing with the needs of a child who has some form of disadvantage over the other kids.
  Eichin Chang-Lim's first child Teddy, was born profoundly deaf and with some vision issues also. Chang-Lim candidly relates the initial shock and disappointment that her long-awaited for bundle of joy is not quite so perfect after all. What she shows us in this book is that once the intial shock is over there is work to be done, for both the child and the parent's sake. She doesn't pull any punches or sugarcoat the experience, she relates what she had to do for Teddy in a simple, straightforawrd narrative along with the effect her son's disability had on everyone in the family.
  The chapter from Teddy's younger sister may have been short, but it was illuminating in showing the differences in perspective between the child and the sibling.
  There is no doubt having a special needs child puts all sorts of strains on work and family relationships, but Chang-Lim is able to show that sometimes it is practacalities and the pragmatic approach that may have to ho;d sway over the initial emotional and heartfelt response.
  The authors love for her child could never be brought into question, but even she admitted when Teddy became an adult, it was difficult for her to let go and to give him his independence.
  An honest, frank and warming memoir of one woman's journey with her special needs child. I enjoyed taking it with her, very much.
• 
  Stuart Kenyon

  When I read Ms Chang-Lim's 2016 release, FLIPPING, I was impressed by the depth of emotion plumbed. So realistic was the novel, that I wondered if, like me, she had personal experience of special needs and disabilities. So, when A MOTHER'S HEART, a non-fiction memoir and self-help book rolled into one, was published, I was curious to learn about the author's background. FLIPPING did such a wonderful job of conveying the frustrations and joys of special needs parenting that I was expecting a lot from its non-fiction follow-up. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint.
  
  With great care and sensitivity, Ms Chang-Lim tackles the subject of childhood deafness. At times, it's not the easiest read. Heart-breaking circumstances are explored, warts n'all, with no punches pulled. The author is hard on herself at times, but her honesty is engaging. Happily, there are plenty of uplifting moments, as Teddy and his family overcome hurdles most people couldn't comprehend. Chang-Lim's style is informative but never preachy; she tells us what's worked or not worked for her, but she acknowledges that there is no universal approach. Some of the advice seems obvious, but when life is hard, it's often difficult to see the wood for the trees. And by the end of the tale, I felt as though the Lims were friends.
  
  Written with consummate skill, A MOTHER'S HEART is a book to savour. It is comprehensive without being long-winded, and the pace is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it in particular to anyone involved with special needs parenting or parenting in general. An easy 5* from me!
• 
  Anna Casamento Arrigo

  Powerful! LOVE her ability to weave magic!
• 
  Balroop Singh

  A Mother’s Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent by Eichin Chang – Lim is the story of hope, of light that lingers behind dark clouds, which don’t last forever. It is the story of a mother’s love that refuses to be overpowered by challenges that destiny had laid before her by giving her a blue-eyed lovely boy with Waardenburg syndrome. A first child is a treasure for a mother but Eichin’s first-born was diagnosed profoundly deaf – a staggering revelation for any mother but Eichin keeps her agony to herself when she shares the story of her son, Ted.
  
  Eichin’s determination to give the best to her son, her decision to keep working due to financial and health benefits that she could avail, her forbearance in the wake of disappointments, her efforts to keep the family together despite the cracks are inspiring for even those who don’t have to face such tumults in life. Kudos to Eichin who could raise an independent, fun-loving son despite all the struggles she had to make. This is a wonderful book for all parents and carries a succinct message – never give up!
  
• 
  Linnea Tanner

  “A Mother's Heart” by Eichin Chang-Lim is a memoir of her journey of raising a special needs child. Each chapter is organized by title of topic, quote, general overview of topic, and author’s or family member’s perspective. The book spans the time period from the birth of Eichin's son, who is diagnosed with Waardenburg Syndrome resulting in hearing loss, to his early adulthood. The author provides a heartfelt account of how she made decisions to help her son live independently and follow his life’s pathway. The overall message of the book is to educate yourself as a parent on what you can do to help your special needs child reach his or her full potential.
  
  The heartfelt honesty of how Eichin Chang-Lim dealt with various challenges in her son's life made this an inspirational and educational memoir. The book is smoothly written and professionally edited. It is a quick read that provides sound advice on how parents can meet their children’s special needs. The author's experience as an optometrist helped her make clear-sighted decisions on how to treat and educate her son. Even so, Eichin honestly reveals her raw emotions as she dealt with each stage in her son’s development.
  
  I recommend “A Mother’s Heart” for parents and others who seek advice and inspiration for meeting the challenges of raising a special needs child.
• 
  Ken Fry

  'A Mother's Heart' by Eichin Chang-Lim is an incredible descriptive of a family's struggle to cope with their son Ted's condition of profound deafness attributed to a little known syndrome known as Waardenburg Syndrome.
  
  The narrative is a blend of solid advice and Eichin's memoirs. The trials and tribulations of this remarkable woman can only be guessed at or surmised. Written with clarity and devastating brutal honesty it should bring a tear or two to your eyes...it did mine.
  
  We follow Ted through his struggles and operations plus his struggles with the social aspects of his life, at home, at school and onwards to his maturity as an adult....If we think we have a few problems in our lives then try a dose of what he had to go through and I doubt if would be so quick to complain again about our condition.
  
  At the end I was left (and I hope you as a reader will also ) with a feeling of a heart wrenching triumph.
  
• 
  David Padilla

  This book is unbelievably real! Normally, when we read a non-fiction book, there are always exceptions to the rules or points not discussed, but not this book...it's real, crude life, and she writes with such heartfelt passion, I could almost feel her emotions as I read it. What an emotional book! She did a great job in raising her special needs child, Ted, and she couldn't be more proud of him! No wonder this book is a medalist winner and an Amazon best selling book!
  
  A must-own book!!!
  
  Thank you
• 
  Billy Buttons

  This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
  Title: A Mother's Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent
  Author: Eichin Chang-Lim
  
  Star Rating: 5 Stars
  Number of Readers: 17
  Stats
  Editing: 8/10
  Writing Style: 8/10
  Content: 9/10
  Cover: 10/10
  Of the 17 readers:
  16 would read another book by this author.
  17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
  17 felt it was easy to follow.
  17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
  Of all the readers, 11 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
  Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
  17 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
  17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
  
  Readers’ Comments
  ‘A fascinating read. I applaud the mother for all her hard work not just in writing the book but in helping her son to find his way in life.’ Male reader, aged 72
  ‘The message here is very relevant in a world where medical professionals are often overwhelmed. Basically, it’s up to the parents to (a) educate themselves on the problem and (b) push hard to get what they want for their child. If you leave it up to the health service, you’ll get nowhere. Sadly, a lot of children with special needs who have uninterested and/or disorganized parents, fall through the cracks. I’m so happy that this mother didn’t let it happen to her son.’ Female reader (nurse), aged 44
  ‘A clever mix of self-help and memoir, this well-written account of a woman trying to help her son is uplifting and illuminating. It shows the lows but, also, the highs of motherhood too. Perfect for any new mother (or father), particularly if their child has special needs.’ Female reader, aged 54
  ‘I would happily recommend this book to anybody with a special needs child. It is not just informative in terms of getting help, it’s also an emotional roller coaster.’ Male reader, aged 52
  
  To Sum It Up:
  ‘A superbly written memoir, enlightening and thoroughly gripping. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
  
• 
  Joy Lo-Bamijoko

  Eichin Chang-Lim
  
  The author wrote a very heart-wrenching story that a mother could ever write about her special need son, Teddy or Ted, as he chose later to be called.
  
  Teddy was born deaf, but it took the mother’s relentless push with the doctors and psychologists to eventually get the correct diagnosis confirming his deafness. More than once, he was misdiagnosed. When he was finally diagnosed correctly, the battle started of getting him the help he needed. The mother was determined to make sure that he had as normal a life as he could get. She got him into the right schools and the right hearing aids. She also smothered him with love.
  
  In the end, Teddy and her sister Victoria had to live far from home to learn to live independently from their mother. It was not easy to let them go, especially Teddy, but she had to let go in the end.
  
  This is a beautiful story, written entirely in the style of Telling, not showing. But the message came through. This will be a great learning book for mothers who have learning disadvantaged and special needs children.
  
  
• 
  Eeva Lancaster

  An uplifting story of a mother's challenges in raising a special needs child. What I loved about Eichin's writing, is that she shares the experience in a factual and sometimes even humorous way. You won't feel hate or angst, which is common in most memoirs. Being a doctor, her perspective is finding solutions for her child's predicament and making the most out of the situation.
  
  If you have a special needs child, or know someone who does, this is a great book to read. It will leave you with good feelings and hope.
• 
  John Dolan

  "A Mother's Heart" by Eichin Chang-Lim is part-memoir, part-self-help book. This is a difficult balancing act to perform, since such works can come across as mawkish, but the author pulls it off admirably. The work chronicles the author's experiences in bringing up a profoundly deaf son, Teddy. Ms. Chang-Lim is refreshingly candid about her mistakes and heartaches during the course of her journey. She writes feelingly of the family strains and difficult choices over the years - and both the support and the lack of support she received. This is a very human book, and not at all preachy. I warmed to her over the course of reading this short piece. It strikes me also that "A Mother's Heart" is something which the parents of children who are disabled - or perhaps more correctly, "differently-abled" - will find helpful.
• 
  Bobbi Wagner

  A Mother's Heart: Memoir of a Special Needs Parent by Eichin Chang-Lim is a story about her struggles as a parent of a child with special needs. This author has created an awesome story about her struggles and success with her child. She is a parent of a deaf child that was born with this congential disorder. You will be able to relate to her a mother and everything that she went through to get her son to where he is today. You will love how you will be able to connect with what she is talking about and her as a mother. This story will make you cry in parts and gleam in others. You will not want to miss out on this book! You will find yourself in this book like I have. This is a fast reading story that kept me engaged until the end. I read this story in one day, I couldn't put it down. I highly suggest every parent whether you are a special needs parent or not. Everyone will learn something from this. The author did an awesome job of making you feel what she was feeling and understanding what was going on. This is a must read!