One of our community,
Richie Morris, whose mother has PSP, is writing and publishing a book for children, to help explain the changes they observe taking place in their beloved family member.
In Richie’s words;
“Every summer for a couple of weeks my mother, father, brother and I (including our closest friends), vacationed at a small beach in Florida. My mother always looked forward to this trip and loved the time she spent there with her family. This past summer, although Mom had been ill with PSP for several years, we all wanted to go back while she was still with us and so she could see the beach she loved so much one last time.
During this special trip together, I had the opportunity to observe my two-year old niece, Gavin, and her interaction with Mom. It was apparent Gavin longed to be close to my mom, yet because of the unfamiliar symptoms of Mom’s disease she was unsure and hesitant. When Mom would get upset or cry, Gavin would hide in the spare bedroom and, on several occasions, I noticed her peeping around the corner with a look of uncertainty, fear and confusion. She also began asking her own mom and dad questions such as “What’s wrong with her?” and “Is she real sick?” This touched me in ways I could never have imagined and I then knew what needed to be done: write a book dedicated to my mother and niece that will help young children navigate the fears and unfamiliar experience of loving someone with difficult physical symptoms broug
ht on by disease.
Other young children like my niece no doubt have similar fears, questions and confusion about how to feel and behave when they’re close to someone with a physical and/or mental disorder. The book I envision will not only help young children navigate their difficult emotions and learn about how diseases like PSP can affect their loved ones, it will also help them open up a dialogue with their elders. It will help them understand their fears and uncertainties so they can move beyond them and the symptoms of disease in order to be able to connect with the person they love.”
Richie Morris needs our help with the publishing fee of $2,500, see his Kickstarter page here.