Letters from Parents
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Miles from the Sidelines
From: "Bradel, Nancy (GMIS, AM CL SV INITI)" <Nancy_Bradel@ml.com>
Date: Thu, March 6, 2008 8:22 am
To: info@hannahandfriends.org
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Hello,
My name is Nancy and I wanted to thank you for writing such a inspiring
book, I have a 12 year old son, Tommy with special needs and I have
experienced several things that were described in your book. As you
stated in the book, these children are a blessing and my son Tommy has
made me a better parent, he taught be to be patient, more loving and to
continue to reach out to other parents with kids with special needs. My
son is still undiagnosed and at this time in our lives we are OK with
that, I know Tommy is happy, loving and lives without any worries. I am
planning to spread the word about the "Special Place" in South Bend in
the Chicago area to other parents and encourage them to read your story
hoping they get the same warm feeling as I did when I read the book.
While reading your book I feel like I know Hannah and believe you have
been the chosen ones to raise her and she is very blessed to have both
of you in her life. I wish everyone the best....I am enclosing a
picture of my Tommy, the only one I have with "BUSTER" from the show
"ARTHUR", he still loves the PBS characters especially BARNEY.
<<0223081217b.jpg>>
Sincerely,
Nancy Bradel
Chicago, IL
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Subject: thank you
From: "Singletary, Kendra E" <ksinglet@lhup.edu>
Date: Thu, March 6, 2008 12:02 pm
To: info@hannahandfriends.org
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I have just finishes reading Miles for the Sideline and was so touched by Maura and Hannah’s story. I am currently completing my undergrad work in elementary and special education. Yesterday I received a text message from one of my professors whose opinion I respect and value. She told me about this book and said I should check it out. I went out last night to buy it and finished reading it this afternoon. I couldn’t put it down! The story of this mother and daughter is written so honestly with its ups and downs that it was impossible to put down. It was a true inspiration and reminded me why I want to be a part of this profession. Thank you Maura, for your inspirational words!
Kendra E. Singletary
Lock Haven University
Many Thanks
---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Many Thanks
From: "Joseph Holland" <yholland1@san.rr.com>
Date: Thu, May 17, 2007 6:12 pm
To: info@hannahandfriends.org
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Thanks to both Maura and Charlie Weis for their many efforts in helping,
supporting and reaching out to children with developmental disabilities
and their parents. I was so touched today when I heard Coach Weis on the
JIM ROME radio show talking about the 30 acres and residential facilities
he is trying to develop for kids with developmental disabilities and their
parents. My son is about to turn 18 and is graduating from high school.
He has autism spectrum disorder with pervasive developmental delays.
Though he is somewhat high functioning and will be able to get a diploma,
there are so many worries and fears that we have for his future. We are
quite uncertain if he can handle college level work. What if he can't?
What if he is not able to be vocationally trained to work a job where he
can have gainful employment and live on his own? Who will take care of
him when we are gone? The school system provides so much and then it
provides no more, because it is woefully lacking in training our children
for what they really need- lifeskills. They can address these programs to
lower functioning children with down syndrome, but for kids with autism
who may be low or high funtioning or in the middle, they just don't have
the right pieces in place. As we all know, autism is reaching epidemic
proportions. Our society had better wake up and learn that there are
hundreds of thousands of children in this country, like my son, who won't
need nursing or group homes, but may need special places in the community
to live their lives as they go out into the world. This endeavor by
Hannah and Friends and the Weis family is a wonderful step in that
direction. I sincerely thank you as a parent who has spent many hundreds
of hours trying to research, network and develop a life plan for my child.
I know how much this facility will mean when it is built. Thanks once
again for all the hard work. It means so much.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Holland
