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189 Acknowledgments If it takes a village to raise a typical child, it takes a city to raise one as challenging as Jonah was before his mood was stabilized with ECT. I am so grateful to the incredible support system that got us through those desperate years: Keri and Matty—I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through the time period covered in this book without you. I could fill another volume with all the things you’ve done for us, but I’ll choose one: thank you for embracing Jonah, for not being afraid of him, even on behalf of your own children. This wasn’t your problem, yet you made it your problem, and I will be forever grateful for that. Marina and Oat—I don’t think you could love my kids any more if they were your own. You have really become part of our family, and that has given me tremendous peace of mind. Marina, I bet when you signed on as our nanny you never thought you would end up as an experienced therapeutic staff support (TSS), but you couldn’t run Jonah’s behavior plan any better if you had a string of letters after your name. Lauren—is there anything you can’t do? Thanks for being my favorite author-photo photographer, Apple goddess, and reliable coffee klatcher. We’ve been fortunate to have an amazing home team. It’s impossible for me to remember everyone who has worked with Jonah since he was five, as the team frequently evolved, and I apologize for leaving anyone out. Thanks Melissa Sterner, Shannon Herbert, Cheri Settanni, Rael Lapenta, Emily Dillon, Jennifer Nelson, Lauren Scott, Chelsea Andrews, Candace Williams, Isabel Tinker, Joaquin Galarza, Keryn Koch, Zach Groff, Nick Taugner, Ashley Bockman, Lauren Naile, Amanda Mason, Maria Kioukis, Theresa Everett, and Heather Paul. I have told anyone who would listen that those who choose to work with this very difficult population are simply the finest human Each Day I Like It Better 190 beings out there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to know all of you. Thanks to everyone at the Milagre Kids School for their patience, perseverance, and for never making us feel that Jonah wasn’t welcome , no matter how badly his behavior deteriorated. Thanks especially to the beloved Mr. Boss, Tricia Cuce, Sharon Keppley, Trish Fisher, Melissa Lambert, and Nicole Davis. Jonah has had caring, dedicated doctors to guide us along his entire journey, including Jeff Bomze, James Hetznecker, and Richard Jaffe and the entire staff at Belmont Behavioral Health. But I have to single out two unbelievable doctors who changed our lives forever: Lee Wachtel and Charles Kellner. Thank you so, so much for giving us our son back. Your commitment to him and to the population of kids with developmental delay and dangerous behaviors is awe-inspiring. Bringing this story to publication took three long years, and I have to thank my champions: Susan Ramer, my unbelievably dedicated agent, and Michael Ames, my editor at Vanderbilt University Press, who believed in this manuscript from the first time he saw it and never gave up on it. Thanks also to Charles Kellner (again) and Dirk Dhossche for their insightful foreword, and even more for supporting this project enough to attach their names to it. Thanks so much to the families that shared their stories with me. Your suffering has shattered me, your ferocity has humbled me, and your strength has inspired me. Finally, my own fabulous family. Jonah, Erika, Hilary, Aaron, and Gretchen, it is a privilege to parent each and every one of you. You enrich my life in countless ways every day and I love you MOST. Andy—I can’t imagine a better partner for this journey, which has been so very different from what we imagined when we set out together sixteen years ago. Throughout it all you have been a wonderful husband and an even better father. You are the Jonah Whisperer. ...

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