“Butterflies and Second Chances” — Read it!

I am privileged to know Annette Hines, Esq., a special needs attorney and estate planner in Natick, Massachusetts, since we are in the same field.  Her new book powerfully describes how it feels to parent a severely disabled child, from beginning to end. Her daughter Elizabeth was born with a mitochondrial disease that would prevent her from being able to walk or talk, and would ultimately end her life at age 17.  Yet Elizabeth was the love of Annette’s life, and Annette’s descriptions of her amazing parenting journey hit me hard and deep.  I couldn’t put the book down.

After a riveting description of Elizabeth’s premature birth, Annette describes her mounting confusion when her baby failed to reach her milestones, for no apparent reason. There was nowhere for Annette to turn: no one could tell her what was going on, or where things were headed.  (This is exactly what happened to me, and in fact is a common experience in the special needs world, because every child develops differently, and early on the doctors often just don’t know. Annette’s description of the desperation this causes is spot on.)

Annette goes on to discuss Elizabeth’s continuing issues and enormous parenting needs, as well as the family troubles that went along with it, in a way that is incredibly real, frank, and honest.  And the end will make you cry. Elizabeth was a gift to Annette, and this book is a gift to the world.

A shout-out to the role that Annette’s husband, super lawyer Mark Worthington, played in this. Mark is not only a brilliant lawyer, but clearly has a heart of gold. He proves once again that angels come along when least expected.