The Passionate Long Walk to the Awakening of a New Life
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I have now come to realise I was looking for the holy graille in life. How did I come to the conclusion, you might ask. As I had plummeted to the depths of despair and worked my way back up from the black pit, to finally look over the top, I think I saw the stars and wondered, "what was possible?" Not knowing it at the time, I was tapping into my potential and also my daughter's. Who knew what wonders lay there. I was also getting used to waiting for the smallest sign of change in her, which often took months, sometimes years. Her behaviour modification programme which I implemented, showed little forward movement even after 6 years. Why didn't I give up? Am I just plain stubborn or was something unknown to me urging me on. Having a nervous nature due to instability in my early life, left me with high stress levels. Faced with any new situation, it was not uncommon for me to go through dry retching and lots of tears. But when someone's life depends on you, there is no choice but to move forward. Why didn't I just accept what was in front of me, why go looking for something that was only going to cause me more pain. My only answer lies buried within who I am. To have hope, when all around seems to lie in ashes, requires a strength and endurance, that is not granted to a few. We all have it buried deep inside. To find it, for me, was always with prayer and reading a special passage from a book that spoke to me at the time. Reading other people's wisdom is a gift, it takes us outside ourselves and shines a light in the darkness, when we are at our lowest ebb. To put one foot in front of the other, even when we don't want to is courage. To do it again and again, builds layers within us, and confidence starts to grow. I have never been a particularly confident person, I have my doubts and fears, just like anyone else, often more than others. But somehow my spirit drives me on and I then find myself being transformed again on another level, that I didn't know was possible. And to take someone with me on that journey has been a privilege and an honour. I am humbled by her courage and tenacity. A lot of people only sip the bubbles off the top of the glass, others drain it to the dregs. I know we did.
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About the Book
To carve a path in the wilderness in the area of disability and to bring change, requires a compassionate heart and a suit of armour to deflect the arrows. When faced with a problem that others call totally impossible, there is always some part of it within your ability to handle, and often you will be surprised to find that dealing with one insignificant aspect in the complexity of the problem will turn the tide. New forces and sources from “out of the blue” will rescue you. Step out in faith, one step at a time and you will see a miracle. Katherine Steele is one of the most amazing women I have ever spoken to. Katherine’s knowledge of Asperger’s syndrome is like no other account I have ever read. Katherine brings her reader with her throughout the heart wrenching hills and valleys of a mother’s journey through her child’s pain as well as a mother’s despair. I have never met a woman such as Katherine, and consider myself a lucky person to have been able to read her words as she was creating them. Katherine is an amazing woman who will inspire others when they feel “I can’t” with “Oh yes you can love, I did.” So many children fall into the autism spectrum, this mother’s journey can help so many mothers through theirs. Katherine’s words tell the reader “Yes I understand, I have been there and I am here with you now.” A Must Read. Tina Colbert – Balboa Press There are heroes in life and having known Katherine and Lourdes, they are my heroes. Their story is captivating, informative and uplifting. Professor Tony Attwood
About the Author
Katherine Steele is a mother to four children, grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to one. Her expertise lies in the lifelong lessons learned of raising a daughter with Asperger’s Autism. From tragic beginnings with her daughter, who is now an independent adult, she can look back on the struggle of the last forty-two years with pride and a sure knowledge she took the right path.