March 2025 BLOG ~ Extended Book Reviews

Hello Everyone,
 
This next story is the second of two books written by Nuala Gardner about her son Dale, and his dog, Henry. Find this under the category ‘Savvy Solutions’.  ​All Because of Henry: My Story of Struggle and Triumph with Two Autistic Children and the Dogs that Unlocked their World by Nuala Gardner, eBook 2013 Edition; Extended Book Review with < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker

This month’s BLOG focus on my website's offered Extended Book Reviews. Also, the slideshow presents the book covers and reviews, divided into the following categories ~

     AMAZING ADVENTURES
     DIAGNOSIS, DENIAL, & DOCTORS
     SAVVY SOLUTIONS
     SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
 
Hopefully, these stories will help parents, clinicians, and academics in connecting with those who have gone before us on their Autism Journey.
 
 

​All Because of Henry, by Nuala Gardner

Excerpts from the book – (3% indicates location in the eBook version of the book, instead of page numbers). 

​Gardner, N. (2013)   3%       …I was suffering from stress and exhaustion…  During the period of uncertainty and anxiety, the best advice to alleviate this condition was to try and reduce stress as much as possible, and to this end Jamie, my husband, suggested it would be good to get me away.
      
​Johnson, J. (2013) offers the maxim…“Parents are only as happy as their unhappiest child.” 
 
Johnson found that the authors she read tended to conclude that the degree to which the parents suffer may be due to their feelings about “(a) concern over the permanency of the condition; (b) poor acceptance of autistic behaviors by society and, often, by other family members; and (c) the very low levels of social support received by parents.” 

She also found that mothers reported stress more than fathers. Also, parents state that their child rarely does things “that make me feel good.”
 
Gardner, N. (2013)   3%     Jamie called his cousin David who lived with his wife, Isobel, in the large Scottish village of Auchterarder…and invited themselves for a visit.

​3%       As soon as we arrived, Dale ran straight out to the back garden and as usual began what we came to call his Chariots of Fire relentless running routine, from the film of the same name about Olympic runners.
 ​
 < My Thoughts > ​  “ his Chariots of Fire relentless running routine.” 
 
Or, as my grandmother would say… “Purposeless running to Hell and back.”  I’m not sure what that means… but it seems appropriate here. 
 
Gardner, N. (2013)   3%    Locked into this ritual, Dale would give a droning noise as he ran and would do this for ages if you let him. Isobel attempted to divert his attention to a small soccer ball, but he resented the intrusion and continued with his run.
 
Undeterred, she told him, “This is one of the balls the dogs play with. Shall we go and get them?” Dale ignored her completely.

Their two Scottie dogs, Barney, totally black, and Dougal, completely white, came scampering out in full play mode, anxious for someone to throw their ball for them.
 
To Jamie’s and my surprise, Dale’s face instantly lit up, and David and Isobel proceeded to show him the dogs’ favorite game.
 
< My Thoughts >  “Dale’s face instantly lit up…”
      
Sometimes with our kiddos, the novelty of just the right thing at just the right time can be a hit! But, if one cannot sustain that interest and engagement, trying again at a different time… the interest may return, but don’t insist if it doesn’t.
 
Gardner, N. (2013)   3%     Dale seemed enchanted as he threw the ball, which Dougal promptly returned to him, dropping it at his feet.
 
Dale kept going, continually repeating the command Isobel had taught him.  “Fetch!”  Jamie and I stood by in amazement as for the very first time, our son interacted and played happily and naturally with another living being, something we’d never witnessed before.

Gardner, N. (2013)   3%     Dale seemed enchanted as he threw the ball, which Dougal promptly returned to him, dropping it at his feet.
 
Dale kept going, continually repeating the command Isobel had taught him. “Fetch!” Jamie and I stood by in amazement as for the very first time, our son interacted and played happily and naturally with another living being, something we’d never witnessed before.

< My Thoughts >     “…our son interacted and played happily…”
As you will find, as you read Nuala’s book, that Dale soon had a pup named Henry.

​6%    We arrived at Val’s and as before, Dale went through the door without saying a word, but he was at least in a calm, good mood. He stayed close by my side as Val left us in the lounge to go and get young Henry. 
 
When she came back with our pup…Val told me, “You’d better take him, Nuala, he’s a big lump now,” and passed Henry over to me.
 
…his two big front paws rested on my shoulder, with Dale contentedly stroking his back, I hugged him to me, nestling his soft downy coat and them placing a kiss on the top of his head.
 
What neither of us knew then was that this beautiful little pup was to change all of our lives forever.

Note: Read about Dog Therapy in UNIT 7 – 0   Who May Help?
UNIT 7 – 4 Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAMs)  
  Section 4: CAMs PART 1 – 2.  animal assisted therapy

Reference:

Johnson, J. (2013). Parental Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autism Research Review International: Fall 2013.


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