Make a Wish for Me (Chergey)

Make a Wish for Me:  A Family's Recovery from Autism
LeeAndra M. Chergey, 2015
She Writes Press
300 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781631528286


Summary
By the age of two, Ryan has lost his ability to speak—twice.

Sensing it is more than typical "second child" behaviors, his mother, LeeAndra, embarks upon a mission to understand why Ryan has become withdrawn and violent, and is met with a devastating answer: her son is autistic.

After a few months of behavioral treatment, Ryan experiences remarkable success. He begins to communicate, learns to adapt to his surroundings, and after attending a special educational preschool, where he thrives, he seems ready to be mainstreamed into a regular classroom for kindergarten—an exciting prospect for LeeAndra and her husband Dan, since until this point they have been reluctantly resigned to the idea that he will continue indefinitely in special education.

But, Ryan’s success is rapidly derailed as he swiftly learns how to manipulate his inexperienced aides through violence and begins to flee school grounds, and LeeAndra and Dan must make a choice: agree with what the system dictates or listen to their hearts and make a drastic change? (From the publisher.)

Author Bio
• Birth—1969
• Raised—Rancho Palos Verdes, California, USA
• Education—B.A., California Polytechnic State University
• Currently—Simi Valley, California


LeeAndra Chergey was born in the Midwest, but grew up in a pastoral area south of Los Angeles. She holds a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She runs her own home staging business.

When she’s not writing, you can find her, running, knitting, or reading. Married for twenty years to college sweetheart, Dan, they have two children Jenna, Ryan, and a black lab, Ranger. (From the author.)

Learn more about the book.
Follow LeeAndra on Facebook.

Book Reviews
A powerful, moving and honest expression of a mother’s journey towards embracing her son.
Elaine Hall, best selling author and founder of the Miracle Project


What LeeAndra represents for me is the collective us that should be out there doing anything and everything we can to make sure that those without a voice are heard. Powerfully written and one of those books that allows us to remember the human side of the word Autism, MAKE A WISH FOR ME really speaks to the heart.
Cyrus Webb,  Conversations LIVE! Radio - Amazon Customer Review


[A] family’s journey of positively and healthily incorporating their son’s Autism into their lives; a phrase that meant more than simply accepting Autism as part of who their son is.  LeeAndra writes a heartfelt, genuine story.... The messaging is "the earlier a child receives therapy, the better."
Autism Mom - Amazon Customer Review

Discussion Questions
1. How would a diagnosis (of any kind) for your child affect you or your family?

2. The author uses the word "recovery" in the title, do you think this was intended as recovered from autism or recovered from the diagnosis?

3. How important do you think it is for a child with special needs to have a sibling? How could it be negative?

4. Prior to reading the book, what was your understanding of Autism?

5. If you take away the autism, do you feel this could stand as a universal story of motherhood?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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