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“Who Says I’m Small by J. B. Tischendorf

Looking for a good Read this summer?  Great struggles, with the right amount of optimism, can lead to great rewards says ForeWord Magazine about this true story, “Who Says I'm Small” written by J. B. Tischendorf (formerly Juanita Saxton) and published by Authorhouse
 
ISBN 1420828894, Soft Cover, $25.00
ISBN 1420828908, Hard Cover, $29.25

To order go to www.AuthorHouse.com/Bookstore
You can also purchase the book at www.amazon.com or other major book outlets.

The ForewordReview.com Gives the book four stars and says:

When Juanita Saxton found out she was pregnant, she was determined to do everything correctly to ensure her child's good health and happiness. She watched her diet, carefully researched the birthing process and quizzed her doctors. She even found a place to live that was more conducive to raising a child. When baby Erik came into her world in April of 1969, Juanita's life filled with light, and Erik was the sun. 

However, it was not long before the happy mother noticed some peculiarities. Erik seemed to sleep for very long periods of time, and did not appear to be developing skills on schedule. While told she should be blessed to have a baby that did not fuss constantly, Juanita Saxton (now Tischendorf) was nonetheless concerned. Her unease at numerous doctor visits reached a crescendo when Erik was diagnosed at ten months old as being an achondroplastic dwarf. Bones that lack the cartilage cells that help them grow define this hereditary disorder. Affecting as many as 40,000 babies a year, achondroplasia causes shortened limbs, yet there is normal trunk and head growth. With this diagnosis, the author found herself having to put on a number of hats to complement the one she wore as a mother: she became a sleuth, a student, and a pillar of strength. 

As seen through the eyes of his mother, the book chronicles in careful detail Erik’s struggle with achondroplasia, Their mutual journey toward overcoming obstacles in order to gain as much normalcy as possible is presented in a thoughtful and gentle manner. An opening sequence telling of Erik's respiratory troubles while on vacation reflects every mother's nightmare, and prefaces Tischendorf's determination to understand her son's diagnosis. 

A family history of size disproportionate ancestors provides some clues, yet cannot change Erik physically. Ultimately, he undergoes surgeries and body braces, extended hospital stays, and the burden of having to learn to walk again following a paralysis. Yet, through his strong faith in those who cared for him and his mother's unwavering support, Erik persevered. 

Any parent faced with the challenge of raising a special needs child will benefit from Tischendorf's story. The preparedness and calm of the mother who saw her child through a life-threatening attack pervades this book. She offers hope to those in similar situations with the realization that the belief in a happy ending can overshadow the greatest of difficulties.