Stephen: Letters of Courage and Hope, Expanded Edition

Forward by Susan Perenti and Patch Adams. This Expanded Edition of Stephen: Letters of Courage and Hope contains Stephen's first and only words. They are a beautiful reflection of a 14-year-old boy's life. Stephen's reflections are full of love, laughter, courage, hope, compassion and miraculous strength. They uncover simple truths about love, pain, joy, disease, laughter, death, eternal life, forgiveness and living with angels. They display life without prejudice, bitterness or despair. They express his passion for life itself, for friends, family, nature, music, reading and other people.Stephen's multiple physical challenges could not silence him. In September of 2000, he began using a makeshift writing machine consisting of a tape recorder, a pillow speaker, and an adapted switch. In his mother's arms, working through great physical pain, he would listen as the recorder slowly announced the letters of the alphabet, one letter at a time. When he heard the letter that he wanted, he touched the switch. The tape stopped, announced the letter, recorded it, and started over again. Fourteen years of silence were interrupted, one letter at a time. This book contains over 900 hours of Stephen's words.Stephen died peacefully in his mother's arms, on June 1, 2001. He completed his life work to: Show the whole world that our love is what's right. They will hear my own voice in the words that I write. Go tell the people for me mom. Take my words in your heart. Then they will know our love is what's right. -- 4 hours (May 26, 2001) . The Stephens Hope Foundation was formed to mentor caregivers, create networking channels offering education and support, educate the general public about the value of people with differences, acknowledge creative caregiving accomplishments, and write, publish, and promote the stories of our lives.