Born to Fly

'Born to Fly' is a work of fiction based on a true story. It is a heartfelt tribute to a boy with autism and the mothercraft nurse who saved him. In 1947 when Jamie is eighteen months old he fails to reach the developmental milestones. His parents are told that he will never talk, walk or feed himself. They make the heartbreaking decision to commit their son to a mental asylum. Jamie's life may have ended there but for his father's decision to place him in the care of a nanny, Helen Ryan. The story moves forward to 1980 when a biographer visits a somewhat frail and tetchy old woman. Helen tells the story of how a five year old boy learns to survive in our world and yet retain the richness of his own. Her ground-breaking treatment interventions are clinically presented. She teaches a mute child to speak and prepares him for mainstream education. At the age of eight Jamie travels to England with his mother and nanny. This adventure broadens his horizons and fosters a close bond between them. 'Born to Fly' is a period drama set in Australia and England. The characters portray aspects of life as it was in the 1940s and 50s. The reader is invited to take a journey through joy, suffering, insurmountable challenges and the inexplicable to enjoy a refreshing account of the determination of the human spirit. "...a truly inspiring and uplifting read." - Lesley Roulston, South Coast Style Magazine.