Emma’s Hope Book is a blog written by her parents, Ariane Zurcher and Richard Long. (Okay mostly written by Ariane, but Richard is a dedicated commenter and supporter.) This blog was intended as a document of Emma’s journey through a childhood of autism–and our hopes for her future. But in the years since it’s inception, Emma’s Hope Book has evolved and is now a document of my journey as a parent and as a human being and how autism has changed my views. It is a far more beautiful and complex world than I ever imagined or dreamed possible. It is a world that is evolving, far too slowly for my taste, but I have seen glimmers of what is possible. A world where we do not segregate, where ALL people are treated as equals, not just as an idea, but in reality, a world where everyone is fortunate enough to have an Autistic person in their life. A world where autism is no longer feared, but is embraced.
Oh and sometimes Ariane even has a few insightful things to say… or not…
All comments submitted will be published pending moderation. If you would like to repost anything from Emma’s Hope Book, please ask us before doing so – emmashopeblog@gmail.com. Please give proper credit and the proper links back to our original post or we will find you… We reserve all rights to our writing.
wow. good luck, good luck. keep us posted please.
thanks for including me… good luck with all and god bless – your love and energies will help her through this and yourselves… we are all behind you.
thank you for sharing your courageous journey. emma is in our thoughts and prayers. plse continue to keep us posted on her progress.
Hi Ariane, thanks for sharing your blog. Emma has and always will be one of my daughter Rebecca’s favorite girlfriends…fight on warrior momma.
Ryan, Susan, Rebecca and Rachel Young
Dear Ariane,
You may not remember me — I have been with the Music Festival in Aspen for 31 years; your mom has hosted some wonderful chamber music concerts in her home for the students in the Festival’s chamber music program, and you helped me pick out some gorgeous earrings last summer at your show at the Jerome. I have taken this summer off. Your sharing of the day-to-day loving and yearning for your daughter and your family is extraordinary. I am moved beyond words. I am sorry I am not in Aspen this summer to see you and your mom. All of you will be in my thoughts as you return to Panama.
Barli
Helloooo to you in Panama!
sending good thoughts and hoping all goes smoothly.
xoxox
As a mom of a child with ASD, I truly empathize with you. We had our son take the CamKinase test through Dr.Madeleine Cunningham. His score was off the charts!! We are now seeing an immunologist and going through the healing process. Our son has also tested positive for Lyme. There are many things going on with these kids. It is an impossible situation as a parent – being mom and reearch scientist….Hang in there. God bless. Karen
Hello, I am jennifer and I am 16 years old.. I comes from the Netherlands. Sorry, My English is not perfect.
I have also Autism. You have a beautiful homepage, with a lot of information about Autism.
I have also a homepage about my autism. You can look if you want. http://www.jennifer-smits.webklik.nl.
You can write in my guestbook if you want.
Hello,
I am an educator in Toronto, Canada that has been working with kids on the spectrum for a few years and find your blog quite moving. I am a great promoter of Autism Awareness and wish there were more blogs like yours. All the best to Emma and her family!
Thank you so much Jason. My husband and I have been consistently amazed and awed by those who have chosen to work in the field of autism. We have found you are some of the most caring, dedicated and bright people we have come in contact with. You are a noble group and so under appreciated.
My son has ASD. I knew what he had before his Drs. they have tested him for everything, we have found nothing that works. But just recently (he will be 6 next month) he has started having clear moments where he will ask why doesnt his brain work right all the time. The Dr says he is improving so well now that he may be able to live on his own when he is grown and have a somewhat normal life. the only food that helped was when he was involved in a trial study with the THC brownies. he would go to a clinic onece a week and they would give him a cookie or a brownie, after the first one he showed improvement. I know there is alot of controversy over that type of treatment but i think that the medical community needs to research ALL the different therapies, because if one helps just one child with ASD then it is good. Thank you for having the courage to put your lives out there like this. it helps the rest of us to know that we arent alone.
This is such wonderful news – something is working! I love hearing that. I am not familiar with this intervention. What clinic is it? Where is the clinic? Thanks for reaching out.
Emma is such a beautiful girl ~ i haven’t seen her this year and the photos show me how beautifully she’s growing up. The Gymnastics looks fantastic!
I have lovely photos of Emma from the Miracle Project. Did you get them? If not, let me know and I will send them.
Your project on this blog is inspiring!
Hi! I have a few from the Miracle Project, but only a few. Would love to see any that you have. It’s good to hear from you.
(Lesly – Jaden’s mom!)
I admire your writing so much. your Emma sounds alot like my Connor. He is 8. Can you please PLEASE tell me -is the oxytocin available in the US? All research I am finding does not show that it is, and I am desperate to try this for C. He, too, has tried EVERYTHING. The research on this looks great…I just need to know who to contact. we are in Florida. Thank you
Hi Heidi,
Thank you for reaching out. We live in New York City. I googled “compounding pharmacy in NYC” and found one that was able to make it up. But the first thing I did was contact Emma’s neuro-psychopharmacologist who was able to write up a prescription. We went with the lowest dose, just to be on the safe side. It is subtle, the shift, but we think, we hope, what we think we’re seeing is real. Like everything it’s really hard to say. We also have her on 8 different supplements, which I think, are also working. Again, it’s hard to know for sure. These are certainly NOT cures, but they seem to help. Let me know what happens.
Hello, I was reading your website and see that your daughter attends the Rebecca school. I am considering this school for my little one and wonder if you would share your experience and feelings about the school with me?
Hi Krista,
I’ll email you off the blog about it. Best, Ariane
Hi, I read the freshly posts occasionally. I feel very lucky to stopping by your blog. Love reading your words.
Good luck with this …
Thank you for adding me to your blogroll. It’s truly an honour.
- Sarah
amaizing thing, good luck Guys, I’ll be checking on this page
Thank you for sharing this wonderful journey. Just found you through MyAutismTeam.