Mixed Blessings

by William Christopher

Reveals the joys and the heartaches of raising an autistic child

Genres: Biography, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[Marin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love William Christopher from his acting days as Father Mulchahly on M*A*S*H, and we've even got tickets to see him in Aug. in a musical. Randomly, I found out that he had written this book with his wife (who as far as I can tell is an angel!) So on a whim, I picked it up from the library. Its not a story of his acting career, rather, a heartfelt story about raising their second adopted son, Ned, who turnes out to have autism in a time when most austic children we're automatically written off.

This isn't a pro/con book, but a simple story about parents who love their child, something we all can relate to. You're heart breaks with theirs, and you glory in their small triumphs. I cried at the end.

This book was written in 1989 and I wonder what has happened to dear Ned since publication. If I had a chance to sit down with him, I wonder if he would find me bold if I asked. Its a remarkable book, but grab some tissues before you start!

[Stephen Gallup · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sad story of puzzled acceptance of a son’s autism, written by a well-known TV actor. (Christopher played Father Mulcahy on "MASH.") After being failed by the normal medical resources one naturally turns to for help, the Christophers attempted the same home therapy program that my family did, and that I've written about, but they didn't stay with it long. I now doubt that program could have been a suitable option for him, but by the time they recognized that it wasn't working, they were apparently too burned out to seriously pursue others.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the recent passing of author (and MASH star) William Christopher, I intentionally went looking for this book.

At the time it was published (1989), this would have been an important resource for parents of children with Autism, but today, much of the information is old and outdated. Still, an interesting read about Williams Christopher and his family.

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although dated, copywright 1989, this is a heartwrenching story of one couple's struggle to get/ give the best care for their autistic son.

[Marti · Rating 2 out of 5]

A familiar tale now, which was probably pretty novel when it first came out. I understand the desperation better than most people could, but that doesn't actually make this a very good book. Compared to some of the other "early" books about autism, this one is scarce on the philosophical and spiritual side of parenting. The authors seemed to put all their faith in these institutes and the really extreme therapies they required for their programs, without wanting to acknowledge that their boy was really autistic. In a way, it seems like they were so busy judging their son's ability to crawl for miles that they didn't have the ability to think about it in any way except by saying 'Well, he can run 5 miles cross country now, that must be why he's made some progress.' I get it, we don't want to look too hard at the tiny amount of progress our children make. But in order to write a book about it, you kind of have to be willing to delve deeper into the emotional side of things.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book reminded me how grateful I am for the resources available today to children with autism, how much more is understood about it than back in the 1970's and 1980's. I have often thought that if my son had been growing up back when I was a child, he would have been assumed to be unable to benefit from education, and would probably have increased his disruptive behavior (convincing people that he didn't belong with "normal" children). I am glad that the Christophers were able to find the help that they did, and that they had the love and determination to do all they could for their son.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite intriguing to think that William Christopher was struggling with all these family troubles while he was acting so naturally on MASH. It makes me so grateful that my own family have been so fortunate.

[Deb Stucky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring dedication to a son who was born different and his parents who never gave up on him .

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I work with Special needs kids, most are on the Autistic Spectrum. I read this book years ago when it first came out and I had no idea that I would have so mush personal interest and involvement with Autism. I searched it out to read again and learned so much again. I am surprised at how little and how much things have changed. The main point about this book is how INVOLVED the Christophers were in Ned's therapy and education. I have seen many different levels of involvement on the part of parents and this family is truly exemplary. I wish every one of the kids in our class had parents that were half as involved as they were. It is frustrating for us to work so hard for every little gain knowing that the child will go home to no routine, no structure no consistency ...
I love these kids. My hats off to Bill and Barbara Christopher, to John and Ned. What a terrific family.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing that William Christopher had passed away, I had to read the book he wrote (which I had gotten a couple months previous) so I dug it out and had a go of it.

This is not so much an autobiography of one of the actors from the TV series MASH as much as its more of a book on him and his wife raising an Autistic child. There are references to his work in MASH but that't it. The book is more of diary if you will of the struggles and triumphs of raising an Autistic child in the 1970s and 80s. Both William and his wife (Barbara) write about how they handled their younger son.

A great read on the struggles of autism from a famous star of yesterday.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actor William Christopher and his wife Barbara honestly detail their struggles, the successes and failures, in raising their son Ned. Many varying diagnoses and interventions were applied to Ned before finally identifying him as autistic. Heartbreaking and hopeful, the Christophers don't provide any sure-fire cures or specific suggestions, just their own unique experiences (from the 1960s - 1990s) coupled with resources they found helpful.

[Cws]

362.19

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read about their son with Autism!!!

[Jacks091]

this book is really good and i think that evry person on this planet should read this book!!!!

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in the summer of '89. Autism was a new buzz word.