Ruth Silver's young life was challenged in ways most of us will never know. A silent, frightened child with undiagnosed vision loss, her world was one of limited vision that ultimately became one of total darkness. Once the situation had a name-retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive eye disease-she at least knew what she was dealing with. As she grew, her other contact with the world-sound-was also taken from her. Where others might have given up, Ruth refused to surrender to the darkness and silence.

As Ruth Silver's world shrank around her, her heart and ambition grew. She never stopped looking for ways to add meaning to her life. Inspired by her own experiences and challenges, she founded the Center for Deaf-Blind Persons in Milwaukee, a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping others living with the double disability of deaf-blindness.

Ruth's story demonstrates how a resilient spirit can propel a profoundly disabled person forward toward a happy, productive life. A charming young man by the name of Marv was destined to change her life even more; their enduring love story is one of hope, patience, and acceptance.

"Invisible" dispels myths, suggests useful teaching procedures, gives hope to people who are disabled and their families, and offers reassurance through her example that a person with profound disabilities can live a full, rich life.

This book describes seven generations of a single Roberts lineage in the Southern States. A selection of public and private papers is included which refl ects the times and the temperaments of the authors. The Roberts in this lineage crossed the Blue Ridge in 1770 and were British loyalists on the Virginia frontier at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. In the next three generations, the family settled in newly-opened Indian Territory in South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi, respectively. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the Roberts patriarch was a Unionist judge in Georgia, while the eldest son was a Secessionist attorney in Mississippi. The post War generations commenced with a literary college president who was life-long friends with the Candler brothers of Emory and Coca Cola. The next three generations were physicians. The first was the fi rst cardiologist in Georgia and a national medical leader. The second is a researcher in heart disease whose publications and addresses have had worldwide influence in medicine. And the last is author of this book.

Cover Photograph James William ("Will")

Roberts was twelve when this photograph was taken in Atlanta during the Civil War, in which his father, in the 13th Mississippi regiment, had died. To support his mother and younger siblings, Will sold newspapers and apples (shown in the basket he is holding) in front of the Atlanta hardware store of Joseph Spencer Stewart, an Emory College graduate (1849), who later funded the education of Will at Emory College (1st honors,1877) in Oxford, Georgia. Will married Cliff ord Rebecca Stewart, a daughter of Mr. Stewart, and became minister of Trinity Church in Atlanta and president of Wesleyan College in Macon.

"As agronomy is the care of the soil and Dr. Arnold's life work, he shares with the reader his care for the soul as he travels through life in this insightful autobiography. The reader becomes a visitor in the lively dialog among family members and colleagues as Dr. Arnold reveals conflicts and resolutions in the world of faith and science. His subtle sense of humor adds a light touch to this amazing journey." - Anne S. Owens, President Samar Publishing Inc. "Wendell Arnold's beautifully written story of his life is so intriguing I couldn't put it down. When you read this book, you will discover the author is a man who dearly loves his family and friends. Furthermore, his completely committed faith in our Lord is a role model for all Christians." - Doris Hodges "Faith and Science. Can one person truly emote to these two different worlds? In this book, the autobiographer reveals his unwavering deep faith, while overcoming many challenges as he lived a professional life as a well respected and successful scientist. Read on and discover a true story that is deep in meaning, yet inter spaced with happy family memories and light diversions. The reader will have much to ponder long after the end of the book." - Jo Watkins "Science and religion walk hand in hand in Wendell Arnold's journey from a farm boy to the holder of a Doctorate in phytopathology and numerous patents in the environmental field. In From the Cotton Patch to Ph.D. we encounter a warm and readable story of a man's life defined by scientific inquiry and his relationship to Jesus Christ." - Bob Libby, Author and Episcopal Priest "Wendell Arnold's story of his Christian walk in life's journey is inspiring, heart-warming and a window into mid-century American life. Dr. Arnold's disarming and self-deprecating account of his experiences in family, youth, marriage, professional life and retirement paint a personal portrait of how to be aware of Christ's constant presence in our daily lives. Sit back and enjoy your travels with Wendell, knowing that you will find strength in his example." - Ruth D. Foss, Diocesan President, Daughters of the King. The title From the Cotton Patch to Ph.D. is by its very nature autobiographical. Wendell Arnold tells about being from a family of nine kids whose parents are share croppers. The experience in the cotton patch to dealing with corporate political challenges, environmental issues and legal avenues blended with raising a family paints the picture of a managed life. He shares his profound experience with God in his life as the adventures take more twists and turns than a rattlesnake chasing his prey. Dr. Arnold is a scientist with a BS and MS in Agronomy and a Ph.D. in Plant Sciences. He holds over ten patents on compound efficacy to control plant pathogens and is the author or co-author of over 35 scientific papers that have been published in refereed journals. Dr. Arnold skillfully tells his intriguing story of growing up picking cotton and becoming a world renowned scientist with faith in God. His story is a must read for those who think that religion, science and environmental improvement don't mix.

'Long, thin, and cool as hell' was how parasitologist Thomas Platt described the new genus and species of trematode (Baracktrema obamai) he named in honor of the 44th USA president and his 5th cousin, Barack Obama. The story of Baracktrema was picked up by over 200 news outlets worldwide, providing a fitting swansong to an illustrious career revisited in this part-personal and part-scientific memoir.Platt's road to success was not initially smooth. Faced with a brutal tenure rejection at the start of his career, he was told that 'You are not the type of person we want to invest in for the next 30 years.' After a brief stint in the business world, Platt bounced back in spectacular fashion by embarking on a successful 28-year career at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana. He traveled extensively in search of new species of parasitic worms, from neighboring Costa Rica to the far-flung reaches of Australia and Malaysia. His love of turtles and their parasites led to the discovery of 30 new species, 11 new genera, and international recognition. He provides perspectives on the places and people encountered along the way, details of interactions with wildlife, as well as interesting and accessible insights into parasite behavior in the external environment and with their hosts.SMALL SCIENCE is an inspiring story of an unexceptional high school student's path through college, graduate school, the academy, and a successful research career in 'small science' - the science of parasites, and the science of work accomplished in the margins, in the time carved out from a heavy teaching load, committee assignments, and mentoring dedicated undergraduate women in the joy of scientific discovery.

'Long, thin, and cool as hell' was how parasitologist Thomas Platt described the new genus and species of trematode (Baracktrema obamai) he named in honor of the 44th USA president and his 5th cousin, Barack Obama. The story of Baracktrema was picked up by over 200 news outlets worldwide, providing a fitting swansong to an illustrious career revisited in this part-personal and part-scientific memoir.Platt's road to success was not initially smooth. Faced with a brutal tenure rejection at the start of his career, he was told that 'You are not the type of person we want to invest in for the next 30 years.' After a brief stint in the business world, Platt bounced back in spectacular fashion by embarking on a successful 28-year career at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana. He traveled extensively in search of new species of parasitic worms, from neighboring Costa Rica to the far-flung reaches of Australia and Malaysia. His love of turtles and their parasites led to the discovery of 30 new species, 11 new genera, and international recognition. He provides perspectives on the places and people encountered along the way, details of interactions with wildlife, as well as interesting and accessible insights into parasite behavior in the external environment and with their hosts.SMALL SCIENCE is an inspiring story of an unexceptional high school student's path through college, graduate school, the academy, and a successful research career in 'small science' - the science of parasites, and the science of work accomplished in the margins, in the time carved out from a heavy teaching load, committee assignments, and mentoring dedicated undergraduate women in the joy of scientific discovery.

Nothing could ever adequately prepare you to receive a diagnosis of cancer, but when you do, you know instantly that your life has been irrevocably changed. You take up arms and go into battle, not against the disease, but for your life. This "Little Book" is a collection of the lessons I learned while facing my own personal challenge with cancer and what I know to be true.

Los sucesos descritos en este libro son experiencias verdaderas, decir obligadamente la verdad logica de los hechos, y en defensa de los derechos humanos, sin embargo el autor ha modificado sus identidades y en algunos casos ha creado personajes compuestos. Cualquier semejanza entre un personaje de este libro y una persona de la vida real, es por tanto completamente accidental. Laura La Villa (Autor)

In 2010 Kirin Jacobsen walks across the auditorium stage to receive his Bachelor's Degree. For his parents, Suzanne and John Jacobsen, this moment is more than a milestone - it is a celebration of Kirin's courage to overcome enormous obstacles. Follow the Jacobsen family as Kirin grows from a boy who passionately loves Thomas the Tank Engine into a wise and wonderful young man who becomes a train conductor. The Jacobsen family faces many challenges with medical professionals and educators, demonstrating the extent of the advocacy required to support Kirin into adulthood. Individuals with developmental differences and their families are constantly faced with ignorance, complacency, disrespect and misunderstanding. The Jacobsens' story is shared to encourage parents to advocate for their loved ones, and inspire changes that will make a difference in the lives of these individuals.

When James Pedersen, DDS graduated from dental school, he knew how to make his own gold castings, build his own porcelain crowns, cast his own partial denture frameworks, weld the fixed bridges together, prepare teeth for crowns and bridges without a chair-side assistant, fabricate full dentures, and pour his own plaster models. Because of his excellent dental education, he knew precisely how all the mechanics of dentistry worked. Dentistry is a multifaceted profession, and in many cases an art form, which also requires extensive medical knowledge, mechanical expertise, manual dexterity, and a kind, gentle, chair-side approach to the patient. He worked standing up for more than thirty-six years.

Dental Dilemma is a humorous and pragmatic analysis of the dental profession and its metamorphosis into a highly competitive business. It tells the story of the author s adventures, experiences, and encounters with many California Dental HMO providers. This book includes typical stories that create the dental dilemma for the average patient. The story arrives at conclusions that will encourage the patient to be an intelligent and informed consumer before making a commitment to receive dental treatment that is oftentimes profit oriented. Also included in Dental Dilemma is some sage advice for the new practicing dentist.

Cousin to schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) affects about 2% of the population.

Our father ricocheted through childhood as one of 3 siblings dropped at a Sasakatchewan, Canada orphanage in the mid-1920s. As a child, -Edgar went to farm foster homes, was adopted once, and sent back. Their father surfaced briefly, from Michigan, dying of TB -which he gave me - in 1952 or 53 and the siblings estranged each other, totally, by the early 1970s.

Edgar borderlined or schizophreniaed his way through a crude and lewd control freak adulthood --menacing his wife and 3 children - moving us so frequently, well - from age 5-12 I attended 13 schools and moved 18 times. He was a self-made (?) Ameri-Canadian gipsy. - Abused by my grade 1 teacher, I lost my age 6 year to amnesia, once she was caught. I woke up, age 7, at a different school, new town. Despite other child and adult traumas, that was my only dis-associative experience. My childhood was normal enough, after that, school-wise, 'til grade 7. - Childhood stopped at age 12. Chased out of home at noon, Dad brutally discarded me to Children's Services the same afternoon. They moved and got a silent phone number. Four years of messing with my teenage-hood followed as he took me back and made me run away in fear all the time. Bait and switch by Dad and anxiety/depression ruled those years. I never knew where I stood with him. - At age 15, 20 days shy of 16, Pierre, 21, Dad forced us into a doomed marriage. By age 20, I was divorced and re-married.

A lot of life happened between ages 20-38. Then, happily married, 22 years ago, I survived a weird sexual assault, in a work colleague, off-duty environment: by a police detective - my temporary boss for a week. Curiously, other police witnessed but did not intervene. His, their, alcohol abuse was involved. It was really stupid. No one is identified, herein, by name - only by rank.

I translate my 16 dream journal and some of their universal symbols and themes. I was Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, et al, studied/influenced and psycho-analyst-assisted.

I have no children and am glad to not pass on damaged chromosomes.

MURTHY'S LAW: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED