Dear Megan: Letters On Life, Love And Fragile X

Mary Beth Busby and Megan Massey have something in common--they are both mothers of two sons with Fragile X syndrome (the most common form of inherited mental retardation and the most common cause of autism). When Mary Beth Busby's sons, Robert and Jack, were born in 1964 and 1965, Fragile X had not even been identified as a genetic abnormality. By the time Megan Massey's sons Jack and Jacob were born in 1989 and 1991, a few researchers had identified it, but few pediatricians knew it existed. Today it is known that Fragile X affects 1 in 4000 males and 1 in 6000 females of all races and ethnic groups. Mary Beth and Megan met when they both became active in the Fragile X Research Foundation (FRAXA). They wrote "Dear Megan" to offer hope and support to the millions of parents who care for and love their disabled children. Written in the form of intimate letters between the two authors--who are separated in age by a generation--the book reveals the personal side of parents struggling with the challenges of school systems and health systems, marriage, and life to care for their disabled sons. It also shows the joy and love they find through these special children and adults