Summary.
When my elementary-aged child faced a medical issue more than a decade ago, I encountered unsolicited advice and pushback from everyone—family, education and care providers, even our pediatrician. A thorough search for information on the topic yielded only two books and limited published research. When a Boston hospital hosted a relevant conference, I sat in the audience thoroughly overwhelmed, alternating between teary sniffling and frantic note-scribbling. But there was one speaker who made me feel hopeful. When I tracked him down after his talk to thank him, I found all the wonders and worries I’d carried for six years spilling out of me. He listened intently, put his hand on my arm, and said, “You have a great story. Have you ever considered doing any public speaking?” I’d laid bare my utter confusion and uncertainty about the high-impact decisions I was making with so little expert guidance, and here he was, a leader in the field, saying that others could learn from me? I laughed but gave him my number.