Stanek weekend video: Open the eyes of my heart
by Hans Johnson
Meet Christopher Duffley, a young man who was born prematurely in 2001 with several physical challenges, including blindness, from Oxycontin and cocaine which were passed into his system before birth. After spending his first six months in the hospital, the State of Florida took custody of Christopher.
At about that time, Christopher’s paternal aunt, Christine Duffley, began the process of seeking custody of Christopher, who had by that time developed double pneumonia. At 14 months, his aunt and uncle took him into their home.
Diagnosed with autism, Christopher did not begin speaking full sentences until first grade. His aunt noticed his love of music and decided to utilize music therapy, during which time it was found he had perfect pitch. At age 7 he began performing and has been in demand for church groups and singing the national anthem ever since:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjbq8yiJGWo[/youtube]
Watch him perform singer/songwriter Paul Baloche’s well-known worship song “Open the Eyes of my Heart” at age 10, and “Lean On Me” recently at age 11.
Email dailyvid@jillstanek.com with your video suggestions.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
What? I thought there were some posters here who said the damage done to a child via maternal drug abuse was unsubstantiated? I thought the studies were faulty and the connection was overblown?
And, I thought that a child wasn’t a child before they’re born, so…how was this child harmed by his mother’s drug abuse before he was even born?
This reminds me of a “Reader’s Digest” piece I one read called “The Miracle of May Lemke’s Love.” May Lemke took care of a severely handicapped child who grew to be a renowned pianist.
It would seem this child, like May Lemke’s son, may be a savant, people who are otherwise physically and/or mentally challenged but have exceptional talents beyond explanation. The human mind is a great mystery.
Whatever. All I know is that he’s not a “special needs” child as much as he’s a “special talents” child.
What a wonder song and what a wonderful child. I like that Hans — special talents child. I always use the term special needs child but it is we “normal” adults who need the special talents children. I have a friend who has an autistic child and I’ve told her God sent these little ones to all of us to learn from.
Hi Praxades,
While you’re here, did you ever read the book I recommended, “And I Don’t Want To Live This Life”?
An excellent account by Deborah Spungen on her family’s efforts to help their mentally ill daughter, Nancy. Thankfully because of people like you parents will not be forced to face these situations alone as they so often had to in the not so far distant past.
Awww, so cute. :)
Hi all! Please keep my Grandmother in your prayers as she is recovering from a surgery which had complications (she’s now at home) and is in a considerable amount of pain.
Hi Mary, How long ago did you recommend that book to me? I don’t remember that.
I looked up the author of the book and found that she is the director and founder of the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia. Then I looked that Partnership up and found this:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/obama-signs-expanded-anti-violence-law/
Sorry, but I probably won’t be reading any books that you recommend. Thanks for thinking of me though! Let me know if you would like the names of a few books on my shelf and I’ll post them.
Hope your St. Patty’s Day is going well!
Hi Prax,
She likely founded this organization because her daughter was brutally murdered. She was on the brink of suicide from harassment she and her family endured because the public viewed her daughter as some kind of comic figure. She was also an advocate for crime victims and active in Parents of Murdered Children. So was Doris Tate, mother of murder victim Sharon Tate. I have no clue what Mrs. Tate’s politics were but as far as I’m concerned, they would never take away what she did to advocate for crime victims, for which she was honored by President Bush.
We may not agree with some of her politics but I don’t see that as a reason to treat this woman like the plague. She has done much to help parents who have endured the murder of their children. I also don’t see where it takes anything away from the tragic account of her daughter’s mental illness and how her family desperately tried to help her. I thought this would be of particular interest to you as you are involved in the mental health field.
Praxedes,
Hopefully this will give you a different perspective on Deborah Spungen. “Examiner” can hardly be considered left wing.
http://www.examiner.com/article/and-i-don-t-want-to-live-this-life-by-deborah-spungen
Because I don’t want to read someone’s book I am treating them like the plague? Surely you’re joking.
Let me know if you remember when you recommended that book to me, Mary.
I guess you’re not interested in reading anything on my shelf. ):
Prax,
I only recommended that book to you as a mental health professional. As such, I thought you would find it very interesting. Personally, I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t say you were treating the woman like the plague, I was saying we shouldn’t disregard what someone has to say and what good they have accomplished because we don’t completely agree with their politics.
What difference does it make when I recommended it? If you don’t remember, so what? That’s why I brought it up again.
Name some books on you shelf and I’ll decide if I want to read them.
Honestly Prax, I meant it only as a friendly gesture, a book I thought a mental health professional would find interesting and as an acknowledgement and appreciation of the work you do with children. I didn’t realize it would result in a defensive and snide exchange.
The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout
and
The Bible by God
Hi Prax,
I already read “The Sociopath Next Door”. Good grief I’m the daughter and granddaughter of sociopaths! An excellent and informative book that I would also recommend to anyone and everyone.
Read and studied the Bible.
Also Prax,
When I say I recommend “And I Don’t Want to Live This Life” as an acknowledgement and appreciation of the work you do with children, its because Deborah and her husband couldn’t get the help for the young Nancy that she so desperately needed. Doctors brushed off the Spungens’ concerns. What did they know? Mental health services were limited in that era. Thankfully there are people like you to work with children like Nancy so parents are no longer left floundering as the Spungens were.
I already read “The Sociopath Next Door”.
I know you did. You recommended it to me before. ;)
The Bible makes good bedtime reading. Sleep tight.
Sure, whatever. ????
Thank you Lord for the miracle of Christopher!!
That you that you use what the world considers weak to shame the strong.
Praxedes, Mary, is there something you two need to discuss?
Thanks for asking, JDC. No, my discussion with Mary is over. Sorry if anyone was offended that this thread became derailed.
I was just shedding some light in the dark and confirming to myself (and maybe to a few others) game-playing tactics. When someone shows me their true colors more than a few times, I have to believe them.
Now back to Christopher. I heard the song Open the Eyes of my Heart for the first time this summer and Christopher does such a beautiful job. What a wonderful special talents child!! We have so much to learn from him.
Just for the record, Mary referred to me as a mental health professional. I have never referred to myself as that. Just an average, everyday mom, wife and special talents child assistant.
Wow. Maybe I should trademark “special talents child”. ;)
Hi JDC,
Sorry, but I am as perplexed as you are. I have never seen anyone react so irrationally to being asked if they read a book.
O.K. then, I guess I’ll just leave this issue alone.