JANUARY FIRST

by Michael Schofield (STAFF - not in our Library)  LWH

[Blurb: A brilliant and harrowingly honest memoir, January First is the extraordinary story of a father's fight to save his child from an extremely severe case of mental illness in the face of overwhelming adversity. At six years old, Michael Schofield's daughter, January, was diagnosed with one of the most severe cases of child-onset schizophrenia that doctors had ever seen. January First is the story of the daily struggles and challenges they face as they do everything they can to help their daughter while trying to keep their family together. It is the inspiring tale of their resolute determination and faith]

This is a fascinating memoir from January's father who so wants to help his daughter be like any other child. He believes her behaviour is because of her very high I.Q., and doesn't want to believe there is any medical problem causing these strange behaviours. Both Michael and his wife try so many professionals and hospitals to get help but no one seems to take them seriously. They must battle daily with January to stop her hurting her baby brother and themselves and the only way to resolve this is to live separate lives. A truly heartbreaking story, with glimpses of hope, but it seems for every step forward there is two backwards. It is terrifying to think it took 6 yrs before they had a 'name' for her illness and therefore could treat it.