Silent Losses

In her heartfelt memoir, Dr. Avery-Sterud tells the story of her sister, Pamela, born in 1960 with cerebral palsy. At the time, there were no educational services available in any public school setting, and professionals encouraged families to institutionalize children like Pamela as early as possible. For Pam, this was at the age of six when she was taken from her home and family and placed at Custer State Hospital in South Dakota. Losing her in this way was devastating, resulting in anger and hopelessness that shaped each family member's life experiences from that moment forward. The heartache and loneliness felt after that never dissipated. Pam's presence-and absence-gave the author gifts of empathy and compassion as well as a rich and rewarding career that allowed her to help others through their own pain. Dr. Avery-Sterud's experiences with her sister shaped her commitment to working within the field of special education in a variety of settings, both public and private. Avery-Sterud's words on the page tell a heartbreaking story of the loss of a sister born at the wrong time, the chronic sorrow her family experienced, and the generational trauma that remains. Much like Pamela did for her sister, this book gives the reader the knowledge that families' needs should be honored and their voices heard.