You know,' I whispered, 'if you really want to go and be with God, it's OK. We will manage; don't worry about us.' For nine and a half years Cara had been her family's heartbeat. But one morning in late summer she was gripped by an epileptic seizure from which she didn't recover. Her struggles were over and she was free. This is a mother's story of the journey undertaken by Cara's family, a journey of suffering and injustice, but also 'of the way in which God moved in our lives and of the way in which our hope and trust in him kept us going through some unbelievably hard times'.

Rhona J. Tolchard

Cara

Part 1. Beginnings and Endings

Part 2. Into a Cold War

Part 3. The Second Front

Acknowledgments

Preface

Part 1 Beginnings and Endings

1 A New Life

2 An Injured Family

3 Fear and Hope

4 The Alison Centre, Changes and Challenges

Part 2 Into a Cold War

5 Opening Moves

6 Cara’s First School

7 Tribunal and Aftermath

8 Kung Fu Fighting

Part 3 The Second Front

9 A Matter of Caring

10 Unless the Lord Builds the House

11 Business as Usual

12 Make Way

13 Afterwards

Epilogue

Appendix: Organizations

Notes

Chapter 1 A New Life

Chapter 3 Fear and Hope

Chapter 4 The Alison Centre, Changes and Challenges

Chapter 5 Opening Moves

Chapter 7 Tribunal and Aftermath

Chapter 9 A Matter of Caring

Chapter 10 Unless the Lord Builds the House

Chapter 13 Afterwards

The Good Book Stall

Written with passion, this is an indictment of a system that does not give proper care and attention to the very special needs of individual severely handicapped children. Sadly, I am sure that many other mothers could write similar books of their own tussles with authorities. Bravely Rhona Tolchard has set down her and David’s journey through the wilderness of the care system from Cara’s birth to her death nine years later and beyond.  
Yet as this frustrating tale unfolds, Rhona and David’s faith in God holds fast. They change churches to find greater acceptance and support, and surrounded by faithful friends and helpers, Cara’s early years are ones of daily exercises to help her reach fully whatever potential she had. This was painfully little, but she was a happy child with an infectious laugh that is obviously going to be remembered by all who heard it.  
Then she reached school age and the problems with the system magnified beyond anything that those who have not met such difficulties could imagine.  
I read steadily through, hoping against hope that things would improve for the family. I just hope that a copy of this book has been sent to David Cameron – who met the family in earlier years.

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Cara

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