Aaron and Me, Works in Progress

Aaron and Me, Works in Progress

Novel Synopsis

                KIM Segal, the main character in Aaron and Me, is faced with one of the most horrendous experiences a parent can endure during a baby wellness checkup.   A clinical observation shows a couple of innocent café au lait birthmarks which could indicate a possible diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis for her 18-month old son, AARON. Kim feels ill equipped to cope with the indefinite nature of the diagnosis and begins to spiral out of control. Kim, a New Jersey suburban mom, becomes obsessed with irrational thoughts of how she can protect her innocent son from a disease for which there is no cure, and can leave Aaron blind, deaf or missing a limb. As Kim, terribly worried, goes through each successive neurological visit with Aaron spanning eight years, she waits for medical professionals to  give her a pronouncement of normalcy or doom, the uncertainty corroding her otherwise normal life, threatening to shatter an already shaky marriage to her husband HAL. Due to Aaron’s possible health condition, symptoms may include tumors on nerves which can leave him blind, deaf, losing a limb, or in the very worst cases, death. It is the story of a mother who goes from not coping to acceptance no matter the prognosis by the end of the novel.

            Together, Kim and Hal bring Aaron to a series of specialists to see if they can obtain a more definite diagnosis and at the least obtain appropriate care for him. They settle on Dr. Aronson, a pediatric neurologist, by the end of part one of the book. Kim particularly turns to her friend, FIONA, for support and encouragement, as well as a new therapist, Sophia, whose practices seem questionable at best. Kim’s mother does her best to provide support also but they have a contentious relationship. Minor characters include Fiona’s husband SAUL, and MAGGIE, BRIDGET, IRIS, DAVID, SOPHIA and MARK besides the host of education professionals who they meet.

            In part two, facing increasing financial pressures, Kim must prepare to return to work as a classroom teacher.  Her school is a distance away from their suburban community, which causes additional pressure on Kim. She plans to take Aaron to a nursery school in the community where she teaches. For Aaron to be admitted there, he must be fully toilet-trained ahead of time. He is not yet three, and she feels terribly guilty in forcing him to take this on.  Then too, Kim faces pressures at school where faculty doesn’t share priority on family. In the second year back, Kim winds up fainting from high glucose intolerance, and in the hospital, herself. She must stop teaching at least until she regains her health. Now, she thinks about writing a will, and asks her good friend, Fiona if she is willing to take on the role. The only uncomfortable part of the proposed guardianship is a difference in religious beliefs between her and Fiona. Due to increasing concerns first by the school, and a worry about Fiona’s differences with her, increasing anxieties put Kim to the test.

            It is after Aaron starts kindergarten that issues are raised about fine motor coordination, which again Kim’s anxiety for him in part three. When her mother, RENA, brings up a possible MRI at a neurology visit, Kim loses it with her. Then too, she continues to receive ineffective therapy.

             In part four, Aaron enters first grade where differences are emphasized more between him and other children. The school puts her and Aaron under siege for occupational therapy at first and then an evaluation for inattention. Aaron has his MRI of the brain. Kim has a last session with Sophia, her therapist, who leaves the area. She is introduced to KAITLYN McCormick (KATIE), who she perceives as understanding, willing to listen, and gives practical guidance to her. It is through Katie’s guidance and encouragement that Kim begins to believe in herself, and in baby steps, copes better.

             There is more family tension when the Segals are invited to Fiona’s house for Thanksgiving with Rena in part five. Mother brings something obviously non-kosher which leads Kim to worry about the guardianship more making religious differences more prominent. She has a panic attack at the end of the visit. There is a dream sequence with Kaitlyn (Katie) where Kim tells her about the disastrous Thanksgiving dinner. Aaron asks at a neurology visit, what the concern is with his café au lait spots.

                There is some resolution for Kim and the family in part six. In third grade, the teacher emphasizes Aaron’s learning differences more strongly suggesting self-contained special education, something Kim and Hal will never consider for him. There is a final meeting with the school after evaluation by a developmental pediatrician. It is shown that Aaron should be able to function in the general education program. She agrees to further testing for additional supports after finding an ally, in Mrs.  TEMPLE, the building principal. Kim learns to love herself after much therapy with Katie, and comes to true acceptance that Aaron will be okay no matter what. The novel ends with sixth grade graduation when Aaron receives the President’s award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Kim knows that whether Aaron receives an award or not, he is the child who she always believes him to be.Aaron and Me, Works in Progress

Novel Synopsis

                KIM Segal, the main character in Aaron and Me, is faced with one of the most horrendous experiences a parent can endure during a baby wellness checkup.   A clinical observation shows a couple of innocent café au lait birthmarks which could indicate a possible diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis for her 18-month old son, AARON. Kim feels ill equipped to cope with the indefinite nature of the diagnosis and begins to spiral out of control. Kim, a New Jersey suburban mom, becomes obsessed with irrational thoughts of how she can protect her innocent son from a disease for which there is no cure, and can leave Aaron blind, deaf or missing a limb. As Kim, terribly worried, goes through each successive neurological visit with Aaron spanning eight years, she waits for medical professionals to  give her a pronouncement of normalcy or doom, the uncertainty corroding her otherwise normal life, threatening to shatter an already shaky marriage to her husband HAL. Due to Aaron’s possible health condition, symptoms may include tumors on nerves which can leave him blind, deaf, losing a limb, or in the very worst cases, death. It is the story of a mother who goes from not coping to acceptance no matter the prognosis by the end of the novel.

            Together, Kim and Hal bring Aaron to a series of specialists to see if they can obtain a more definite diagnosis and at the least obtain appropriate care for him. They settle on Dr. Aronson, a pediatric neurologist, by the end of part one of the book. Kim particularly turns to her friend, FIONA, for support and encouragement, as well as a new therapist, Sophia, whose practices seem questionable at best. Kim’s mother does her best to provide support also but they have a contentious relationship. Minor characters include Fiona’s husband SAUL, and MAGGIE, BRIDGET, IRIS, DAVID, SOPHIA and MARK besides the host of education professionals who they meet.

            In part two, facing increasing financial pressures, Kim must prepare to return to work as a classroom teacher.  Her school is a distance away from their suburban community, which causes additional pressure on Kim. She plans to take Aaron to a nursery school in the community where she teaches. For Aaron to be admitted there, he must be fully toilet-trained ahead of time. He is not yet three, and she feels terribly guilty in forcing him to take this on.  Then too, Kim faces pressures at school where faculty doesn’t share priority on family. In the second year back, Kim winds up fainting from high glucose intolerance, and in the hospital, herself. She must stop teaching at least until she regains her health. Now, she thinks about writing a will, and asks her good friend, Fiona if she is willing to take on the role. The only uncomfortable part of the proposed guardianship is a difference in religious beliefs between her and Fiona. Due to increasing concerns first by the school, and a worry about Fiona’s differences with her, increasing anxieties put Kim to the test.

            It is after Aaron starts kindergarten that issues are raised about fine motor coordination, which again Kim’s anxiety for him in part three. When her mother, RENA, brings up a possible MRI at a neurology visit, Kim loses it with her. Then too, she continues to receive ineffective therapy.

            In part four, Aaron enters first grade where differences are emphasized more between him and other children. The school puts her and Aaron under siege for occupational therapy at first and then an evaluation for inattention. Aaron has his MRI of the brain. Kim has a last session with Sophia, her therapist, who leaves the area. She is introduced to KAITLYN McCormick (KATIE), who she perceives as understanding, willing to listen, and gives practical guidance to her. It is through Katie’s guidance and encouragement that Kim begins to believe in herself, and in baby steps, copes better.

            There is more family tension when the Segals are invited to Fiona’s house for Thanksgiving with Rena in part five. Mother brings something obviously non-kosher which leads Kim to worry about the guardianship more making religious differences more prominent. She has a panic attack at the end of the visit. There is a dream sequence with Kaitlyn (Katie) where Kim tells her about the disastrous Thanksgiving dinner. Aaron asks at a neurology visit, what the concern is with his café au lait spots.

                There is some resolution for Kim and the family in part six. In third grade, the teacher emphasizes Aaron’s learning differences more strongly suggesting self-contained special education, something Kim and Hal will never consider for him. There is a final meeting with the school after evaluation by a developmental pediatrician. It is shown that Aaron should be able to function in the general education program. She agrees to further testing for additional supports after finding an ally, in Mrs.  TEMPLE, the building principal. Kim learns to love herself after much therapy with Katie, and comes to true acceptance that Aaron will be okay no matter what. The novel ends with sixth grade graduation when Aaron receives the President’s award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Kim knows that whether Aaron receives an award or not, he is the child who she always believes him to be.

Aaron and Me, Works in Progress