I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust

A remarkable memoir by a mother and her autistic daughter whod long been unable to communicateuntil a miraculous breakthrough revealed a young woman with a rich and creative interior life, a poet, whod been trapped inside for more than two decades.I have been buried under years of dust and now I have so much to say.These were the first words twenty-five-year-old Emily Grodin ever wrote. Born with nonverbal autism, Emilys only means of communicating for a quarter of a century had been only one-word responses or physical gestures.That Emily was intelligent had never been in questionfrom an early age shed shown clear signs that she understood what was going on though she could not express herself. Her parents, Valerie and Tom, sought every therapy possible in the hope that Emily would one day be able to reveal herself. When this miraculous breakthrough occurred, Emily was finally able to give insight into the life, frustrations, and joys of a person with autism. She could tell her parents what her younger years had been like and reveal all the emotions and intelligence residing within her; she became their guide into the autistic experience.Told by Valerie, with insights and stories and poetry from Emily, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust highlights key moments of Emilys childhood that led to her communication awakeningand how her ability rapidly accelerated after she wrote that first sentence. As Valerie tells her familys story, she shares the knowledge shes gained from working as a legal advocate for families affected by autism and other neurological disorders.A story of unconditional love, faith in the face of difficulty, and the grace of perseverance and acceptance, I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust is an evocative and affecting mother-daughter memoir of learning to see each other for who they are.