Karl was born seriously brain and eye damaged. Barely alive at birth he survived, but doctors believed he would be ineducable. Today Karl is forty-five years old, an articulate and talented individual who lives independently. 

Poignant and fascinating, my story, which started off so tragically, became a story of success and triumph against incredible odds. As well as being a gripping personal journey for both myself and my son Karl, it has universal implications: the plasticity of the brain and its ability to reorganise and repair itself under the right stimuli; the vital role that music and books and language play in the development of motor and cognitive skills; and the resilience and strength of the human spirit under duress.