This is the true story of Bob Rowe. Bob was a lawyer who had worked hard to live the american dream in the 1970s. He was happily married to his wife Mary and the two of them started a family. Bobby was there first son and Christopher was born two years later. Christopher was born with several disabilites. He was blind, hard of hearing, mute and had some brain damage. Mary and Bob struggled to continue livin their life and raise Christopher in as much of a “normal” life as they could.
Mary found a nursery school in the Brookly area that focused on children who were deaf and had other disabilities such as Christopher. While going to this school she became a part of a support group of other mother’s who had children with severe disabilities. A good part of the book is spent with these mothers who are able to express thoughts and feelings with each other that they are not otherwise able to say or share. Within this group not only Mary is admired, but many of the women are very impressed with Bob and how active he is in the support and advocation for Christopher. Bob seemed to have reached an acceptance that enabled him to be a role model to others.
This all changed when Christopher was about ten years old. At this time Bobby was also having some health problems that required him to use crutches a fair amount. Bob took a new job that he was unable to learn and perform well in and he started having some severe mental health problems where he heard his deceased mother telling him to kill his family. When he heard/dreamed this he was able to leave his home and eventually told Mary who sought treatment for him. After a month of inpatient treatment and being put on some new medications Bob was released back home. Part of his hurry to get home was concern about finances. Bob lost his job and moved quickly between several jobs. Mary went back to work to help support the family but Bob continued to show signs stress and depression.
One day when Bob was home with the three children (they had adopted a daughter) Bob systematically killed each of the children with his sons baseball bat. In the book it spoke about how he tried to inflict the blows in the best way to kill the children quickly and without pain. He then called Mary to come home from work and killed her.
In the trial Bob was charged with murder and went with an insanity defense. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity due to his mental health problems and the strain of caring for his disabled child. Bob spent several years in a mental institution before being released and trying to start his life over again.
Throughout this time Bob still had some support from the community. Many were not supportive, but Bob did keep some friends who felt he truly was not responsible for what he had done due to his mental status. Bob started a new life out of the mental institution and eventually got remarried and had another child.
This book was very interesting in exploring the cares and struggles of parents of children with disabilities as well as the tragedy that took place in the Rowe home.
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