Читать книгу Finding Zoe - Gail Harris - Страница 9

PREFACE

HOW FITTING THAT Brandi would ask us to write the preface for this beautiful, telling story. Not only was Alan the director of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (when Brandi was a bubbly, young student there in the late 1980s) and is now the president of Gallaudet University—both of which have given us a connection to her for many years—but also, in so many ways, our backgrounds and experiences as parents are similar to hers and her husband Tim’s.

We can appreciate what a lucky child Zoe really is. To have parents like Brandi and Tim who are so involved in our Deaf community has given Zoe the opportunity to continuously learn about her culture—that of being deaf and proud. It didn’t surprise us when a few years back, Brandi uprooted the entire family, moving them from Clearwater, Florida, to Austin, Texas, just so that Zoe could attend the Texas School for the Deaf.

As is evident from reading this tale, Brandi was meant to be Zoe’s mother. We were in awe of Brandi’s life story and are grateful to her for baring her soul and writing personally and candidly about her experiences. As president of Gallaudet University, Alan is proud to be a part of the “Deaf President Now” legacy, shared so intimately and meaningfully in this book—the first we’d ever read that covers this monumental movement in Deaf History from such a personal perspective.

The story is sure to inspire both deaf and hearing people alike about things concerning adoption, being true to yourself, holding on to your dreams, and turning your life around. Perhaps from reading this book, another deaf couple will be blessed with adopting a deaf child someday.

The truth is, every child—deaf and hearing—should be blessed with a family as loving and as in tune as Zoe’s (including her three older hearing brothers), and as this book is passed on throughout our community, some three million strong, for generations to come, we’re sure that it will help that vision to manifest.

—T. ALAN HURWITZ AND VICKI T. HURWITZ,

President and First Lady, Gallaudet University

“. . . Zoe, the Greek word for life as God has it.”

—MAX LUCADO, 3:16: THE NUMBERS OF HOPE