Book Review: The Other Country by Michael Whelan

An Australian Father Shares his Experiences with Autism

Oct 17, 2008

Concerned about the delayed development of their 14-month old son Charlie, Michael and Helen Whelan were devastated when he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A journal of Michael Whelan’s experiences over seven years, The Other Country (Macmillan Australia, 2008) is a very personal account of the emotional rollercoaster experienced by parents caring for a child with special needs.

Australian couple Michael and Helen Whelan eagerly anticipated their first baby. Charlie arrived and sixteen months later he was joined by his brother Thomas. Parenthood wasn’t quite the adventure they anticipated. Charlie slept poorly for his first few weeks and experienced significant difficulties feeding. Thomas was also a poor sleeper.

Not surprisingly, both Michael and Helen experienced symptoms of fatigue and depression. Although their experiences were trying, they focused on getting through the tiring baby years and looked forward to better times ahead. Their hopes were shattered when Charlie’s development seemed to stall and he eventually received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Emotional, Social and Financial Impact of Autism

For the Whelans, Charlie’s diagnosis presented a series of seemingly impossible decisions where they tried to balance the needs of both their sons, their financial stability, Charlie’s future and the treatment options available to them.

They vigorously and extensively researched autism and the many treatments available, both through mainstream and alternative therapies including the Gillini diet, Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), Secretin, Tomatis Method audio program, heavy metal chelation therapy and Ritalin. They also pursued speech and occupational therapy as well as careful ongoing supervision of Charlie’s diet.

These various treatments and medical therapies placed significant financial limitations on Michael’s family, constantly bringing his desire to spend as much time and effort as possible in assisting his son into conflict with his need to continue working in a job he found increasingly irrelevant to his own personal experiences.

Family Experiences with Autism

The Other Country shares a father’s experiences not only with the practical day-to-day impact of his son’s autism, but also with the many social, emotional and relational issues. Michael Whelan’s honesty about the way that Charlie’s diagnosis impacted every aspect of his life – job satisfaction, concentration levels, the ability to simply enjoy life, pleasure in his family, hopes for the future – offers an empathetic voice to others facing the diagnosis of autism for their child.

Referring only in passing to the impact Charlie’s diagnosis has on his wife and their relationship, Michael’s primary focus is their desire as a couple to access every treatment option possible to optimise Charlie’s chances of living a normal life. Not intended as a reference text or diagnostic tool, Michael presents a timeline of the process they followed to select treatment programs, most significantly ABA, and offers advice for families on how to best connect with autism support networks.

Michael is brutally honest in sharing the emotional and financial strains that Charlie’s diagnosis placed upon his family. His assessments of the attitudes and effectiveness of various methods and practitioners are also delivered in a bluntly honest manner.

The difficulty of maintaining healthy social relationships is also discussed, conveying the pain of knowing that his family’s experiences would never be the same as others. Michael clearly portrays the sense of isolation, self-doubt and anxiety he experiences as he struggles for a period of years to come to terms with Charlie’s diagnosis.

A Personal Story of Triumph over Adversity

Sharing the heartfelt experiences and reactions of the father of a young child diagnosed with autism, Michael Whelan offers other families with autistic children a voice of understanding. The Other Country also shares valuable insights for friends and extended family who wish to better understand the emotional impact and parenting challenges for individuals with autistic children.

Raw, emotional, passionate, challenging and inspirational, Michael Whelan opens his heart to other families experiencing autism and offers reassurance that they can endure the difficulties to find some peace with their own family situation.

The copyright of the article Book Review: The Other Country by Michael Whelan in Australian Literature is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review: The Other Country by Michael Whelan in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.