The David Watson Podcast #215 I’m 24 What do I do

Every so often, a story walks into your life which reminds you of the power of never saying never. Jane Fischer’s is that kind of story. Jane’s life started like many others.

A bright college graduate, she stepped into the classroom as a teacher, fuelled by a passion to shape young minds. Then came marriage and children.

The first few chapters of her life read as expected until the arrival of Suzy, her second child. Suzy was born with severe medical and developmental challenges, and the prognosis was grim.

Jane, then just 24 years old, was handed a laundry list of nevers: Suzy would never walk, never talk, never learn. But Jane wasn’t interested in anyone else’s script.

Instead, she rolled up her sleeves, wiped away the tears and wrote her own. And now Jane, a resident of New Jersey in the United States, has written a book about the story of her fight and journey for Suzy.

If You Knew Suzy: Pushing Past the Boundaries of Never. (September 2024, G&D Media) “At 24, I had no idea where to start,” Jane says. “But I knew I had to start somewhere.” Suzy’s early years were a whirlwind of hospital visits, therapies and sleepless nights.

Jane plunged into the world of special needs, armed with nothing more than fierce maternal love and a refusal to accept limitations. She became an advocate for Suzy, eventually earning her certification as a teacher of special needs children and later working as a learning consultant.

Jane’s advocacy did not stop at her daughter’s needs. She spearheaded socialization programs, founded special education PTAs and fought tirelessly to ensure children like Suzy weren’t just present but truly represented.

Website https://www.janemfischer.com/