From the Publisher: “‘He will likely never speak.’
Sometimes, being told that you can’t do something lights a fire inside of you so fierce that you have no choice but to succeed … and then blow all the doubts out of the water.
After all, doubt shouldn’t be a part of any child’s puzzle.
It’s hard enough building puzzles under water, watching the pieces float away, dusting off the sand from some, and scurrying toward a treasure chest to discover more.
This is how author Carrie P. Holzer experienced her son Cam’s diagnosis of autism and the following decade of his journey. She compared it to building puzzles under water because of the challenge, as well as the knowledge that all the pieces are there somewhere.
Sometimes you just have to look harder for them and turn them this way and that to fit.
In Building Puzzles Under Water: An Autism Story, Carrie details the journey that her family took, the ups and downs, and the multiple successes they had with giving Cam the life he deserves, one where he gets to express himself and have friends, things that we all take for granted that were pieces the family wasn’t sure Cam would ever discover.
Today, Cam speaks, eloquently, expressively, and even colorfully, thanks to the dedication that Carrie and her family had to see him be everything he possibly could.
She shares this journey with you, with the hopes that your family will have success in the depths of autism as well.”
More info About the Author: “What business does a mother of two with a background in real estate and commercial lending have writing a book about autism? This is a question Carrie Holzer has asked herself many times over. But after eleven years of being told, at every turn, to share her son Cam’s story, she has made it her business.
When the COO of the company Carrie works for was told she had written a book about her son and hadn’t published it yet, he gifted Carrie the funds on behalf of the company to have the book published. The gift further assured Carrie that her family’s journey is an impactful one and should be shared.
As a first-time author, Carrie uses an honest lens to create a feeling of support and connection for her readers, bringing to life her humorous take on the highs and lows of life with autism. Carrie, her husband Justin, and their two children, Cam and Gabby, live in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. Although the family’s commitment to help Cam along the winding road of autism is ever present, recent years have allowed them to slow down a bit. With therapies falling away as Cam reaches goal after goal, the family has more time for weekend trips to their favorite lake spot, hitting golf balls at the local driving range, and Sunday afternoon video game matches.”
What inspired you to write Building Puzzles Under Water?
I have been told for years to detail Cam’s success by folks who have worked with him alongside us. I always felt like it was such a huge responsibility, my concern was that if other parents tried the same things we tried without the same results there would be disappointment. When covid and remote schooling hit, I was amazed at how Cam navigated his school day. From how he participated in class and remained focused to seeing what things made him anxious and how he coped, I realized this was a part of his life I never see. To watch him use all the tools he was taught over the years I realized it was time to put it all out there.
Your book is such a personal story. How did it feel to open your home and your family’s life to the world with your writing?
At first, vulnerable. I wanted to be very honest, and for me, sometimes that meant admitting to the fear, anger and sadness that came with his diagnosis. I never really shared that with too many people, it felt like a sign of weakness. Now I understand that there is strength in being honest with those emotions so now I feel excited to share all of the ups and downs.
What does Cam think about his story being shared?
When I first told Cam about the book, he said “why, I’m just me!”. It’s always been a goal of mine for Cam to just be comfortable with who he is, and in a sense that reaction showed me that that is where he’s at. Just recently I created the website and wrote a short bio for him. When I read it to him, he got a big smile on his face and said “wow thanks mom “.
Your family had such an amazing experience with different service providers, but often, families struggle. What would you tell those families?
I will say that we were very lucky. I do think that building the right team can be hard, especially with the reality that these fields tend to have a high turnover rate. I think there’s value in being very honest and upfront with what your expectations are as well as building relationships with the folks coming in and out.
What was your favorite moment to write about?
I don’t know if I can pick one single moment, but the ones I had the most fun detailing were the ones that involve both Gabby and Cam. I feel as though their journey together is more unique and endearing than any other pairing in this story and I feel lucky to witness it.
What was your greatest challenge in sharing this story?
Truthfully, I kept the fact that I was writing the book a secret from just about everyone for almost 2 years. In fact, not a single soul knew about it for the first six months so for me, the biggest challenge was letting go of the secret. Stepping out from behind my computer, raising my hand and saying “well, I did it!”
What is the big take home message that you want readers to know?
My hope is that the biggest take-home message is to not be apologetic about disagreeing with or questioning the limitations projected onto your child due to a diagnosis. Be loud about it. Follow your instincts.
Who is this book perfect for?
Certainly any parents of special needs children but also family members and friends of those parents and even professionals that work with these families who want to get a better understanding of what is behind the curtain.
For more information, visit carriepholzer.com…
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