We knew this was in the works, and got a glimpse of the article last week, but it was nice to open the mail today and see this lovely the New York Times Sunday Magazine feature about Donnie Winokur and her personal journey of raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD). The feature is about her her family and also describes her efforts to champion the role a service dog can play in helping these children.
From the Press Release:
The Winokurs of Roswell, Georgia, had no idea of the journey that was in store for them when they adopted son Iyal and daughter Morasha, two seemingly healthy babies from Russia in 1999. Iyal’s eventual diagnosis at age four with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) the most severe expression of (FASD), a debilitating and life-long birth defect, forever changed their lives.
Atlanta journalist and award-winning author Melissa Fay Greene eloquently captures this family’s challenges and triumphs and the hope they found in an unlikely source—an 80 pound golden retriever named Chancer, the subject of Donnie Kanter Winokur’s new book, Nuzzle – love between a boy and his service dog–in her February 5 feature story, “Wonder Dog.”
The importance the story clearly resonates with readers around the world. The article has been live on the New York Times website for just five days, and it is the NUMBER ONE emailed story, the NUMBER ONE most-searched story and among the Top 10 most-viewed stories on the site. Clearly, the Winokur family journey dealing with a child of fetal alcohol syndrome is one that touches people’s lives.
Since 2006, Winokur has been passionately advocating for her now 13 year-old son Iyal and those who share his particular disability, FASD, which affects nearly 1 out of every 100 live births in the United States and Europe.
“Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) may be the most undiagnosed AND misdiagnosed developmental disability of our time,” says Winokur.
Her determination to help her son navigate a world that remained unfriendly to a child exhibiting uncontrollable and inappropriate behaviors with no outwardly visible cause led the family to Chancer, the first certified service dog in the world trained specifically to assist a child with FASD.
“Chancer legitimizes and gives a uniquely inviting presence to Iyal’s otherwise invisible disability,”states Winokur.
In 2009, Donnie and her daughter Morasha co-authored My Invisible World: Life With My Brother, His Disability and His Service Dog. In 2010, Morasha’s work earned a Gold in the Young Contributor’s category of the Mom’s Choice Awards. Last November, Morasha published her second book, Nuzzle: Love Between a Boy and His Service Dog. Like the first book, it is already receiving great reviews.
From the Press Release:
We hope Nuzzle, along with Melissa’s compelling, provocative piece, will resonate with other families struggling with invisible disabilities and launch a very real, compassionate dialogue about their prevention and treatment.
Our thanks to the Winokur family for sharing their story with so many, in so many ways. T Their dedication to helping families and children of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) and service dog training is inspirational.