Leticia Velasquez - A Special Mother is Born

Paul Meyers, son of Margaret Mary Meyers has gone home to God

Margaret Mary wrote a story about her two sons Paul and Peter entitled "If I had Known". 

She has just experienced an unexpected and tragic loss of her young son. 

From Margaret Mary Meyers Facebook page;

We are devastated. Please pray for our family. Our Paul (our son) passed away in his sleep this morning. He was 26, lived in Kentucky, was the light of our lives. I can't think of anything else to say.

  Please keep Paul and the entire Meyers family in your prayers.

Eternal Rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon, him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, in the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Discussion of my book on National Right to Life News

Dave Andrusko  of National Right to Life News decides to purchase my book based on my interview with the Long Island Catholic.

Read it here.

My interview with the Long Island Catholic

I lived most of my life on Long Island, NY. I told the reporter the story of how "A Special Mother is Born" came to be.

Here's an excerpt;

Velasquez said “A Special Mother is Born,” “my own story of Christina’s birth,” was first published in Faith & Family magazine in spring of 2007. “I received so many letters in response from women who had the same epiphany of being surprised by this powerful joy, this encounter with Jesus in the person of their special needs child, that I knew I was on to something,” she continued. “I began collecting stories from mothers three years ago, and was delighted to meet many courageous faith-filled women.” Reading former Senator Rick Santorum’s story in The Philadelphia Inquirer about his daughter with special needs inspired Velasquez to ask fathers to contribute to the book as well.
You can read it on their website.

Why we wrote this book

Author Tamara Mussella bought ten copies of "A Special Mother is Born" to share. She put one in her parish library. This was a note she received two weeks later. We wrote this book for exactly that reason to move people by our stories and inspire them to help women facing a prenatal diagnosis. 


Dear Tamara,  
I picked up your  book when I went to check on the parish
library.  I hadn't planned on reading the entire book, but before I
realized, that is exactly what  did.  Your account of Mary Faith's birth was
beautiful.  I cried when I finished your chapter.  Would you write a short
review of the book and it can go in the Bulletin under the parish library
space?
  I am sure there are couples who are facing this choice.  

A Blessed Christmas to you all. 

I am speaking at Family Research Council tomorrow

Follow this link to the live webcast at 12 noon EST. Please pray for me as I discuss Down syndrome; Disaster or Divine Smile?

Book Signing and Talk at Our Lady of the Island in Eastport, NY

You are invited to a special event at Our Lady of the Island Shrine in Eastport, Long Island, on Sunday, December 11th.

Immediately following the 11:30 Mass (around 12:45), we will be hosting a one hour presentation and prayer service for anyone
who shares their life with a child with special needs.

Author Leticia Velasquez (KIDS; Keep Infants With Down Syndrome;aspecialmotherisborn.blogspot.com) and contributing author, Eileen Benthal(timesreview.com; 40DaysToFocus.com),
will share some insights and encouragement from life and their newly published book, "A Special Mother Is Born". We will also have some time to pray with families following the sharing.

If you are able, please join us for the celebration of the Mass at 11:30.
Steve and Eileen and their special daughter, Johanna will be leading the music for this liturgy.

We hope to see you there!

Warmest Regards,  
Leticia Velasquez
Eileen Benthal