Saving Sammy

The story of one mother’s fight against the medical establishment to prove the link between infection-triggered PANDAS and her son’s sudden-onset OCD and Tourette syndrome. The summer before entering sixth grade, Sammy, a bright and charming boy who lived on the coast of Maine, suddenly began to exhibit disturbing behavior. He walked and ate with his eyes shut, refused to bathe, burst into fits of rage, slithered against walls, and used his limbs instead of his hands to touch light switches, doorknobs, and faucets. Sammy’s mother, Beth, already coping with the overwhelming responsibility of raising three sons alone, watched helplessly as her middle child descended into madness. Sammy was soon diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and later with Tourette syndrome. Unwilling to accept the doctors’ prognoses for lifelong mental illness and repeated hospitalizations, Beth fought to uncover what was causing this decline. Beth’s quest took her to the center of the medical community’s raging debate about whether OCD and Tourette syndrome can be caused by PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). With the battle lines firmly drawn, Beth searched until she found two cutting-edge doctors who answered that question with a definitive yes. Together, they cured Sammy. Five years later, he remains symptom free.

After Morgan’s backyard is flooded by the nearby river, her dog, Shire, finds a baby beaver that has been washed out of its den. Realizing that its parents aren’t coming back, Morgan must quickly learn to care for the beaver, which she names Sammy. Morgan’s parents warn her that he can’t stay with them forever. Will Morgan be able to find a safe home for Sammy?

Auntie Squirly shares her secret with young Sammy Rabbit about the habit of saving.

The summer before entering sixth grade, Sammy, a bright and charming boy who lived on the coast of Maine, suddenly began to exhibit disturbing behavior. He walked and ate with his eyes shut, refused to bathe, burst into fits of rage, slithered against walls, and used his limbs instead of his hands to touch light switches, doorknobs, and faucets. Sammy’s mother, Beth, already coping with the overwhelming responsibility of raising three sons alone, watched helplessly as her middle child descended into madness. Sammy was soon diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and later with Tourette syndrome. Unwilling to accept the doctors’ prognoses for lifelong mental illness and repeated hospitalizations, Beth fought to uncover what was causing this decline. Racing against time as Sammy slipped further from reality, Beth’s quest took her to the center of the medical community’s raging debate about whether mental illness can be caused by infection. With the battle lines firmly drawn, Beth searched until she found two cutting-edge doctors who answered that question with a definitive yes. Together, they cured Sammy. Five years later, he remains symptom free. Driven by her desire to help others, Beth Maloney has infused every page of this triumphant journey with heart and passion. An important story,Saving Sammyis part manifesto, part medical mystery, but is at its heart the empowering and inspiring story of a mother’s determination to save her son, take on the medical establishment–and win. From the Hardcover edition.

Take a deep breath before you start the now complete World Aflame Series. This action adventure series filled with cinematic science fiction action, end of the world apocalyptic events, and heart pounding thrills will leave you enthralled from beginning to end. Fans of The Maze Runner by James Dasher and I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore will love this teen fiction series. With over 400 five-star series reviews on Goodreads, this is definitely the series you should read next! Flame Caller is a RONE award winner. The Earth Gives Way to the Sea, The Sea Bows Before the Wind, The Wind Feeds the Flame, The Flame Burns the World of Man Down to the Earth. White Halls is no longer a sleepy little town. Its houses lie smoldering on their foundations. The residents take refuge in their homes, afraid to leave. And the town’s prodigal son and newest Wind Warrior, Xander Sirocco, has fled. Xander survived the first assault on his life by the Flame Caste, but it’s at a great personal cost. He and Sammy are left to bury his family and tend to his grandfather, who lies in a coma. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he can’t help but feel the fight against the Fire Caste is hopeless. It seems hopeless, that is, until he learns of a secret race of Elementals, embodiments of the elemental powers that the different castes wield. With the power of the Elementals comes a chance to save not just the Wind Warriors and Sammy, but the world itself. Emboldened, he sets off to find the Wind Elemental and with it, the hope for his survival. Too bad no one has seen the Wind Elemental in generations and now thinks she’s just a myth. As he quickly learns, however, the Fire Elemental isn’t a myth. It’s real and it has a secret plan for his girlfriend. And it won’t stop until Xander is dead. Flame Caller is the second book in the World Aflame series by Jon Messenger. This series is complete and ready for binge reading. Young adult books free Teen and Young Adult Books young adult adventure books young adult adventure fantasy young adult science fiction Visionary & Metaphysical Myths and Legends Scary Stories Survival Stories Dystopian Books for Teen Boys young adult apocalypse fiction and adventure Boys and Men Issues Young Adult Science Fiction Action Adventure Thriller Dystopian Survival Fiction Apocalyptic Survival Stories Young Adult Supernatural Mystery Young adult books for boys Science Fiction Super powers Apocalyptic Fiction YA books for teens Urban Fantasy young adult science fiction thriller Social Family Issues Friendship

Take a deep breath before you start the now complete World Aflame Series. This action adventure series filled with cinematic science fiction action, end of the world apocalyptic events, and heart pounding thrills will leave you enthralled from beginning to end. Fans of The Maze Runner by James Dasher and I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore will love this teen fiction series. With over 400 five-star series reviews on Goodreads, this is definitely the series you should read next! THE EARTH GIVES WAY TO THE SEA, THE SEA BOWS BEFORE THE WIND, THE WIND FEEDS THE FLAME, THE FLAME BURNS THE WORLD OF MAN DOWN TO THE EARTH. Xander Sirocco now has the power of the Wind Elemental at his disposal, but it may be too little too late. The Fire Caste has begun its conquest of the planet, and many of the largest cities already burn. Xander, Sean, and Jessica know what needs to be done—they must find the Water and Earth Elementals to have any chance of defeating the Fire Elemental. The first to be located is the Water Elemental. With her power, they could at least slow the advance of the Fire Warriors. If she would only believe in their mission as much as they do… While Xander struggles to convince the Water Elemental that their mission is just, Sammy fights an unexpected battle of her own. With her body now possessed by the Fire Elemental, she’s little more than an observer as it uses her to destroy Los Angeles. Sammy can still exert her will on occasion, but it’s exhausting. When the Elemental sends the deadly General Abraxas after Xander, she wonders if she’ll be able to influence her body’s actions enough to save the life of the man she loves. Water Shaper is the third book in the World Aflame series by Jon Messenger. This series is complete and ready for binge reading. Young adult books free Teen and Young Adult Books young adult adventure books young adult adventure fantasy young adult science fiction Visionary & Metaphysical Myths and Legends Scary Stories Survival Stories Dystopian Books for Teen Boys young adult apocalypse fiction and adventure Boys and Men Issues Young Adult Science Fiction Action Adventure Thriller Dystopian Survival Fiction Apocalyptic Survival Stories Young Adult Supernatural Mystery Young adult books for boys Science Fiction Super powers Apocalyptic Fiction YA books for teens Urban Fantasy young adult science fiction thriller Social Family Issues Friendship

Nine-year-old Skye has always had a fascination with flying. She’d love to be a pilot someday, like both of her parents, but deep down she really wishes she could be a bird. When Skye’s parents take her to Costa Rica, she is thrilled about all of the beautiful exotic birds she’ll get to see. What she doesn’t realize is that her parents have three big surprises planned, and each will offer her a different opportunity to feel what it’s like to fly. From snorkeling with baby sea turtles to parasailing out on the open ocean to zip-lining through the Costa Rican rainforest, Skye will have more than one chance to fly like a bird before this trip of a lifetime is through.

Johnny Bianda is a man with a dream. He wants to own a boat off the coast of Florida and he only needs $186,000 to buy it. He steals the money from his firm, knowing that one day they'll notice and one day they'll kill him for it - after all, it is the Mafia. But for Johnny Bianda, the risk is worth taking and he knows it will be at least a year before they catch up with him. Unfortunately for Bianda, the knock on his door comes sooner than he thinks ...