When Arizona journalist Amy Silverman was an investigative reporter, sheβd often toss stuff into a cardboard box as she did her research: Reports, books, records, notebooks.
After her second child, Sophie, was born with Down syndrome in 2003, she started a new box β and soon had to add more.
Silverman, now the managing editor of the Phoenix New Times, says she was initially just trying to find her way as Sophieβs mom and so she did what she knew. She reported on it.
βShe was the first person with Down syndrome Iβd ever met,β she said. βIt was awkward.β
βMy Heart Canβt Even Believe it: A Story of Science, Love, and Down Syndrome,β is the title of Silvermanβs new book, one that includes not only Silvermanβs findings on Down syndrome, but also her personal reflections on slowly getting to know Sophie and, in doing so, falling crazy in love.
Silverman, 49, will discuss her book at 7 p.m. Friday at Antigone Books, 411 N. 4th Ave.
The title is a partial quote of Sophieβs, a proclamation of love she made to her mother a few years back as Silverman was about to board a plane for New York City. In a flurry of selfies and little videos, this hit Silverman hard: βI love you so much my heart canβt even believe it.β
βI had been struggling for a long time to come up with a name for the project I had been working on,β she said.
Silverman hopes the book starts conversations about many things, not just Down syndrome, but also about inclusion, parenting, families and schools.
βI think we donβt know how to talk about people with intellectual disabilities,β she said, βand so we just donβt.β
