Tripping with Nathan: A Different Love Story

T his heartfelt book covers the relationship of Robin and Valerie with Nathan through its ups and downs, triumphs and set-backs, from Nathans birth to his death… He was home when he passed. It was quick. It was peaceful. We are grateful for all those things. We are grateful for the time we had with him. We are grateful for all that he gave us, for everything he taught us. We will miss him forever. T here are lessons to be learned for those families with disabled children, but perhaps even more so for people who have not directly experienced life with a disabled person. Tripping with Nathan is one of the most important books I have ever read. Its a big call but let me explain. Nathan Runyan-Tait is a young man with severe cerebral palsy. He has a brain injury which results in very limited control of his limbs. He is unable to walk, he gets around in a wheelchair and he is dependent for all his needs on his parents and a small group of carers. Despite all of this, he is a cheerful young man, who enjoys life with his remarkable parents, Robin and Valerie. I have spent most of my professional life looking after children with cerebral palsy of all ages, all stages and all levels of severity. I thought I knew a thing or two about my job but I learnt more by reading Tripping with Nathan than I ever did from reading my textbooks or from my teachers. Hence the big call.