Thomas Gilhooley was the first son born to Mary and Joe Gilhooley. Tom suffered from trauma to his brain likely due to a forceps delivery. The story is written my Mary, now well into her tenth decade of life. This was in the early 1950's and very little was known or understood about developmental and intellectual disabilities or its treatment. This story offers us a glimpse into the lives of a family dealing with the struggles of raising a child with multiple disabilities, as well as dealing with his siblings, and the challenges and emotional insults lows that had to be met almost on a daily basis. It is a heartwarming story recollected by a devoted and loving mother who fought the status quo to get the best available education, social life, and medical care for her son. Tom was a special person with a generous and loving heart and a wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed dealing with others around him and most returned their smiles and good will to him.

But some interactions were hurtful and abusive to Tom and left his family with heartaches. There have been many advances in the field of developmental and intellectual disabilities that have improved lives over the last sixty years, but there is more progress to be made. This heartwarming story and glimpse into the past should help lead the way forward in understanding that everyone, no matter their abilities or lack thereof, has a gift to offer to all, reminding us of our shared humanity.