Sample Poem

The Day the Flags Fall
 

· foundation mission
· about stephen
· life lessons 
· getting involved
· materials and support 
· resources

"Stephen: Letters of Courage and Hope"
      Expanded Edition

       Forward by Patch Adams and Susan Parenti

 SPECIAL OFFER: For a limited time, "Stephen: Letters of Courage and Hope" will be offered for $12 plus shipping ($2.50) in celebration of Stephen's Hope Foundations' 5th Anniversary!

In September of 2000, Stephen, my special needs son, was very ill. I wanted to make him well, but if I couldn't do that, I at least wanted to help him feel better. He was trying to tell me something. I couldn't understand what he was trying to say. In desperation we used an adapted tape recorder, as we had five years earlier, to give Stephen the chance to speak. One letter at a time, Stephen began to plunk out letters. I hoped the letters would tell me how to make him feel better, instead they were letters that formed some of the most beautiful poems this side of heaven. In January 2001, Stephen had written 20 poems in over 500 hours. He asked to hold his letters and take them with to a families' conference in Wisconsin in April. So, we took his unedited manuscript, published it and printed it. Most people said, "That is the worst business decision that you will ever make." I followed my heart and Stephen held his books and signed them with his own fingerprint. He accomplished a task so incredible that even now I am in awe of what he accomplished. While we were busy with the publishing and printing work, Stephen kept writing. On the day that we would have released Stephen's writings, he died. He shed his "wrapper" June 1, 2001, and celebrated in heaven. This edition contains Stephen's original work and the next 54 poems and letters. He worked over 900 hours to share with us his soul. Enjoy his letters of courage and hope. May they bless your life and heal our world.

Stephen's grateful mom, Chrissy L. Nelson