THE ARC GREATER HUDSON VALLEY PUBLISHES NEW BOOK
The Arc Greater Hudson Valley recently announced the publication of “For the Love of Raymond: Between the Laughter and the Tears." The book tells the extraordinary true story of a severely disabled boy, Raymond Dunn, Jr., who received home services, respite and educational services from the agency in Sullivan and Orange Counties (then SullivanArc and Orange AHRC). The story, which begins in 1974, is told by his mother, Carol Dunn, and transcribed by a co- author from a series of taped interviews made shortly before Carol’s death in 2018. The book details the challenges and victories of supporting a child with severe disabilities who needed around-the-clock care. With the help of ‘Raymond’s Girls’, a group of young aids, nurses and special ed teachers, as well as doctors and therapists, Raymond was able to live until the age of 20, despite doctors predicting he would only live a year. He was blind, could not speak, could not use his limbs, had daily seizures and suffered from countless allergies.
The boy gained national attention when the only food that he could tolerate, Gerber Food’s Meat Based Formula, was taken off the market. His mother, Carol, campaigned for five years to get a replacement made or get Gerber to continue producing it. Marc Brandt, executive director of The Arc New York (then NYSARC), stepped in, and Gerber agreed to retool its manufacturing plant in Michigan. Gerber’s employees even volunteered their own time to make the formula for the boy. The story was picked up nationwide and aired on the TV show, Hard Copy. Ric Schwartz, executive director at The Arc Greater Hudson Valley — the brainchild behind the book project — commented that “The book is also Carol and Ray Dunn’s love story.” The couple's bond was strong and remained unbroken after Raymond’s death in 1994. Their life with Raymond was often filled with heartbreaks and emergencies, but they always managed to find humor and laughter in their everyday lives. Many parents and families of children with disabilities will relate to the stories, day-to-day challenges, and unwavering love portrayed in the book. The book is available for purchase on Amazon as a paperback and Kindle e-book. All proceeds from the book sales go The Arc Greater Hudson Valley Foundation.
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