A Miracle of the Heart
A Father and Son's Autism Journey
Thirty years ago, when their son Jacob was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (autism) his parents were told that he would have to be institutionalized. Twenty years later, when he was a junior in college, majoring in Creative Writing, his father asked how his class in Dante was going. He replied, “Well Dad, we’re making our way through purgatory.” A Miracle of the Heart is a father and son's memoir of shared discovery. Told in essays written over a thirty-year period the book offers a written time capsule of one family’s experience. Each essay unfolds on multiple levels. "Zeno's Paradox" wrestles with the half-distances of Jacob’s progress, ultimately affirming that the journey itself is what matters most. “Wonders” chronicles father and son’s journeys to national parks while reflecting on the wonder of their broader share life journey. Presented with raw honesty are the author’s emotional challenges; the unresolved grief for his father who died when he was a teen, and the terror of losing his son to the isolation of autism. In transcribed father-son conversations following each essay, the true triumph of Jacob’s story unfolds. They discuss heroic archetypes and compare heroes’ journeys. Jacob talks openly and insightfully about the challenges faced by those with autism. As an advocate for those with spectrum challenges, Jacob comments: “We should be very cautious of people who try to ‘cure’ autism.” While the topic of the memoir is autism, the core theme of A Miracle of the Heart is the majesty of shared journeys — even the most difficult ones. Its messages of hope and redemption will speak to individuals and families of all faith traditions who seek meaning and transformation in their own lives.
Praise for "A Miracle of the Heart"
"This heartfelt journey will speak to your heart as you come to know the hearts of David and Jacob Raphael. I have never encountered a book quite like this one. It is uniquely written by both father and son, offering a deeply personal reflection across 34 years of life together, beginning when Jacob was diagnosed at age two with what was then called pervasive developmental disorder. David and Jacob remind us to speak from the heart and to listen with the heart. Their story is one of love, perseverance, and commitment. I believe readers will treasure this remarkable journey and find within it both inspiration and hope." Serena Wieder Ph.D Psychologist Co-creator of the DIR Model
"A Miracle of the Heart is a deeply honest, very personal, and hopeful story of a family’s journey raising Jacob—from having moderately severe autism to becoming a thoughtful, emotionally aware, and happy young man. The father–son dialogue is especially moving, and the family’s transformation from grief to hope is insightful and inspiring. With its powerful messages about intensive early intervention, play, imagination, and emotional growth, this book is a true gift to families on a similar path. As a developmental pediatrician with over 25 years of experience caring for children on the spectrum, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Richard Solomon MD Former Medical Director The Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
"David and Jacob Raphael have written a deeply Jewish book—not only in its imaginative engagement with classical texts, but in its willingness to wrestle with them. His memoir hears the reverberations of the Akeda in the lived reality of raising a son with autism, transforming an ancient narrative of trial into a contemporary meditation on faith, responsibility, and love. What emerges is not just a personal story, but a work that embodies a distinctly Jewish insistence on finding meaning within struggle rather than beyond it." Rabbi Mark H. Levine, M.Ed., Founding Editor of BabagaNewz, an award winning Jewish childrens magazine, and a former Executive Editor of Behrman House Publishing.
"David Raphael's memoir describes his family's parallel journey a generation ago. David describes their search for answers. How they found the expert who finally listened to them, and, most importantly, understood Jacob. He shows us what it took to help Jacob navigate a world that wasn't built for him. Finally, and best of all, we overhear Jacob discussing these memories with his father, with mature self-awareness and their mutual sense of humor. Recently, our dear friends discovered that their toddler is different from other children. They now face exasperated preschool teachers, judgmental parents, and people in white coats—all claiming to understand their child better than they do. I can hardly wait to share this book with them. It will offer my friends and many others hope and guidance for the challenges ahead." Reverend Roger Talbott, M.Div.
“I am unable to recall a submission that touched my heart so deeply. I found myself holding my breath as the author took us through the oftentimes frightening ordeal of breaking through the emotional isolation of an autistic child. This is powerful writing from start to finish—all of which thankfully concludes with hope, joy, and heart-warming success.” Reviewer, The Atlanta Writers Club (reviewing “Zeno’s Paradox,” Winner, 2026 Rick Bragg Prize for Nonfiction)
"A Miracle of the Heart is a beautiful testimony to the anxiety of being a parent and the lengths to which a parent will go to help their child. It is an honest account of David’s own demons and how his relationship with Jacob helped him manage those demons. It is an inspiring first-person account of Jacob’s struggles and the progress he has made in surmounting them. And, it is a charming account of a loving father-son relationship. As a child psychiatrist, I would recommend A Miracle of the Heart as a ray of hope to parents whose young children are diagnosed with Autism, with its seemingly hopeless prognosis, and also to young adults with Autism for whom Jacob’s unadulterated honesty portrays the struggles most growing children with Autism share." Kevin Kalikow, MD
"As the father on a nonspeaking adult son, this book touched my heart in ways I cannot quite put into words. Truly a father-son contribution that breaks new ground in the literature that springs from families like ours in the autism community. Jacob's reflections on his developmental journey and his perspective on his parents struggles is precious and remarkable. David's transparency about his fatherhood journey is likewise validating and inspirational for other fathers regardless of how their children communicate." Robert Naseef Ph.D
"I was so moved by this book. I don’t have an autistic child, but I am a parent of young kids, and the passionate case for prioritizing child-centered play that David and Jacob make here was so compelling to me. I also really resonated with David’s moving chapter about integrating his grief after losing his father as a young man once he himself became a parent of his son. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves someone who is neurodivergent, or anyone who wants to embrace life and parenting more deeply." Rabbi Lauren Henderson