Emma’s Laugh: The Gift of Second Chances

Kupershmit writes an account of the myriad ways her life changed when her first daughter, Emma, was born with a rare genetic mutation. The author details her own background as the daughter of Ukrainian immigrants, as well as the circumstances leading up to Emma’s birth, and the many moments of clarity and re-framing of her own expectations about parenting and family life that came along with raising a child with a disability. Kupershmit is honest about her own disappointments and moments she interprets as personal weaknesses. Her writing shines when recounting Emma’s relationship with her siblings, and when discussing the difficult work of deciding who will care for Emma in the long-term and whether to place her siblings in a caregiving role. Kupershmit also delves into some jarring, perhaps questionable details, like her deciding to place the infant Emma for adoption, a decision she reversed after a few months.