Phyllis Knighton (PK) and Laura Livingstone-McNelis (LLM)

PART 1 TAPE RT – 1:58 

LLM: I had heard for the umpteenth time from another professional that she was never going to speak; that we should just give up, so I called you. And you said, ‘No, you can’t give up.’

You asked me if I’d be open to Mary Lee coming to stay with you that summer and you would try to make something happen. 

PK: Mary drew my heart because the lack of language set her apart socially from other children. 

As a child, I knew what it was like to be lonely or cut off from people.

So I went back to school, the oldest person on campus, I think. [laughs] 

LLM: [laughs] 

PK: And took courses in speech therapy.

But I didn’t know if I’d be able to help Mary or not.

LLM:  I remember she had a little Peter Rabbit book that you had given to her.

And I realized she never looked at the pictures, but she always looked at the words. And I found that fascinating because to a little child, they would just be squiggly lines on a page.

And you said, ‘You just watch, she’s gonna be a good reader.’

And you were right. 

PK: We discovered that seeing it in print gave her the use of the words.

It started out with a very simple story like, ‘Mary has a doll, Mary likes the doll.’

I read it to her. And Mary read it back to me.

And then, in two weeks, Mary wrote a letter. And she read to you on the phone. 

LLM: That was the first time I’d ever heard her speak. She said, ‘Dear Mama, how are you? I love you. From Mary.’

I had never heard her say, I love you before.

PK: [laughs] 

LLM: She’d always signed it to me, and I knew she felt it. 

I couldn’t stay away any longer, I drove right over to where you were and [laughs] I just had to be there to witness this miracle that was starting to happen.

PK: Well, Mary is a miracle. There’s so many wonderful things about her. 

I love Mary Lee so much. And I’ve always been so proud of you. 

HOST COPY BRIDGE

That conversation was recorded almost 20 years ago… Phyllis has since died. 

Laura recently sat down with Mary Lee… who is now an adult.

Laura Livingstone-McNelis (LLM) and Mary Lee McNelis (MLM)

PART 2 TAPE RT – 00:56

MLM: How do I remind you of Grandma? 

LLM: Oh my gosh. You and Grandma are kindred spirits. You have her energy and her optimism. You bring sunshine and light into every room. 

 MLM: Aww, thank you.

LLM: I remember after she passed away, I went outside onto the deck and I heard you talking. And it was dark out. And then I realized you were looking up and you were speaking to Grandma, right? 

 MLM: Yes.

LLM: And what do you say to Grandma when you look up at the stars? 

 MLM: Hey, Grandma, how are you doing today? I’m so glad that you taught me how to talk.

LLM: And you were telling her that one day you’ll meet again in heaven.

MLM: Yes. That we will meet in heaven.

LLM: And someday you will. And she’ll be overjoyed.

MLM: Yes. 

LLM: [laughs]