A Book for Every Parent of a Struggling Child | | | A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism | by Leland Vittert and Don Yaeger | You may recognize Leland Vittert from his work as an anchor on NewsNation. What you may not recognize, however, is that Leland got to where he is after being diagnosed with autism. With renewed scrutiny on the causes of autism, his new book Born Lucky is flying off the shelves, landing at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list. It’s not just a story about how Leland managed to build a successful life with autism, but also about the people who sacrificed to make that possible. We hope you enjoy. | | | Leland was a socially awkward boy who didn't speak for years, and when he finally did, teachers and leaders declared him "weird." His unique behavior and inability to connect with his peers made him a frequent target for bullying and exclusion. In one particularly harsh moment, a school principal bluntly told his parents, "The people here think Leland is pretty weird. I guess I do, too." Those words felt like being shot with an arrow, as his parents sat in stunned silence, grappling with their own fears and uncertainties for their son's future. | From a young age, Leland showed signs of being autistic, a term rarely used at the time, struggling with social cues, communication, and behavioral norms that came naturally to other kids.
The diagnosis didn't deter his father, Mark. He knew the world wouldn't change for Leland, so he quit his job and began changing Leland for the world.
He became a full-time parent-coach, training Leland and teaching him the skills he needed to navigate in society. Simple concepts like eye contact, understanding humor, and instilling motivations had to be taught painstakingly. From hundreds of pushups at age 7 to toughen him against bullies, to coaching him through complex social interactions, Mark's relentless dedication changed the trajectory of Leland's life. | Born Lucky offers an intimate look into their inspiring journey. Leland lays bare his experiences of the crushing bullying during middle and high school, the sting of rejection continuing into college, and his ultimate transformation into an esteemed journalist: Today, if you're channel surfing and happen upon Leland Vittert during his nightly national cable show on NewsNation, he comes off as a poised journalist prying nuggets from guests. If you watched him for years as an anchor at Fox News Channel, you saw him on the battlefields of the Middle East, the anchor desk, and the White House North Lawn. Until this book, no one—including friends and co-workers—had ever known Leland's full life story and how miraculous it was to get to that point. | Born Lucky is a love letter from a grateful son, who despite his diagnosis, trusted his father and defied all odds. It offers hope to every parent with a child who is struggling—whether with autism, anxiety, ADHD, difficulty at school, or another challenge—and shares proof of what a father's or mother’s love can do. | | | You are receiving this message because you are subscribed to our mailing list. If you would like to not receive sponsored messages please choose unsubscribe from sponsor messages. The views expressed in this message do not reflect the views of The Daily Wire. © Copyright 2025, The Daily Wire, LLC 1831 12th Ave South Ste. 460, Nashville, TN 37203 Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences | | | |
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