STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
It's Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps, and we have a story now that stretches across time. Mary Lee McNelis was born with significant developmental delays. By age 6, she still wasn't speaking. That's when her grandmother, Phyllis, a retired public school teacher, stepped in. Here is a recording from almost 20 years ago when she sat down with Mary Lee's mom, Laura.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
LAURA LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: 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 would be open to Mary Lee coming to stay with you that summer, and you would try to make something happen.
PHYLLIS KNIGHTON: 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...
(LAUGHTER)
KNIGHTON: ...And took courses in speech therapy. But I didn't know if I'd be able to help Mary or not.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: 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 going to be a good reader. And you were right.
KNIGHTON: 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 it to you on the phone.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: That was the first time I'd ever heard her speak. She said, dear Mama, how are you? I love you. From Mary. I'd never heard her say I love you before. 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 I just had to be there to witness this miracle that was starting to happen.
KNIGHTON: 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.
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INSKEEP: Phyllis Knighton from almost 20 years ago. She has since died, but recently, Laura sat down with her daughter Mary Lee, who's now an adult.
MARY LEE MCNELIS: How do I remind you of Grandma?
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: Oh, my gosh. You and Grandma are kindred spirits. You have her energy and her optimism. You bring sunshine and light into every room.
MCNELIS: Oh, thank you.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: 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?
MCNELIS: Yes.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: And what do you say to Grandma when you look up at the stars?
MCNELIS: Hey, Grandma, how are you doing today? I'm so glad that you taught me how to talk.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: You were telling her that one day you'll meet again in heaven.
MCNELIS: Yes, that we will meet in heaven.
LIVINGSTONE-MCNELIS: And someday you will, and she'll be overjoyed.
MCNELIS: Yes.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
INSKEEP: Mary Lee McNelis, Laura Livingstone-McNelis and Phyllis Knighton, Kalamazoo. Their conversation is at the Library of Congress. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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