Book excerpt: The world Annette Hines knew exploded when her infant daughter Elizabeth was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease-a degenerative, life-limiting illness. Annette's joy quickly turned to apprehension and she knew nothing would ever be the same again. Butterflies and Second Chances is the inspiring true story of a mother's special needs journey, and her struggle to secure the best possible life for her child in the face of bureaucratic resistance and marital crisis. It is a story of sacrifice, dedication, and the life-altering adjustments a special needs parent has to make when confronted with the unthinkable. But most of all, it's about love and an extraordinary mother-daughter relationship that flourished without words in the darkest shadows of adversity. Annette and Elizabeth's powerful story provides hope, solace, and a path forward for parents of special needs children, and it will resonate with families everywhere.