From the M*A*S*H Library 29: “Mixed Blessings”

What is it?

Christopher, William and Barbara. Mixed Blessings. New York: Avon Books, 1989.

Why should M*A*S*H fans care?

While the Christophers’ book is not about M*A*S*H, it is a very interesting behind the scenes look at the life they led off screen. Raising an autistic son in the 1970s was not easy, and they tell their story in a way that is a comfort to other parents who experienced the same frustration.

As a M*A*S*H fan, what part(s) should I read?

There are a few mentions of M*A*S*H, but that is not the focus of the book. It may not be a book for most fans of the series.

TL;DR Review

Best known for playing the soft-spoken, wise, and compassionate Father Mulcahy on M*A*S*H, we get a glimpse into the struggles of his home life in this book by William Christopher and his wife, Barbara. Their son, Ned, is autistic. And in the 1970s, there weren’t many treatment options. They struggled with Ned’s sensitivities and moods while trying to do what was best for their son. In today’s world of books about raising an autistic child and specialized programs, the Christophers’ book was likely one of the earliest in wide circulation to discuss the trials and tribulations of raising an autistic child.

Full Review

William (Bill) and Barbara Christopher were not the typical Hollywood couple in the 1970s. Bill was on a popular television show, and Barbara, a hard working mother, also appeared on an episode of that show. They had two adopted children, John and Ned, and from the photos, you’d think they were a typical family. However, they learned when Ned was young that something was different about him. When Ned was diagnosed with autism, they struggled to find treatments, schools, and places to help. Today, this isn’t as big of an issue as there are medications, treatments, classes, and resources for parents and children with autism. In the 1970s, however, this was not the case. The Christophers would struggle to make sure that Ned could have as normal a life as possible.

Adopting a child is a proud moment for parents, and this was the case for Bill and Barbara when they adopted their second son, Ned. Things started off well for the family of four, and by the time Ned was nearly three year old, he already exhibited some great talents. He could count to forty and recall things found around the house and in the garden. There were some troubling signs, however. When he wouldn’t respond to his name, they began to worry. Their concern grew as Ned developmentally fell behind other children his age. They went on a journey of learning about autism, finding Ned the help he needed, locating schools, and ensuring that his needs were met. Bill’s job on M*A*S*H meant long days of filming for months at a time, and this put more of the parenting duties on Barbara. Nevertheless, they managed to get Ned the help he needed despite there not being more universally accepted treatment programs that would help.

The Christophers’ book is not negative. In fact, it’s the opposite. It speaks to the love of a child by his parents and their frustration at ensuring their child had everything he needed to succeed. It would have been easy for the Christophers to blame the medical system, schools, or themselves at many points throughout Ned’s development, but they remained committed to getting him what he needed to be successful. Bill said that they “somehow managed to have a lot of fun along the way.” The couple’s work went beyond helping Ned as they also helped the community of parents and children who dealt with autism on a daily basis. Bill was an active supporter of several organizations including the Autism Society. This book was another way they gave parents of an autistic child hope that they could provide a fruitful life.

When the Christophers’ book was released in 1989, it was widely praised for its personal nature and bringing to light a very important topic that many parents were also struggling with. Thankfully, there are more resources available to parents of autistic children today than there were when the Cristophers were raising Ned. Their work with organizations and this book likely contributed, and this is a great example of someone using their celebrity for good. This was recognized when the book was released as many reviews praised the Christophers’ book for its hopeful honesty. At the time, Bill said, “One of the reasons we wrote the book is because people ought not despair if they have handicapped people in their families. We’ve had a wonderful life. We want people to know that we’ve had our burden, but we’ve had a wonderful life.” Bill passed away in 2016, but his work lives on in this book, with his activism, and on M*A*S*H.